RAGLAN CAMPAIGN

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1927, Page 1

RAGLAN CAMPAIGN

MR MAG-NER’S ADDRESS

NGARUAWAHIA, Sept. 15

Mr C. A. Magner, the Country Party candidate for the Raglan seat, had for his first political address last night, an audience which crowded Te Kowhai Hall.

Mr Magner has youth on his side, he possesses definito views on the political questions of tho day, and lie is a vigorous speaker. His remarks were greeted with much applause, indicating that the people of liis own district have confidence in him. Mr G. E. C. Hocking presided. Mr Magner opened his address with a general castigation of the present Government, and charged Mr Coates with rising to the Prime Ministership on a wave of sentimentality, which was used to put into office an incompetent man who hail been wrongly invested with tlie mantle of the great statesman who had preceded him. He asserted that the Country party was not merely a farming party, and was not in any sense against the town. The country he represented was New Zealand, and liis platform was above all one designed to maintain the honour and dignity of New Zealand within the Empire. His platform was a truer Imperial platform than had ever been produced. It strove to break down the existing harriers between the Dominion and Britain, and, prevent the erection of fresh ones. New barriers 'were bidden behind the new tariff in spite of the claim that preference was being given to British goods. Barriers often were being erected, also, by the annual borrowing of large sums of money.

THE NATIONAL DEBT. It was taking New Zealand one-lialf tlie National income to pay the Interest on her debts. In spite of the fact that the sinking funds increased every year, the country was getting behind at the rate of nearly seven millions a year. Tlie Government was setting up barriers between debtor and creditor. If the Government’s figures could lie relied upon, the wealth of the country had increased three-fold, since pre-war days. If so, it should be able to pay its own way, but instead of doing so, the Government preferred to take the easier path of borrowing, and a huge debt bad been piled up. THE STATE OF FARMING.

Mr Magner asserted that more than 9000 persons liad left farming employment in four years, while almost as many had gone to industries where the wages were artificially maintained. The means of improving rural 'conditions were cheaper transport for farming requisites, good roads and cheap finance. This could be got right by an agricultural bank and the gradual abolition of tariffs. Tlie protection of industries simply meant tho taxation of exports to pay a bonus to other producers, which was grossly unfair and immoral. Because a man did not know he was being robbed was no excuse for robbing him. The fairest way of raising revenue was to take once for all from those who had it by means of a properly adjusted income tax. The tax should be proportional to the taxpayer’s ability to pay.

A resolution of thanks and confidence in Mr Magner was carried amidst applause.

MR WARING’S ADDRESS. After addressing a meeting at To Kowhai and introducing himself to the butchers at the Horotiu meat works in the morning, Mr A. M. Waring, official Reform candidate for the Raglan seat, spoke to a large meeting at. Ngaruawahia to-night. The Mayor, Mr H. J. Sampson, presided, and supporting the candidate wore Mr S. S. Allen and Air P. G. R.. Taylor, two of tho unsuccessful nominees for official selection. Mr Waring was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.

“We are told the Government is losing ground,” be said in one of liis addresses, but tlie public is just like a pack of bounds that casts off in all directions anil one gives tongue. They all take it up and ns like as not the hare is only a rabbit. Have you ever seen people start to clap and then ask their neighbour, ‘What did he say?” However, there lias been a depression and who but the Government can be blamed? It would be just ns sensible to blame tlie Government for all this rain. New Zealand can raise money in London at one-lialf per cent, less than any other country. Is that a sign of incapable administration? Think of facts like that, instead of listening to ‘twaddle.’ In one breath wo hear the cries, ‘stop borrowing’ and ‘push on with the development of the country.’ It is just old Pharoah over again. Let us be logical.”

The candidate said his interests were with the small farmer, ho opposed the land tax, believed "in patriotism in trade, was strongly in favour of religious instruction in schools, and the Arbitration Court appeared to him to bo a perfect farce. In answer to jj question lie said he would not change the present liquor issues. “I have taken a glass of ale all niv life anil I will always endeavour to have it. (Laughter.! I do not, want to be euchred out of it.”