GENERAL ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1928, Page 6

GENERAL ELECTION

AIR NFI)DON’S CAM PAICLN

Mr T. E. Y. Sctklon, the silting incmljoi' for West-land is rounding off his campaign. Yesterday at noon lie addressed the stall' at the Railway Uork.shops, Greynionth, and was accorded a good hearing. The Mayor of Greymouth (Mr Grcenslade) presided. A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded .Mr Sodden on the motion of Mr G. Morrison, seconded 'by Mr Green.

During yesterday afternoon Mr Noddon visited the southern outskirts ol Greymouth, and spoke in the evening at Camerons and Gladstone. At t Informer centre Air .1. Murdock occupied the chair, and following the candidate’s address. Air Mc-Connon was the mover of a vote of thanks and confidence. On being seconded by Air Dallcie the motion was put and carried. At Gladstone. Mr .1. Keller presided. Again thanks and confidence were accorded Air Neddon. the motion being moved by Miss Keller and seconded by Afr Gunltcr.

Air Soddon to-day expressed great gratification with his reception at the country meetings, and with the cordial feeling shown him. He has had many assurances of solid support, suggesting a marked improvement in the polling in his favour on this occasion.

THE LAST SPEECHES

HON. AY. D. STEW ART

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

'INVERCARGILL. November 12

The Minister of Finance, Hon. \V. Downie Stewart, addressed a large audience here this evening. He said, that so far the most serious statement made by Sir .Joseph Ward was bis open declaration that he would on a no-confidence motion ally himself with the Labour Party to unseat the Deform Government. This statement was almost more important than his borrowing proposals, if the electors, lasaid, had time to realise its full implication.

The speaker doubted if a single United Party candidate would be returned to Parliament, .it Was the first time in the history of New Zealand that any responsible third party leader had agreed to tie himself at the chariot- wheels of Labour for the purpose of ejecting the Government. It might bo argued that the matter was of no importance, or that not sufficient candidates would be returned to give effect to Sir Joseph’s purposes; but tlamere fact that he would Ik- willing 1o combine with the Labour Party was sufficient to condemn the whole United Party, except such a member as bad expressly stated that lie would in no case vote with Labour on a iio-ronfi-lence motion moved by Labour. The .Minister then dealt with Sir Joseph Ward's loan proposals, stating that neither in his original statement, nor in. any of the revised statements bad Sir Joseph proved that his proposals would not cost the taxpayers a penny in either direct- or indirect taxation. In fact the opposite was only too obvious. The answer that Sir .Joseph made to all criticism was that lie had himself initiated and made a success o>f the State Advances Office, and therefore lie would also make a success of this new loan proposal. His (the Minister’s) reply was that the reason Sir .Joseph had made a' success ol tl- - Advances Office was that lie never lent money through that office without a reasonable margin to cove: expenses and show a small profit. Ili> (the speaker’s) main difference with Sir Joseph was that lie obviously proposed to lend money at less than cost and that a loss must be borne by tin taxpayer.

“If tlie electors wish to replace llie present Government.” said Mr Stewart, “they should replace it by a Government that will borrow less than us not by Government that will borrow a groat deal more, and lend it out al less than cost price.” At the conclusion of his address, tin Minister was accorded an ovation, tin audience joining in the singing o' “ For lie’s a- Jolly Good Fellow.” / vote of confidence in the Government was overwhelmingly carried.

WARD’S M AN IFESTO. INVER CAE GILL, November 12. Tlie Lender of the United Party, ?>'' fosepli Ward, lias issued the followin'? appeal to the people ol New Zealand “ We are now on the eve ol the general election, and 1 confidently ask th< people of the Dominion to serious]'consider the policy of the l. niter Party. Tiy your votes on Wednesday vou will he asked to decide whether the exodus from the lands in the interior is to continue, whether the Unemployed problem is to become moic acute; whether the financial stringency is to increase; or whether you wil boldly adopt the policy enunciated In me, which will ensure to the settler.and the workers the necessary finance on long-dated, easy and safe term* will give a fresh impetus to settlement ■ will open up new avenues of employment, and generally will stimulate enterprise and production, so that the Dominion will he able to absorb its unemployed, and prevent the serious troubles arising therefrom, which were greater last year than at any time during the last 3o years.” “For some time now it has been generally admitted that a change in Government was necessary by large, numbers of business men. farmers and workers. I would strongly recommend them not to lose this opportunity of helping to restore substantial financial conditions and so improve the opportunities for the people by their own efforts to greatly better their position. The United Party consists of people

olf all classes Liberal, National, Reform. and Labour. I lie I uiti-d Parly is much more widely supported than our opponents. I regard this as one ol the most momentous in ptir history, and coiilidenl ly aw ait- Ihe issue.”

TIIIS PREMIER IN THE NORTH A l'( 'K LAND. Not ember I-’.

Tbe Prime Minister. Air t oates. arrived lien- to-day. He addressed two women’s meetings ibis atlernooii. and (liree meetings in the suburbs in-mg!il. In bis final message io the electors, lit- says: Two i|iicstioiis only have io lie answered by the electors ot New Zealand on Wednesday, and only two parties' have seriously to be considered. Tbe electors have io say, whether they desire the return of the Relorm Government-, which lias been a (■oveinment. of the people for the people, a Government which has a record ot do finite achievements for national welfare and a clearly defined programme for future development ; or whether 11,0 V will commit- Hie all'airs of tiecountry into the hands ol the Labour Socialist, group. “ Alv laitli in tiepeople of New Zealand. Irom receptions which have been accorded to me personally, and a statement ot the Government’s ease and reports I have received from all electorates load auto only one conclusion—that the electors who have studied the political situation arc in a- majority, and that they will say to the Government to carry on. Throe years ago I appealed to electors to give ihe Government- a '.sound working majority. That appeal was not made in vain. To-day I asl; for a renewal of their confidence. Supported hy the energy and industry of the people, we have steered flucountry through times ol stress and difficulty. Tlio status and credit of New Zealand has not only been maintained, but lias never been higher, i am entitled, therefore, now that solid prosperity is once again williin our reach, to ask ob-clors lor another sound working majority in Parliament to enable ihe Government still further to put into operation it-; sale and progressive policy for advancement of tin Dominion.”