LOWER INTEREST

Evening Star, Issue 19796, 21 February 1928, Page 5

LOWER INTEREST

LABOR'S FINANCE PANACEA MR HOLLAND AT DARGAVILLE CANDIDATE TO OPPOSE PREMIER (Tbb United Peess Association.] DARGAVILLE, February 21. Air Holland, Leader of the Opposition, addressed a meeting of over 300 electors at Dargaville last night, the mayor (Air F. A. Jones) presiding. His address was similar in many respects to those given at Hclcnsvillc, Russell, and Whangarci. After dealing with the political aspects of the day, particularly as they apply to rural electorates, Air Holland dwelt it length on rural credits, Samoa, and land questions.

In speaking of -the Intermediate Rural Credits Bill, the speaker said the Government had broken faith with the Commission, and the Act noiv in force would not give the relief to farmers which tho Government claimed it would. Conditions were such that no one could take advantage of them, and lie yet had to hear of any association being formed under tho Act. The Labor Party’s remedy for putting the finance of the country on a sound basis was a State bank, with agricultural hanks as an adjunct to assist tho fanning community. Tho need of to-day was a lower price of interest instead, of tax reduction. The matter had only benefited to any extent big financial and merchant institutions, who made tens of thousands sterling out of it.

Ho prophesied that when a Labor Government came into office in Britain and New Zealand the middleman would bo cut out as far as was humanly possible, and the producer would secure the full benefit of his labor. He announced that it was hoped that Mr J. G. Barclay,.a local farmer, would be the official Labor candidate and oppose the Prime Minister for the Kaipara scat next election, Mr Holland had a particularly good hearing, and the meeting closed with a vote of thank’.