BY-ELECTION CONTEST

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1929, Page 7

BY-ELECTION CONTEST

ROLLING TO-DAY

M R RUSH WORN US POLICY

The attitude of Mr H. M. Rusiiwort'n, Country party candidate for the Hay of Islands seat, to the United G.jVcrnmeiiL was explained by him in the course of his address to a large meeting of electors at I|ikiiraugi.

Mr Rusliworth said that after Parliament met for the short session Sir .Joseph Ward interviewed him and asked what his attitude towards a United Government would lie. He had replied that lie would support, any party which would take steps to restore the economic balance. He had informed Sir Joseph Ward that the Country Party considered the decided cheek to land settlement and the unemployment problem were closely linked together and were the result of the disturbed economic balance. They wanted land settlement to be rosumd on sound lines and unemployment to disappear. r l hey iound a disparity between the rewards and amenities of the primary producer as compared with the rewards and amenities enjoyed by people engaged in other occupation.

HOW TO REMOVE THE INEQUALITY.

The problem was, bow can that inequality he removed? There were two ways: (.1) Hv reducing the rewards and amenities of the people in other occupations; or (2) by increasing Hie rewards of tlio.se on the land. The first was impracticable, and, if attempted, would load to discontent, agitation, strikes, lock-outs, turmoil and finally bloodshed, with the community worse off than at first. Ihe Country party said definitely and dogmatically tlfat it was possible to increase the rewards and amenities of people in the country without- aflecting those in other occupations. People on the land had a margin of reward —the difference between the cost of production and the price they received for their produce. This reward could only be improved by lowering the cost of production or increasing the price of -products. The latter was beyond the control of the producer, who depended upon world market prices. ' How was the cost of production to be decreased? The first thing some people suggested was to reduce the wages of workers, which was quite wrong, for they failed to realise that wages were high because the cost of living was high. The first remedy was to remove taxation from the necessaries of life. These, said Mr Rushworth, were the arguments of the Country party which he had addressed to Sir Joseph Ward during the interview referred to. Sir Joseph agreed with him and said that the first thing the Government intended to tackle was a free breakfast table. Ho (Mr Rushworth) also drew attention to the stranglehold which big financial interests exerted on the country, which they had squeezed like an orange. The great need was to restore the juice to the orange. The combine (particulail\ the hanking combine) must, be broken before there would be any chance of reducing the cost of living. Ihe two changes must he made simultaneously. A CONDITIONAL UNDERTAKING.

“] understand Sir Joseph to say lie know of the power of the financial combine and that he was prepared to break it.” Mr Rushworth said. He seemed to have a grasp of the problem and suggested means of grappling with it, At the end of the interview [ told him T was prepared to give an undertaking to support him and his administration so long as he was working on the lines lie had suggested; to prepare a scheme whereby land sett lenient could go on in a natural way and the cost of production Ik* decreased. Hut if his Government relapsed into the state of stagnation which hail been allowed to exist, 1 reserved iny right to do my duty. I stand to that to-day. I will support Sir .Joseph Ward so long as lie and his Government are “delivering the goods.”

R FPL IKS TO QUESTIONS

In reply to Mr Nesbitt, a Labour supporter. Mr ltnshworth said the revenue of tin* country should he raised hv taxing people according to their ability to pay. lie told Mr 1). K. Young that he had not .discussed with (Sir Joseph Ward the increasing of income tax, Imt if the Prime Minister made a free breakfast table the deficiency would have to be made good. This would surely mean raising the income tax. in reply to another'questioner the candidate, said that if tin* tax were taken oil' bread wheat growers would have to he subsidised temporarily, as was (Lue with the coal mine indiislrv in Britain.

Ho was in favour of daylight saving, providing steps were taken to meet east's of genuine hardship caused hv it.

WHICH PARTY?

MB. ALL FA HULL’S ALL KG IA NCI*

OK A 111 AG, April f,

The audience which Mr Allen Bell, Reform candidate for Bay of Islands, addressed in Okuihnu this evening, was equally divided in political opinion. A vote of thanks was moved, and as an amendment it was moved that the meeting was unable to pass

a vote of confidence, as it did not know the party to which Mr Hell belonged. The chairman declared that equal votes had been recorod for and against the amendment.

Mr Hell, in the course of his address, said the people having decided on a change of Government, lie would support any good legislation brought forward— legislation which he considered in the interests of New Zealand and his electorate. In previous campaigns he had given no promise and made no pledges, and he made none now. When ho was returned as nielliher for tin* lkiy of Islands next Wednesday ho would continue on the same lines as previously, throwing his whole energy into the development of the North. Tie wanted to he romomhorod as the host, hack blocks .member who ever sat in Parliament. 1