POLITICAL ADDRESS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1922, Page 4

POLITICAL ADDRESS.

MR SEDDON AT HOKITIKA. SPLENDID ADDRESS AND lIAI’PV RECEPTION. The Westland Opera House was crowded throughout lasi evening: when Mr T. E. Y. Seddon (Liberal candidate for Westland) addressed tin; electors. The Mayor (.Mr G. A. Perry) presided. There was a very largo number of the fair sex present and throughout. Ins address Mr Seddon was splendidly greived. Air (!. A. Perry said Mr Seddon, the candidate of the Liberal Party, "as thero to address them. Mr Seddon needed no introduction to them. He would only ask for the civility of a fair heaving, and that lie was sure Mr Seddon would receive at their hands. He would ask Air Seddon to address them. Air Seddon who was greeted with a round of applause, said lb yoats ago he had stood before them a youngster, and had asked them to take him on trial. They had given him their confidence as ii Liberal supporter. To-day he stood before thorn again as a member of the old Liberal Party. He bad not changed bis views, and still was ! proud of being a member ol the Liberals. He asked them to bear with him while he referred to the present position of the political cainli-latos. i There were two who stood for the Reform party, and one for tlm Labour Party. He stood for the old Liberal Party, and lie felt confident that the old home of Liberalism, the West I Coast, would show that it still was I loval to Hie party that had done so ' much for New Zealand. He eon <1 not I fail to realise that there is still the old | Liberal feeling predominant amongst i them. In the last. Parliament the Libi oral Party had been in Opposition. Tt 1 was not a bad thing to he on the Opposition of the House for a while as it gave the opportunity for criticism, and this had been freely taken advantage of by the members of the Liberal Party. They had endeavoured fairly ; jind freelv to criticise the policy ol Mr ! Massey and his party of dumb followers. It was very had for the policy of any party to have too large a following, when they did not use their power of criticism. He was pleased to say lie had received reports Irom various parts of New Zealand stating that the prospects of tlie Liberal Party were very favorable at the coming election. He first wanted to clear away l lie charge of disloyalty made by Afr Massey against the Liberal Party. It was a stigma that they protested against on every platform. He referred to the \ statement by Air Massey that the ' coining election would lie lought on the loyalty question, that of the Government. and those against them. The Liberal Party said it was a stigma on them, because they are opposed to him, and the inference was the Liberals are ! disloyal, and lie (Mr Seddon) witn ; other members of his party characterised such a statement as absnlulclvy tinting. Every member of tins party was malting it clear that the Libera! Party stronglv objected to such uniair tactics. mid he left it to the audii nee to judge them on the absolute facts. The fad that one party arrogated tho right In th ( . I'nion .Lick ■>., against all others, was a very improper and urn. fair attitude l i take up. When the South African war took place tie Liberal Party was . in power, and they olf.Tc'.l and promptly sent away contillgriit alter ceating' tit to help tlie .Mother Country. Then when the last war came, the Liberals and Rciormers were within one vote of each other, and l lie Li be nils in Heir desire to help tlie Empire, sank their dillercnc-s, and joined the Reformers in tlie National Government. They did it, not lor the sake of tlie party, hut for the country, to help to successfully carry on the war. Now Air -Massey by his stateleant was throwing an unwarranted stigma on the Liberal party that is unwarranted, and against all lair play. ' Dealing with the present and past contests, Air Seddon said in every election he liar] contested on the Coast, he had fought it fairly, and tlie* way Hint the electors had supported him showed that his attitude had been approved. I"iifortunately, during the present contest a certain statement had been circulated that was likely to do him harm, j There were three parties in the last House, but only two voting lobbies; an

"aye” and a “no." liecause oil certain occasions the Liberals and Air Holland's party found themselves in the same division lobby, tie Rciormers slated that there was an alliance between tho Liberals anil Labor. I’liis I;p emphatically denied. To show his si 11 it licit* in voting on several occasions with Mr Holland, hi* sSid when consideration mine np as to the making of piovision for the civilian blind, he had voted for the proposal and he thought all would approve. He had voted in the same lobby for pensions lor the blind ; for free passes for children under seven on tlie railways, and against a reduction of the salaries of the civil servants for the third cut. Then also he voted against diamonds and other precious stones coining into the country free of duty. As it happened Mr Holland and his party voted in the seme irnniier, hut would they blame him (Mr Heddnlii for doing as he had done on a piineipie with which Mr llollam! i ml party had happened to agree also. W lien Mr Holland moved that the duty ho removed olf tea he (Air Seddon) voted in favor of the proposal. Then wit.ii Air Willard he voted for a reduction of the duty on cocoa, and Air Hoi--I,mil iiad voted with the Liberals against the Government.

Wiieti propiirliou,il representation was being dismissed, a motion was moved by Mr Holland urging tlie amendment of the law in favor of proportional representation. lie recognised that the motion was on right lines, and witlv a number of tlie party be hail supported it. A further proposal there should lie no further reduction of salaries of civil servants had been moved by ATr Holland, and lie (Air Seddon) voted for that also. Air Massey in liis speech called that an amendment. Air Steer, at one of liis meetings, had said that he had voted with Air Holland on two no confidence motions. Had he done so lie would have 1 loon unworthy of their support, as at tlie last election he, had pledged himself not to support a motion of no confidence moved by Air Holland. Ho had heard that Afr Steer had referred to this subject at Araliura, and lie bad telegraphed to Afr Steer asking him lor tho dates on which he (Air Steer) founded such statements. Air Seddon proceeded to read Hansard affecting the dates quoted by Air Steer, showing that tlie amendment of Afr Holland was not a motion of no confidence, and not accepted as such. The only thing he (Mr Seddon) had to say was that ATr Steer was new at the game, lie was seriously misrepresenting the position by making a charge tli-t was not in accordance with the actual position, as disclosed by tlie pages of Hansard which denied Air Steer’s assertion. He (Air Seddon'i wished e.’irlv in his speech that evening to definitely state the position, and repeated that lie had at no time failed'to carry out. the pi algos he had given to the electors when he had asked thorn for their continued support, at the last election. Quoting the division lists he mention d the names of those wh« voted for Afr TTol-

land’s amendment. Among them was the name of Air R. A. AY right, a prominent supporter of Air Massey, and an out and out Reformer. The latter s vote showed definitely that the amendment was not a no confidence motion. He had made Ins personal promise to them, and they could judge him by his actions. At all times lie had been true to his promises, and true to his pledges, .as ally one could sec by a perusal of Hansard. (Applause).

Referring to the Liberal Party, Mu Seddon said if they obtained a majority at the coming election they would carry . out their programme in a constitutional manner. Firstly, they would endeavour | to stop the immense amount ol waste i that was being allowed to take place m the various departments (luring the term of office of the -Massey Party. In j the various departments there had been ( a large amount of stores which had not ; been properly audited, and very heavy j losses had resulted. The Auditor-Gen- j or al hud told them that they should set j „p a Hoard of Control, and then Mr | Massey stated lie was going to set up a Hoard of Control which would result in a saving of £*200,000. surely ail admission of failure on the part of the administration of the aflairs of the country in the past. AVlien Major Alcßoiiald raised the question in the present ejection campaign, Government had set up a enquiry into tlie waste that was happening in the Defence Department, and this had caused a departmental enquiry to lie held. 1 lie Chief Justice had expressed tlie opinion Hint for the last three years there had toon no proper system of book-keeping carried out in the Education Department. This remark was the outcome of a charge of embezzlement laid against one of the younger staff ol that Department. Then during the recent financial depression, while there was not sufficient housing accommodation in the Dominion, the Government continued with its immigration policy, bringing people to this Dominion, when there was not sufficient accommodation for those already here. Then during lltv* stringency the Government had made remission oil the income tax payments and land tax. amounting to large sums, at a time when the Government wore stating they were in want of every shilling they could raise. Then there was the increase in the public debt. In 1 HI2 when tlie Reform Party took office the public debt was 84 millions, and in 1022 was 210 millions. Even taking out the cost of the war it still left an increase of 07 millions. Tlu> gross debt per head ill 1912 was L'Sl per head, and in 1022 it was £l7o. Proceeding in his criticism of the increased expenditure and unnecessary payments, Air Seddon mentioned the ! High .Commissioner’s Office in London, ] where the expenses had gone up bv lo aps and bounds. AYTien Sir I lios. .Mackenzie was in charge in 191(5 the cist, was very much lower than now, the speaker quoting figures showing how ike cost of upkeep had more than doubled during the last few years. Then duritiir tlie consideration of the Esti- ! mates" Air .Massey asked for a grant |of £IOOO for furniture for Sir James Allen’s London residence, qnd though the Liberal Party bad voted against this item, tin* Government had a majority and that extra expense was added lii the cost of this very expensive representation in London. I The one plank which the Liberal ami ! Labor parties agreed to was the ques- ' jj n of proportional roprosonliitioi). I**’ had always urged a revision oi tlie olocI (oral law'. When Air .Massey came into I power he had been in lavor ot it, and ! had repealed the second ballot, hut lie had failed, to substitute an improved method of voting. He would not say ; that tlie second ballot system was a good one, Imt it did help to give a majority some representation. In the old Liberal days when there was only two parties, the member then went back with a majority. Hut al the present time, when there was three parties, one was not sure of representing a majority of the electors. At the last general |el el ion, 20(1,000 votes were east for I Reform, and 010,000 were east against, i Ri form. There were new 2(5 members ' in the House who were minority representatives. The Reform Party under • proportional representation instead of j 44 members would have reieived 29, the j Liberal Party with 22 should have had . ir7. Lai.or with 8, should havo had I^. , mid Independent 2, and should have ! had that number. Continuing Mr Sec - ; don said lie had given the subject much I careful consideration and he l> lirved

io die system ol proportional npresentiuion. Air Steer had made the statement. that proportional tended to the making of informal votes and that it had done so in Australia, hut that was due to the ‘•Holman blot.*’ Tlie system had worked well ill the North or Ireland and the South of Ireland, there being only one per cent ot mfoimal votes there. Mr Massey had pro-nii-ed that proportional representation would replace the second ballot hut since getting into power he had not given liis promise olfoet. It they ueie not careful, they would get a feeling of disregard for goad government. The Liberal Party had urged the measure on every platform. The system ol proportional repieseiitation was a democratic one, and they would urge it being carried into effect. They bad taken up the altitude on the question of the curtailment of the salaries of civil servants, that salaries ■ I £3-111 and mid r should not b ‘ touched. T hey had .support! d the second reading, voting ior the bill with the idea of criticising the hi'l in commit tee. The Labor Party moved that no salaries should lie red need below EoOi). hut the Liberals thought they ware going too high, considering that L'329 and under, were sufficient. Under the proposals, the higher up in the civil service the smaller was tlie reduction pro rata. Ail iho higher paid officials

got a smaller reduction than “lie smaller salai ied officers. Tlie Liberals recognised that the lower paid men should not lie touched. They opposed CTOO moved by the Labor Party, but moved that the sum be £32(1, as a fair one. He fell Hint tlie civil servants would recognise that in the Liberals they iiad members who watched their interests fairly.

The Liberals bad proved through the efforts of Mr Masters that there was a. Trust over cement. Air .Masters stated that there were three companies dealing in cement. Two of them nobbled one company, by giving them £ liLOIXI, and that was tlie reason why the price of cement was so high in the conn try. Then there was the cement enquiry. The companies may have proved that whal they had done was within the law, hut they could not disprove that the combine had caused the price of cement to rise excessively high. It had been proved that there was a combine over cement, and there was felt also a combine existed over meat, over tobacco, and other commodities. It was necessary to set up a propel tribunal that would he aide to prevent, tlie profiteering that was still in existence, from icing continued. The people of New Zealand were under a debt of gratitude to ATr ATnsters for making his charges, and for proving in this country there was a trust and a combine. ’

Healing with returned .soldiers’, land settlement. lie said when tin men canto back from tlio war everybody said that they could not give the men land that was too good for them. The <!ovi rmnent had been warned against inflating the values of the land which

had resulted recently in many having to leave their holdings without a penny. Owing to tlie high prices of the land many men wore on their sections without any hope of making good. , Tho Liberal Party said the whole matter required reconsideration, and that there must bo a revaluation. The Government bad failed to properly advise tho soldiers before going on tlie land, and bad not given them the assistance they should have had after they bail gone on the land. 11c was positive that there must be a revaluation of the land. The Liberals stated that the land bought by the Government bad been bought unwisely and at a I price that was very highly inflated. A I prominent supporter, Air Alcl.eod. had stated that if the Government got out of the soldier settlements at a loss jof 3 to 4 millions, they would be I lucky. Reference was made to soim lof tlie estates bought in Canterbury j and Otago on which no soldier settlers i had yet gone. As far as tlie West, i Coast was concerned lie had brought ' under the notice of the Minister the lands of the West Coast. Mr Lysiiar said the lands of tlm West Coast were inferior, but he (Air Seddon) had retorted that they were inferior in price only. He instanced a number of estates on the West Coast that were eminently suited tor settlement. Ihe only way to do the right tiling h.v the men now was by a proper revaluation of the properties, and the helping of tlie men to make a proper and comfortable living on their sections. He had been a.skid the previous night at Rim it why he would not support the Labour Party. Mo had not done so and would not in the future. He had always supported the Liberal Party and would always do so. As lar as the Extreme Labour Party was concerned. their difference was simply one of principle. He would not support Air Holland’s principlss. He (Air Sellers) had been misroported by the “Grey Star” to state that he would not support a man of the principle of Afr Holland. This he did not sav, as at no time did he make a personal reference. He quoted passages from speeches by Air Holland and Air I*rasei in which were set out tbu principles oi tlie Labor Party, as the reasons why he could not and would not support that party. He Had read those ex ■tracts just to let them know where tin Extreme Labor Party stood. So mud had boon said of tlie aims of that party that it was quite time that th subject was properly ventilated, am lie wished to make his attitude perfectly clear. Tho Liberal Party stow for change in a constitutional way. ii a nrop. r and fair way. and no other. All the Liberal Party was in full agreement that they will not hold office it the dictation of the Extreme I.alioui Party.

Tie stood as a niembir of the Liberal Party and had not changed liis priutdples. He had received during bis tour of t-lio district a very warm and hearty rr.eptinii showing that his services in tin l past bad been appreciated and that lii.s work bad been approved. When matters affecting mining bad come before the House lie hud always done his utmost to further their best interests. There were people who said then' was no need fcr'orospecting, hut lie strongly differed Irom that atti tilde. They had seen what prospecting had done in the AYaiuta district, fie had need tube gratelul to l lie peool" of Waiutn. for they bad given him substantial support in the past. Hi many parts of the district there were indications of rich payable ground to he found. But. they must now send outorganised prospecting parties, who will take advantage oi the reports of Dr Roll. He must here say that the Mines Department was giving substantial aid at the nro-ent time. Then, when the agitation was brought forward bv the miners about the price roceivid for their gold, he laid given ins support to that agitation. After rspcnitedl enquiries before tlie various Ministers, an enquiry had been held. When ATr Afassev had met the milters ho asked them what they thought a fair tiling. The men had suggested that they should get 10s per ounce. Tlie matter was now lining represented lo the Tmoerial authorities with a view to tlie fair requests of tlie miners being dealt n il it favourably . ■ Winn” matters affecting farming came up lie bad urged the establi diluent of an exoerimental farm. but after much agitation, the farm hul been established in tlm Alotueka electorate of tlie Grcv Valley. Imt as lar as experiments were concerned, in. iing had been dope, and it was not proving of benefit to the people in this part of the district. Winn the l‘o"ostrv Hill was no for eons.d-r.it ion no had’been able -to have til" inc lusion ol a clause to give representation to the saw millers and employees. He had always given ilis best attenton to the requirements of tlm district. II again lie had the honor of representing them he would continue to give that careful attention to the requirements ot tlm district that lm had clone in past years, and would endeavour to represent all parts of the district worthily and lo thi lust advantage, lie Imped they ,|j,| not think It he trust imposed in him had been misplaced, and that they

would continue that support and again ' return him to represent them in Par- i liarneii't, and. that all would work to- ■ pother happily for the advancement ol this bright, young country, (Loud and continued applause). QUESTIONS. I Air A. A. Andrewes asked if the j Amendment referred to by Air Steer was not a votci of no-confidence? Afr Seddon. in reply, again explained that Air Holland had moved a:i i amendment to an Imprest Bill, ami that it was not a motion of no-con-fidence, otherwise Air AYright, an ardont Reformer, would not have voted with Air Holland as tlie Liberals had done, liecause the fate of tho Government, was not at stake. Air Andrewes road a telegram from AH- Alassev referring to the motion be ing one of no confidence, hut Mr Seddon, reading from Hansard itself, quo* c-d Air Af assay’s own speech in U House, reported in Hansard, in which | lie (Air Al assay) referred to “an amend ment.” Air Seddon added that when motions of no-confidence arose, the do bate became a distinctive »o-confidenec debate, mid as such was headed in Hansard reports. Afr Seddon said that l was an absolutely new attitude taken up by Air Af assay in imputing, for electioneering purpose, something whirl was not on the printod records of tin House, and which lie characterised indistinctly improper. Air Andrewes asked whether it wr. not a fact that Air .Master’s charges in regard to cement had been proved un founded.

ATr Seddon stated that he had already explwined that the findings o r tlie Committee were to the effect; tha' the companies had acted within ihlaw. lint that did not say it was morally right. It was proved mil demonstrated that it was morally wrong, even if it were within the law. Afr Seddon again referring to Mi Alasse.v’s telegram said lie would ask All’ Andrews to wire hack to Air Afasscy, and ask him what was Air YYrigliL’s postion in the matter of the so-called no-confidence motion. Afr L. Queenan asked would tlie candidate support a proposal for rating cotton-spinning on tlie Coast, and also would lie support the Minister of Education being a non-politi-cian ? Air Seddon rinlicd that lie woiih! always support tlie introduction of fresh industries and that lie was ol the opinion that the Minister of Education (should lie a. member ol tin* House -o that the policy of .the Minister could ho critii i-cil in Parliament, and the Alinister would be there to reply IVr himself. THANKS AND CONFIDENCE. Afr T. \\\ Duff moved a hearty vote of .thanks to Air Se.ddon for liis very able address, and of renewed eoiiti<fence in him as member lor tlie dist riot.

Air D. J. Evans .seconded tlie motion, deeming it a great pieasur'' ro do SO. lie could well say that in Air Seddon they had a lit and proper parson to represent Westland, lie had done great tilings in the past and would do greater things in Hie li.tniNo member of tlie House was moi\ estemed and more honored. He "ua compartiveiy young man of outstanding charm ter and a credit to those lie represented. Air Seddon was one who would -iiewr disgrace Westland. _ Hi was an honor to (hem and to N“w XeaJand. where tho people weru so proud of the name of Seddon. (Loud applause'> The motion was p-nt and inrriiil with out. a dissenting voice, amidst further ; out iniie.l applause. Mr Seddon thanked the audieme fin their vdemlid reception and Messrs Dull' and Evans for their kindly remark'. He again as-uml them of Inutmost endeavours at all times to ad Vance the* iiitcr.'it.s of the Yie-t (oast. Mi- KeddrfFP concluded a splendid meeting by moving a vote ot thanks to thi AI ay or for presiding. This was carried by 'acclamation and the liieeiing Uiminated.