BYE-ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1930, Page 5

BYE-ELECTION

REFORM CAMPAIGN OPENED.

(By Telegraph—Press Association). WAIPUKURAU, September 22. A large and enthusiaastie audience assembled at the Municipal Theatre to hear Mr William Tucker, Reform candidate for Waipa bye-election make his first 1 public appearance before a Waipukurau audience. Mr Robert McLean (Mayor) presided. Mr Tucker was supported by Messrs A. M. Samuel, David Jones, H. M. Campbell, (M’sP. for Thames, MidCanterlmrv, and Hawkes Bay.) The meeting was opened with a vote of .sincere condolence for the widow and family of Sir G. Hunter. Mr Tucker was accorded a rousing reception. Mr Tucker said Mr Massey served New Zealand as a trusted, tried, and faithful Prime Minister. He then eulogised Mr Coates. He .said he was the best man in the Dominion to-day as a leader of a government. He then paid a tribute ,to Mr Downie Stewart as a Minister of Finance.

The speaker dealt with tapering off the borrowing policy of the Reform Government, and made a comparison with the United Party. The 1928 election was largely between a policy of an increasing against one of a decreasing rate of borrowing, He was satisfied New Zealand now realised it made a mistake, He quoted as United extravagance United Ministers’ travelling expenses, as seventy-seven per centum. Speaking on the United Party’s 1928 manifesto, he said that were the consequences of the aftermath not so terrible, the ridiculous assertions and promises would be laughable. He referred to the savings bank, reform of the Legislative Council, railway construction, taxation, customs, finance, and unemployment. The railways, Mr Tucker said, it was desirable to put under a board of directors, instead of. political control. To make railways pay it was necessary to obtain co-ordination with the motor transport interests. They would build a good road at £6OOO a mile, while railways cost per mile £24,000. Dealing with | land settlement,- Mr Tucker did not favour settling the improved estates, but he agreed with the Reform Party’s group system. He thought croWn lands settlement should receive greater consideration-. ■ By putting settlers in with cheaply advanced money, they charge them rental - on the basis of wlmt the land would produce. As .showing how Reform had helped farmers, Mr Tucker quoted the subsidy for herd testing, and for exports of fruit, pork, eggs, and honey. At the conclusion the speaker made a plea for support for his party. Mr Samuel, M.P., said Sir G. Hunter was loved, and had lio enemies. He regretted his demise. Addressing the audience, he said it must be apparent to everyone that a political stocktaking should be carried out, -"He did not ask the electors to vote for Mr Tucker, but for his party, which had principle and was capable of governing in an able manner. Mr Samuel dealt fully with what he termed the birth, life, and coming demise of the United Political Party. He said unfair tactics were used against Mr Coates, who was a man of the highest integrity, and honour and moral character. He said the United Paity s manifesto had fooled the country, and instanced propaganda in the 1928 election, saving the Government never fulfilled its election pledges and promises. The speaker, dealing with the United Party’s financial policy, said they had budgeted for big money They spent every penny.

The national credit of New Zealand, said Air Samuel, was also good under the Reform Party. He condemned the United Party’s land settlement scheme, advocating greater attention as necessary to crown lands in the way of development. He said that the Labour Party were dominating the United Party, but had thrown principles away.

The speaker referred to the accumulated surpluses. He said that these had been used by the Reform Government in carrying on progressive works including the thirteen and a-half millions sterling spent on returned soldiers. The United Party, he said, saw to it that no person escaped taxation. He said the Budget was not framed by the United Party, but by the Head of the Treasury, and other officials. The working man was taxed too heavily. Labour, rather than face a general election, sacrificed the workers In conclusion, he said the electors owed a duty to weigh the pros and cons in a businesslike manner, and then do what was best for the Dominion and return a man capable and not found wanting.

Mr David Jones also counselled the electors to remain loyal to the Reform Party, and the memory of Sir G. Hunter, to whom lie paid tribute. The speaker quoted Sir Basil Blackett as follows: "Nowhere in the world were principles of sound finance better understood than by the Government of New Zealand.” He advocated curtailment of borrowing in view or lower prices. He dealt with the development of agriculture and research, also farmers’ credit. What had the United Party done, lie asked. The Government offered seventy millions without a penny additional taxation. The first year they got £2,300,000 additional taxation, and £2,500,00tA

additional expenditure. They lefP the country with a surplus of £150,000. In the next statement they prepared for a three million deficit. The United policy appeared to bo the high road

to prosperity. They had continuarfy been increasing taxation. The United policy appeared tb be doing the sowing and the Dominion to be doing the reaping. Ten millions were to be spent, in completing the main trunk lines. Mr Forbes stated in March 1928, that no further lines should be built without an exhaustive inquiry. They went to the country with the wildest railway policy possible. Mr Coates moved that session for a full inquiry, but he was ridiculed and out voted on a motion by the United and Labour The cost of construction showed, a loss of £733,000 per annum. Now the United Government- had set up. a committee to inquire, which previously was refused! In v the meantime'Ua thousand men were put on railways. Now they wanted to know if they v eye worth while beginning. He quoted the Railway Statement as showiug an increase in loss over last year, of £788,: 000, He said that in the Reform Party’s last two years, the ruiiw.ys paid four and one-fifth per cent. This year they had one point sity per cent. The main loss the speaker contended, occurred in incompetent auministration. Returns showed 374 more men on the railways than the previous year. It was part of Sir Joseph Ward’s promise to find work for everybody in five weeks. The United Party’s attitude to the Main Highways Act was the worst case of retrospective legislation in British Parliaments. Unemployment under the Uniteds had been expanding. When Reform went out of office, the unemployed numbered only 1823 men. The problem was not serious. ' Taking all figures at present, they indicated Government workers and other unemployed at ten thousand men during the eighteen months the United Party were in Office.

REFORM ECONOMY. He referred to the Colonial Ammunition’s contract. Mr Jones 1 said that when troops left for Gallipoli they took all available ammunition, so. that without this contract and ammunition works in New Zealand, soldiers would have been without. Votes of thanks and 'confidence were carried with acclamation,