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Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1928, Page 4

Mu O’Biiien, (lie Labour candidate for tlie Westland seat, made a belated apliearnnee in liis campaign liere last evening. Tie gave a forceful address which was listened to by a large attendance, but personalities prevailed over polities very often. It could not be called a clear exposition of the Labour policy by any means, for so much was left unsaid on that matter, unless it be that the Labour policy is varying every week, and we are to accept last night's address as the latest version of that oft-changing programme. It is not necessary at this stage of the campaign to follow Mr O'Brien very far with regard to the personalities lie engaged in. He seemed to enjoy raking up the past and endeavouring to throw some stigma on those referred to. This was a case of having a poor case to present. so it was a matter of abusing the other side to make his address fill the allowed time. The Guardian has no apology to make for its stand in any of the hard-fought elections it has participated in of late years. There is at least the satisfaction of those controlling the Guardian that a plain duty was done, and simple justice attempted in the interests of the district. 'Hie Guardian and those associated with it are well-known to our readers —or the bulk of them —and we are content to leave to the judgment of those who know us best our conduct on this and on other occasions on which we have been constrained to express an opinion affecting political issues. We shall leave the personalities at that.

In opening bis address last night. Mr O’Brien still smarting under the sense of defeat of three years ago, still

questions the fairness or justice of the ..lemon Court, and continues to infer that their Honours were prejudiced against him. As wo showed the other day, the same judges who put Air Soddon in by 12 votes (which would have happened in any case had the casting vote gone to Air O’Brien) also put in Air Al’Combs (.Labour) back to Parliament bv 11 votes ! It is obvious Air O’Brien cannot have the sympathy oi the public both ways, because if the judges were wrong in his case and did him ail injustice, they were wrong in the Lyttelton case and erred deliberately in putting the Reform candidate out there. Air O’Brien is still under the influence of his chagrin and has allowed his good judgment to he warp ed. Now, he bad a good deal to sax about income tax, and our iormer strictures. Our remarks were based on i the report of his Goldsborough speech where he said he would put income taxation up to the level of the English income tax, and we commented on that aspect. Last night he did not. repeat his intention to uplift the tax to the English level, but be quoted figures pertaining to the latter which indicated how the New Zealand wageearner would he hit if brought under the. English scale. Air O’Brien made his comparison of the reduction in income tax very unfairly, for he began in the war period when income tax was high purposely to give money to carry on the war. To give a right comparison he should have compared the figures as between pre-war and the pres cut time. It is conveniently ignored that taxation on an exceedingly heavy scale was imposed on incomes during the war—on a scale which could not l e continued any longer than was absolutely necessary to meet the requirements of tlie Dominion, since the existence of an exceptionally high income tax had the inevitable effect of restricting the avenues of employment. H would obviously have been fairer il a comparison had been made between a pre-war year and the present time. This would have shown that income tax yielded 9.37 per cent of the total revenue in 1914 as compared with 19.62 per cent according to the latest returns and tlie proportion of the yield of income taxation to total revenue has more than doubled. Alucli the same applies to customs revenue off which Air O’Brien kept almost entirely, though in the country be lias been making misleading statements and comparisons in that respect also, and we shall he constrained perhaps to refer to that aspect also later.

Although referring to the land as being the source of wealth, Air O’Brien kept off a repetition of the “ useliold '’ policy of yore, and particularly off that glib phrase which used to fall from every Labour speaker’s lips about the objective of the party, “the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange.” And that reminds us of the reference to the late K. ,T. Seddon who with his colleagues was responsible for uplifting labour laws which did so much for the working man in the factory and mine from 1891 on. Air Seddon, when ho consorted with Labour in Australia, met the sane Labour Party of the earlv times —sane as the Labour movement was in New Zealand. They were not of the Red Fed class, into which the Russian communistic ideals has forced wav, and Air Seddon discussed the problems with those who had ideals oi home and country as he had, and who in the all essential matter was loyal to bis King and Country. This remind us also that Air 0 Brien in the early stages of his remarks last night, had something to say of New Zealand as the finest country under the sun. yet when a booklet about immigration which he held in his hand lauded New "Zealand in somewhat similar terms, lie disparaged the statements with irony. Mr O’Brien was not sincere both ways, and that double attitude was noticeable in more ways than one. For instance when he claimed credit for doing his duty, and he was thanked in years past by the local body and others lie endeavoured to produce a double effect by trying to turn what was no doubt genuine thanks into something false. There was all too often this insincere ring about his pose which suggests that Air O’Brien has been studying some of the tricks of the politician rather than endeavouring to play the part of a budding statesman. Jn many respects the speech fell short of the needs of a representative who could look fairly at a proposition. Rather was it the pleadings of one who felt the judgment of tlie electors was going against him and he must needs abuse others and suppress all that is objectionable in the intentions of socialism in the true policy of the Labor Party.

The police advise that an 18-foot Hat-bottomed boat painted white came ashore on Tuesday evening at Kaihinu.

The anniversary ball at Albert Hall, Ruatapu, is fixed for Wednesday, November 21st. The Black Hand Orchestra will supply the music.

The order of Alasses and Devotions in St. Alary’s Parish on Sunday, November 11th. will be as follows: —Arahura 10 a.m., Hokitika 8 a.in., 10 a,ui. ( and 7 p.m.

There will he a practice game on the bowling green to-morrow afternoon. Players are requested to he in attendance by 2.30 p.m. sharp when sides will he chosen.

Air AY. Newman, of Newmans Alotors Ltd., has advised Air AV. E. Williams, President of the Westland Racing Club, that he is prepared-to donate a goldmounted whip to the rider of the winner of the AA’estland Op at the Hokitika race meeting, for which event Air R. Adamson, of Ricearton, lias donated a handsome cup. Air Newman’s gift lias been accepted with thanks.

Air H. E. Holland. Leader of tbe Opposition, addressed a capacity house at the Town Hall, Greymouth, last evening, where he received a most attentive and enthusiastic hearing from perhaps the largest election meeting seen on the West Coast during the present campaign. At the conclusion a vote of thanks and confidence was carried.

The news of the purchase of the steamer Gael for the South Westland service has given great satisfaction to many of the southern settlers. The purchase lias been arranged personally by the directors and secretary, on behalf of the company and the shareholders will lie asked to confirm this action later. The steamer will be due here next week, and at once enter the southern trade, proceeding first to Okuru for which considerable freight is offering.

The Westland County authorities were advised yesterday that the Public Works Department had made a grant of £750. being £3 for £l, towards the cost of protection at the Little Wanganui river erosion where the river menaces the Harihari settlement. The settlers are to find £l5O and the local body £lO9. a'ml the work is to he carried out by the County Council. Tbe plant for tlie work and the necessary material are now being assembled, and will be in charge of H. Reynolds under Overseer Alillner. Air Johnston, District Engineer, will be visiting the work next week to arrange ad to thv location of tbe protection work and tlie angle at which it should be carried into the stream. As the situation is a menacing one, every expedition is to he shown in the matter.

The death of Mr Gerald Thomas Joyce occurred early yesterday morning following an operation the previous day at the Grey Hospital for the removal of a goitre. Deceased, who was 50 years of age. was a native of Greymouth, and was educated at the Marist and Greymouth High schools. He left New Zealand when a young man. and joined a survey party in Tasmania. ■ On bis return to New Zealand lie was engaged in quartz mining at Reef ton. Returning to Greymouth, ho joined the Gas Works staff, leaving there to join the literary staff of the “ Grey River Argus.” Tn recent years lie had been Greymouth representative for the Christchurch Press. He leaves a widow (formerly Miss Hill, of Omoto) and one daughter. He was the youngest son of the late Mr Thomas and Mrs H. M. Joyce, of Murray Street, Grevmouth, and a brother of Air W. J. Joyce, solicitor. One of Nature’s gentlemen. whose kindly genial natuie made him a favourite everywhere, the passing of Gerald Joyce is deeply iegretted hv a wide circle of friends, and by none more than by his fellow pressmen among whom lie was very populai.