GENERAL ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1928, Page 3

GENERAL ELECTION

MR SEDDON’ S NORTHERN -• CAMPAIGN.

IN DISTRICT. „

On Saturday last Mr Seddon visited Wallis Siding,- Rotonunm, and surrounding district, speaking at two places during the day. At Wallis Siding, where Mr Seddon spoke first, he was accorded a good hearing. Mr (Smith presided, and briefly introduced the candidate wild outlined his po icy and dealt with many matters of interest to his hearers. On concluding his address the meeting carried a vote of thanks to Mr Seddon, on the motion of ilessrs Parkinson and Richardson. lii the evening there was a very large and representative attendance at the Rotomarui meeting, at which Captain 'Whitmore occupied the chair. He introduced Mr Seddon, who, after dealing with the political situation generally, and his own policy in particular, devoted some time to questions of local importance, viz: farming, dairying and the roading of the district. Alter several questions had been asked and answered, Mr .Tack Ryan extolled the candidate for what he had done for th© district, making reference to the hall which' liad been erected there, • and also the long-sought for bridge across the Crooked River, which was now well on tjie way to being an accomplished fact. The completion of this bridge will bring Rotomanu into direct touch by road, with Grey mouth.

Mr Ryan then moved a vote of thanks and confidence, which found an able seconder in Mr A. J. Palmer.

AT TE KINGA. On Labour Day Mr Seddon spent the afternoon at the Trots at Victoria Park and then returned to Te Kinga. where lie- was scheduled to- speak last evening. The meeting was well attended and the candidate' received a very good hearing. Mr Arthur Robinson (Chairman of the Grey County Council) on rising to introduce Mr Seddon, informed those present that an immense amount of good work for the district had been accomplished by Mr Seddon, pointing 'Mit that at- the present time, the Grey County Council was unable to expend the votes obtained for the County. Mr Seddon, in going over his previous addresses dealt with the timber industry, showing how he had fought for the protection of our trade as against foreign importations. His remarks were listened to attentively. Mr vV. MeDermid, at the close of Mr Seddon’s speech, and after questions had been asked and answered, moved a vote of thanks and confidence to the speaker, which w-as seconded by Mr T. Coles aiicl carried.

Mil SEDDON AT GREYMOTJTH. Mir Seddon had one of his most important meetings last night when he addressed a large attendance at the Town Hall. Greymouth. The Mayor (Mr Greenslade) presided. Alr'Sbddon had a friendi.y, not to say cordial hearing. There was little interruption dr opposition manifested The questions asked were oi a reasonable nature, and the replies together with Mr S'oddbn'r general statement on the political situation, were well -received, He de'ued His position exactly as he was ht'fdre them three years ago,\_and stated. he

would continue to act consisten'tl/ in opposing any Labour amendment movnd bv Mr Holland to oust the Coates Government. ' To-day Mr Seddon proceeded to Otira motoring by way of the Christchurch road, where lie will meet. the. people eh route. He speaks .at Otira to-night, and to-morow’s engagement is at Bel! Hill. On Monday next Mr Seddon will speak at Kutnara, visiting also Knmara .1 unction and Dillmahs.

LABOUR LEADER. (By Telegraph—Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 23. Mr IT. E. Holland, Leader of tlie Opposition, addressed a meeting here to-night. The Mayor of Christchurch, Rev. J. K. Archer, presided over.. n crowded meeting. It was an entirely friendly audience. Mr Holland accused Mr Coates of having' failed to redeem His election promises. Air Holland declared that if Labour is returned to office, the chief points of the Party's platform .will be put into operation. In the first three years the Labour Party would revise, the whole pension? system, with an all-round increase. They would make all education free, with free school books and they would gi’-e equal pay for equal work by the school teachers. The Labour Party proposed to t»ke awdy from the Government Departments the power to override the statute law. If would repeal boy conscription in New Zealand. , , Special attention would be paid to secondary industries !by the Labour Party, which® would not 'be ultra-pro-tectionist, or ultra-free trade, but it would deal with each industry on its merits. Referring to the liceiring question, Air Holland said Unit’ a number of the members of the Reform Party ))oic prohibitionists, and it was these members who had prevented Air Coate* from carrying out his promises to the liquor people. Air Holland also dealt with topics already fully reported in previous addresses. _ At the conclusion of his' speech he was cheered. , .. , ~ A motion of thanks to Mr Holland, and of confidence in the Labour Party, proposed by Mr E. J. Howard,

ALP., was carried, with only one or two dissentients. AIR DOAVNIE STEWART. DUNEDIN, Oct. 23, The Alinister of Finance (Air Downie Stewart) opened his campaign tonight, being well received by a large audience, The problem in New Zealand, he said, was not, as was so . frequently alleged, the problem of the land aggregation, or of land monopoly Hit one of restoring stability to farming conditions and restoring financial confidetye in farm securities. In this respect he disagreed with Sir Joseph Ward when he said that it was necessary to import £60,000)000 for farmers’ finance. In his (Air Stewart’s) opinion, there were large sums *>? money in all th/ financial institutions awaiting investment, if they could be assured that land values were stabilised and that the security was adequate. To lend vast sums of money at les* than market rates would only produce great inflation of land values, and recreate the artificial conditions from which the country was just escaping. Tills led the Minister to an attack on Sir Joseph Ward’s borrowing policy, which was made in no uncertain term* He described the proposal as “extravagant” and “spendthrift.” The Alinister stated that Sir Joseph Ward was too ninth of a plunger for the prudent people of New Zealand.. The Alinister went on to reply t n the recent criticism by Air Holland. U refuting the allegations niade by th* 1 Leader of the Opposition, particularly those in regard to the tax reductions, the Minister said no fair critic, who examined the facts, could deny that the Government had carried out .•< very active programme in the interests of all sections of the com ip unit y, and at the same time kept within tli* limits of what tlie Dominion could reasonably afford.

AIASTERTON CONTEST. AIASTERTON. Oct. 23

Air AV. Thomson, the United Party candidate had a friendly hearing and was frequently applauded, when he spoke in Masterton this evening. The burden of the candidate’s address was that voting for the. Reform Party meant soup kitchens. He ciahu T ed that, voting for the United Party would bring untold prosperity. A motion of thanks to Air Thomson and of confidence in him as the Unit ed Party candidate, and in Sir Joseph AVard. was carried, with’ only one or two dissenting votes.

HON R. A. AVRIGHT. • AVELLINGTON, Oct. 24

Hon R. A. AVriglit, Alinister of Education, opened His campaign last night and traversed the proposals of the' Government’s opponents. Of Sir Joseph Ward, he said wild cat schemes should find no place in the history . of. New Zealand, nor should they he adopted bv the people of any country. As to Mr Holland he said that gentleman was sent by hi.s party to- the A ustralian Labour Congress which admitted communist affiliation and Air Holland was appointed a member of its Council of Action, along with Air Garden* the oominunist. Air Holland should take a little of his own medicine before chiding Air Coates for comparing New Zealand and Australia! Air AVright received a. hearty vote of thanks and confidence. Air Luke also started his campaign for AVelJingt- n North and. urged the electors to have nothing to do with the parties trying to upset the good Government they had had for ,16 years. He received, a vote of confidence.