POLITICAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1922, Page 4

POLITICAL.

MR J. STEER’S ADDRESS. REFORM CANDIDATE AT OPERA ' HOUSE. There was a fair attendance at the Westland Opera House last evening, when Mr Jesse Steer, the official Reforifi candidate for Westland, addressed the electors. The Mayor of Hokitika presided.. Mr Perry introduced Mr J. Steer, the Reform candidate for Westland, and asked those present to accord him the courtesy always extended by giving him a fair and patient hearing. He asked Mr Steer to address them.

.Air J. Steer (who was received with applause) thanked the meeting for the cordial reception. He was standing straight out, as a Reform candidate. He had been a supporter for years of the .Massey Government. It was a great loss to New Zealand when Sir Joseph Ward went out of politics, hut as a leader of the Liberal Party after the Hon R. J. Seddon’s death, he proved a .failure. Since Mr Massey had come into office he had gone through many trials successfully, and he referred to past matters that had happened. During the coal shortage the Government had been forced to import coal, which they had done, though at a great cost. Right through tho period of their stay ill office the Reform Government had liberalised the Liberal policy, till now the Liberals stated they had stolen their policy, and now the Liberals had no policy. U would be a great mistake to-day .to lose Mr Masse.v and his Government. It would not be safe for the Reform Party to lose many seats, as they have only -15 seats out of HO. As far os tie Liberal policy was concerned all that was good in it was to be foond in the ..Reform policy. In standing for Parliament, lie had no personal feeling against , the other candidates, Mr Seildon or Mr O’Brien. As far as Mr Seddon was concerned he was a ictlimed soldier, who had served his country in the war and if the elect >rs were sotisfied that lie had served the district to its very licst interests then they should return Mr Seddon. Personally he had no feeling either against Mr O’Brien, but lie must criticise his party’s programme.

Referring to proportional representation Mr Steer stated that in Australia it had been found that it was not a success. It meant the grouping of the electorates into larger areas returning five members. After being tried it had been found wanting. As ;i matter of fact the Liberal party at present was “out.” Their land policy was almost the same as the Labor Party, and it was not workable. Their policy would not do, especially in Westland. He took it that the Liberal party were practically “out” and the electors had to consider the position only ns between the Reform Party and the' Labor Party. As far as the public service was concerned lie did not approve of giving full political liberties to the officials, as proposed by the Labor Party, who even condemned the proposal in the camera selection ol their own candidates to stand for any office.

Though lie was a supporter of the Reform Government, he would criticise their action, especially in reference to the niis-mnnngement of the railways, which were losing at present at least £2,000 a day. It was necessary to do something to make the railways pay. in some places the trains were almost being run off by motor cars, instancing the GrevHokitika and Nelson lines. lie thought wrong appointments had been made as advisers to the Railway heads, there should have been younger men appointed. Referring to the Board of Trade, he said it may have done good work during the period of the war, hut he held that tho men who now formed the Board were not able to fix prices as

efficiently as they Would ho if suitable men were appointed.

The Labor policy as enunciated by the labor leaders was not suitable for this country. Air Holland had stated that the Socialistic section had been dropped but this could not Ik 1 so, as if fie dropped it lie would !>c dropped as leader of the party. You must he an out and out Red Fed or a Bolshevik to hold the position of leader ol thi> Labor party. (A voice—No, no). He instanced what had happened in New South Wales in recent years. He quoted instances of happenings in Queensland, as was published recently in the Grey Argus in a letter from Alackley. They knew New Zealand had done well for returned soldiers, hut in New South Wales there were hands of returned soldiers playing in the streets soliciting aid. That occurred under a Labor Government and it was as had in Queensland. It was impossible for the Labor Party to moderate their policy, ns they were unable to do so without permission of their members, and this the extremists of the party would not allow. Quotations were here read of some of the speeches of Labor members in. the House. He said these leaders admired the Bolshevik and would support the Soviet system of government. He was straight out on the loyalty question. They could not afford to hand tile country over to the disloyalists. What did revolution do for any country? There was no country equal to the British Empire. They should be very careful who they returned to Parliament. If they put the Labor Party in then they were handing over the country to disloyalists, and disaster would follow.

Ho knew that they expected a reference to the inclusion of this district in the Grey Harbor rating area. Ho held that the action taken in including this district was a wise one. In 188-t there was a Harbor Act passed, giving the Brunner railway as an endowment. In the early stages of the war their revenue was found to be decreasing. In 1919 lion Mr Wilford came down to Greymoutli and stated that the Government could not do anything unless they had a rating area. . They agreed, but still nothing was done, and their receipts continued to fall. The Government supplied 015,000 to assist, and after repeated applications, Mr Massey promised to assist and do something to help the Board out of its difficulties. Later they, obtained the proposals' asked for from the Government, and these were published in the Grey Har-

bor Board’s balance sheet for 1921. I These proposals came into force on March 31st, 1921. When the rating area was being discussed he urged the inclusion of the district from lnangnliua Junction to Mount Cook, -i Commission bad sat and had agree 1 to this area. Hut he would point out that so far no rate had been struck, , and lie was sure that none ever would. | The Grey Harbor Act was one of the best in New Zealand. The Hoard then reorganised their harbor charges, and that has given them sufficient to carry on anil a surplus in addition to reduce their indebtedness. Last year they had a record year, the receipts being £41,000, as against the largest previous years receipts of 030,00(1. Their position during the year was an improvement of £43,000 as against the previous year owing to a number of adjustments made with the Government and the sinking fund. 1 liev had to make arrnagemenls lor various works, and for the first time in the history of the Grey Harbor Board, every account of the Board was in credit to-dav. They had one of the best assets anil one of the best local bodies in New Zealand in the Grevmouth Harbor Board. They hail nothing to fear from them as long a-, the Board was composed of good members.

He was standing as a straight out Reformer, not for personal interest oi gain, hut for the purpose of helping to retain tho Reform Government .n power, feeling that they were able to do the most for the country. He had been a member of many local bodies including School Committee, Harbor Board, Fire Board and Borough Council and lie asked them to consider his work on those bodies as to his fitness to represent them in Parliament. He asked them to judge him by his actions as a man ami a public servant on the various local bodies on which he had served, and if they thought lie was able to properly represent them, then lie asked them for their support, and vote. On the other hand if they considered they had been well served

by their present member (Mr Sed|don) 1 and" that the district had not suffered during his term of office then they should vole for him. ff they thought that it would he better to elect ALO’Brien to Parliament, and that they would be better under the red flag of socialism, then they had their opportunity. He had nothing to say against the other candidates personally. He thanked them very sincerely for the very kind reception and hearing they had given him.-. (Applause). QUESTIONS. lion H. L. Aliehel asked was it likely, there would he, any rate struck in the harbor area that would be collected from tho farmers and other residents of the district. Air Steer replied not if you get tin members of the Board to do their duty, .because now they can impose their own charges for the port. The present wharfage and shipping charges bring ,in. a surplus of £IO,OOO If they doubled the charges ..iev would not he. high and they would have n surplus of £20,000. Not of the timber that Was exported went to Canterbury. There was not the slightest chance of the Board requiring to strike a rate. Hon Afr Aliehel—Did lie understand that if the Grey Harbor Board does require additional revenue that thev will double their charges and not levy a rate on the former.

Air Steer replied that there wiis not the slightest chance of a rate being required, if the members of the Board carried out their duty fearlessly. THANKS OE CONFIDENCE. Mr H. AI. iCoulson said be bad great pleasure in moving a hearty vote of thanks to Air Steer for bis very able address and of confidence in the Alassory Government}. He hoped the contest would be fought straight out on political lines and that they would not have a recurrence of the bitterness shown in previous contests. He claimed that the Afassey Government would he returned to power again. A telegram had been received from Mr Masscv stating lie would do his best to visit the district liefo e

polling day, and sending good wishes. Mr A. Andiewcs seconded the morion. He could voire his opinion that the Reform Party in Westland was gratified at the selection of Air Stem' ns their candidate, for the last, six ; ears Reform supporters in this district had not had an opportunity to ( \oto for their candidate. Ho was ( ( ,uite convinced that their candidate would lie successful on election day. Mr G. Willetts moved an amendment that the meeting had no con'i- i donee in the candidate or Massey Government. The Chairman put the motion which he declared carried unanimously, amidst applause. i Mr Steer in briclly acknowledging the vote of thunks said he did not want the election to be mu in a parochial spirit, lie knew there, was some feeling between small numbers in both towns, but he assured them that th- Grcymouth peoples were with Hokitika and came down to assist on every ' occasion the races (“To have a bath,” i rapped out an interjeetor, amidst ! laughter) and would give every nssist- ’ I unco for the proposed exhibition. He ! moved a vote of thanks to Air Perry for presiding which was carried by [ acclamation and a very orderly meet- , ing terminated— ... ... . * . •