THE SHIP OF STATE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1927, Page 4

THE SHIP OF STATE

SKIPPER WITHOUT MASTER’S | TICKET. jj AUCKLAND, Sept. IS. j A good impression was made by Air j T. Parker Libera! candidate for Rag- j Jan. in his opening address at Raglan, j ■ Just where lie stands in politics is plainly indicated by the following vigorous passage from his speech:— *• Jt, appears to me,” he said. “ that the good ship New Zealand at the present moment has a skipper without a master’s ticket. It also appears that some of the crew are too old, while others are going to sleep. Some of the planks of the old vessel are going rotten. I think the storm has got into her keel and she has developed a list to starboard. The rudder is controlled hv big combines and big squatters, this being the reason for farmers being in the position they are in to-day. I offer myself as an able-bodied seaman oil that ship, hoping that at next election the Liberal Party .will’ he given power to wipe away the wrongs done under the present Government’s misrule.” Air Parker urged government for the majority and not the minority, and maintained that concessions given by the Reform Party had been to the wealthy and not to workmen, who needed them. The present Government liad got into a power by a lot of flag-waving and discrediting of othei lotions, workers like himself —and there were no harder workers than the

farmers. Should be be returned as representative for the district, Air Parker pledged himself to stand unswervingly by what ho presented to the electors. “As foi (Tossing the House from one _pajt> to another, I shall never do it,” he declared. “My flag will be nailed to the mast of Sir Joseph Ward.” (Applause.’ “The man who is wanted to-day is a man like Sir Joseph, a man to handi'e the finances of the country.” The candidate, who did not ask for a vote of confidence, was unanimously thanked, his meeting proceeding with cut interruption or dissent of any kind.