GENERAL ELECTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1922, Page 1

GENERAL ELECTION.

LABOUR’S CAMPAIGN, 1 lIY. THt,EOItAI'/ - PER PRESS ASSOCIATION WELLINGTON, Oct. 12 Mr Holland (Leader) opened the Labour Party’s campaign in the Town Hall to-night. He said that the parties in the field would he nominally three, but really only two, as the T.tberal Party is dead. The Labour Party had been charged with being Socialists. They were, as this was an inevitable step in the history of tho human race. The ATassev Party was vastly in the minority to the extent of 127,025 less votes, and, under election by proportional representation they would have had 2!) seats, and Labour 18. The Labour Party stood for the Initiative and the Referendum, for the abolition of the Legislative Council ; and for the removal of political disabilities from women. The Government housing, ho said, had been a failure. The houses erected had not kept pace with the increase in population. The speaker attacked flu* Government’s financial policy, which, lie said, was taking away from the poor man to give to the rich. The Labour Party proposed to wip.* out national debt of ten millions Instriking a levy on the 277 millions increase that has taken place in f'-c accumulated wealth of the Dominion lietween 1911 and 192). The meeting concluded with a mutiois supporting the Labour Party, and pledging it to assail the present (!oreriiment.

INDEPENDENT SOLDIER CANDIDATE. WELLINGTON, Oct. II Colonel T. AY. McDonald, standing a • an Independent candidate for Wellington East, opened his campaign to-night. He said he stood as an Independent, because tho country wanted men, and not machines. Strang pressure, he said, had been brought to hear on him to contest Wellington Central against Mr Peter Eraser, hut he had declined, ns he was going to see the contest through in Wellington East. He gave a close analysis of the financial position of the Dominion, which he described as grave, with a debt per head of the European population of €197, while tin' people were being taxed to +ho peak. He condemned the system of Government guarantees In producers, wlreh only meant the people had to pay dearer for their food. He criticised the Government’s land purchase system, and opposed immigration with so many tinempl yed in the Dominion. A vote of thanks and confi'l'ire was passed.