GENERAL ELECTION AIR SEDDON IN THE SOUTH

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1928, Page 6

GENERAL ELECTION

AIR SEDDON IN THE SOUTH

Yesterday Air Seddon moved south from Boss, leaving early in the morning. At mid-day lie spoke at Waitaha ►settlement to a gathering of settlers, Mr W. Ellis being in the chair. A cordial vote of thanks and confidence was accorded the candidate by the meeting.

During the afternoon Mr Seddon visited several settlements south, including Kakapotahi, Pukekura and Evans Creek, stopping at each place to meet the residents. He reached Wataroa at 7 o’clock.

At 8 o’clock at the Alatainui Hall Air Seddon faced an audience of about 80, practically all parts of tbc Wataroa district being represented. In the absence from the district cl Air 4V. H. Chinn, AI.C.C., Air G. Nortbcroft occupied the chair. Mr Seddon bad a cordial reception and was listened to attentively. He spoke on several matters of heal interest. He congratulated (be district on arranging a local medial service and was glad to have been of service to them in adjusting the subsidy p •ymeiit. He felt sure Dr Bell would give them faithful service. There was one question at the close of the. speech. Amotion of thanks and confidence was moved by Air T. Mcßride, seconded by Air W. Smith, and carried with ontnusinsm.

To-day Air Seddon is visiting Okarito and Wailio Gorge, and speaks at the latter place to-night. His reception in the south has been very cordial all along the route, and many expressions of thanks have been made for the great improvement in road and bridge access, as well as the promises for many additional votes for further necessary works in the southern territory.

SIR JOSEPH WARD

INVER. CAR GILL, November 8

At the Municipal Theatre, to an overflowing audience, Sir Joseph Ward, Leader of the United Party, delivered his principal address in his own electorate this evening. He spoke foi nearly three hours, and was given a most enthusiastic and patient hearing interjections being entirely absent Outside the theatre there was a crowd of about 1,500, who listened to the speech by means of loud speakers. Referring to his loan proposal, Sir Joseph Ward said his opponents were suggesting that he was proposing to borrow £"0.000.000 in one year. This was quite wrong, and they, as well as he, knew that. It would he impossible to borrow such an amount in one year, or, if he had to, to lend it out in one year. Future settlers and many of the present settlers should have the opportunity to secure money at 4;] per cent, to enable them to stay on the land. People were being driven off the land and in very many instances this was due to their inability to obtain advances.

According to the Government figures, he said, 13,000 had left the land during the last three years, and generally this had been because they had been unable to make a living, and were starving.

It was the speaker’s object to completely change this. He" would issue ■\\ per cent bonds for a term of 32-J years. Investors at Home sent to London each year £400.000,000 off Now Zealand money for investment, and he was proposing that New Zealand '•onid secure portion of this capital. It was easy enough for the state to procure the money—he himself had procured ' £30,090,000 twenty or thirty years ago for land settlement. If that was possible, then was it not possible to borrow £60,000,000 in ten years for putting thousands on the land? H was proposed to set aside 25 acres of land so that a home could be provided for anyone wlio wanted it. The money would be available at 4-:, 1 per cent, on leasehold, and money 'for the erection of homes at 47} per cent would also he obtainable. At the conclusion of his speech, a vote of confidence was carried with very lew dissentients.

:\'IRS YOUNG SILENCED

WELLINGTON. November 8

Scenes bordering on ihe disorderly were witnessed in the Early Settlers Mali to-day when Mrs Margaret "Young, Independent Labour candidate for Wellington Central, addressed an. audience composed entirely of women. When the candidate rose to speak she met with a hostile reception, her remarks being punctuated with interjections- of a personal nature. She was hooted frequently, and before she had concluded her speech, was howled down by a crowd off frantic women. The meeting broke up in some disordei.