WAIPAWA ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1930, Page 3

WAIPAWA ELECTION

UNITED CANDIDATE

MR J.ULL OPENS CAMPAIGN

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WAIPUKARAU, September 24. Before a packed audience, Mr A. E. Jull, the United candidate in the AVnipawa bye-election, delivered a campaign speech in liis home town, Waipawa, to-night. Mr G. H. Hunt, the Mayor, presided. The candidate, in commencing his speech, deplored the demise of Sir G. Hunter, tfie late member. He said that it was eleven years since he (Mr Jull) had contested the Waipawa seat. He" expressed the hope- that they would fight the present contest in a friendly spirit. The 1928 election, said Mr Jull, had caused a surprise to the Reform -Party supporters, hut the result was due to the Reform Party’s administration, which had developed into an orgy of expenditure. Apart from the war debt of seventy millions, the Reform Party was responsible for having increased the- indebtedness of the country by one hundred and fifteen millions. Yet in spite of its borrowing the Reform Party had left a deficit of £420,000, and it also had left an accumulation of lour thousand up-, plicant-s for land under the Advances to Settlers Act, these aggregating a’ sum of £4,169,2m). and many of the applicants being from eighteen months to two years in arrears. The late Sir Joseph Ward had inspire:! the Advances to Settlers Act, and since the United Party had assumed office in 1928, they had added six millions sterling to the fund; of the Advances to Settlers Department. They also had made advances aggregating eight millions. Sir Jo'cph Ward in 1928 had succeeded in converting twenty-nine millions of Dominion loan stock on good terms, the holders receiving £4 15s 3d per cent for the period under the new stock: Tri addition the loan of seven mil ions floated in London had been floated at four and a-half per cent at £95. the interest being £4 16s 5d to the investors.

Distinct cleavages 'between the policy of the United and the' Reform Parties were evident in respect of their attitudes to the question of land subdivision.

Mr Jull pointed out that "the Ur i ted Government had disposed of 2.886 crown holdings, on all tenures, comprising 623,600 acres up to June 30th tout. A new era had 1 been opened with the amendment of the Act in; 1929, whereby financial assistance was being given to the persons taking up undeveloped crown latid, who 1 could also secure advances up to ninety per cenft of the value of the development work approved by the Land Development Board. 1

Dealing with the railways, Mr dull Said that this was an important ouestion. The construction and administration return showed that 345 miles of railways were under construction. The programme would fall short of paying the estimated working expenses and interest by £737,000 per annum, and included in this programme was the Napier-to-Gisborne line, with 121 miles of it still to complete. The estimated annual loss on the line was £283,000. He also quoted other non-paying lines, namely, the Rirfkopuni line with a loss of £26,000 per annum, and the Okaihau line with a loss of £35,000 per annum,. In view of the fact that last year’s operations had resulted in a loss of £1,211,000, it was clear that the gravest- attention must be given to the programme. Railway construction was lor 1 the purpose of developing the resources of the country, but there was a limit to what the finances of the Dominion could stand.

Mr Jull pointed out that when the Liberal Government left office mi 1912, the General Manager of Railways received a salary of £1,200 per annum, but during Sir W. Herr os' term as Minister of Railways, a G-n era] Manager from England was appointed, and liis salary was £3ji.O a year, for a period of five years. At the end of his term, Mr McVilly was appointed and his salary was also £3OOO a year. Then Mr McVilly was retired, at a salary of £2OOO a year, in brder to make room for a Board of three members to carry on the management for a year or so, and these members were given retiring pensions of £2,500 a year. Later Mr Coates asked Mr H. H. Sterling to come hack as sole Manager for a term of seven years, at a salary of £3,500 a year, and at a pension of £2,300 a year. Then, after four years of Mr Sterling’s engagement still to run, the Reform Party made as one of iits planks a demand for non-political control in the management of the Railways. Mr Jull then dealt with the costly yards equipment that had been introduced that were made at Wellington and at Auckland. He also dealt with the costly scheme of workshops, expenditure. The new station necessary at Auckland was to cost two millions. He referred to the Wellington reclamation, also the Taw a Flat deviation, stating that the cost of-this was two millions seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Fortunately, said Mr Jull, the United Government had shut down . the Palmerston North yards expenditure that had been authorised at £800,060, of which £350,000 had been expend. 6d; There was no prospect of increased traffic from this.

Air Jull dealt at length with the *vt rl<. ho; s cuflry and with the matter o. lulling stock. Le said that Napier-1 hostings ' Inis service was showing a loss of £7920 last year .his being due largely to the pirate taxi services. Dealing with education, Ali' Jull said that the annual expenditure was now four and a-half millions a year. The Minster, Hon. Mr Atmore, desired the agricultural bias in education that was necessary in a country that was dependent on primary industries. This was appropriate. The Education Commission had brought down a comprehensive report showing that the present- system had developed into watertight compartments of primary, secondary and technical. He suggested that a large saving in administration coud be made by closer co-operation of effort. Mr Jull referred to the ammunition contract. He contended that, the dominon defence was much h<unpered by this many years contract that was let to supply ammunition, and calling for the supply of five millions rounds of ammunition an-, nually. This had in 1924 been reduced to three million rounds a year, but that was on the increase of one pound per thousand in the price, and also another seven and a-half per cent for the lesser quantity.

Dealing with the new Budget, Mr Jull said that the Hon Air Forbes had shown courage in placing the Dominion’s financial cards on the noble. He had contended that unless savings were made and additional taxation were accepted, the result would be a deficit, of three millions. When the Reform Party loft office said the candidate, there was a deficit of £425,000. Last year. Sir .Joseph Ward’s : budget had produced a surplus of £150,000. . Arr Jull referred in detail to taxation, and to Alain Highways. He also briefly referred to the petrol tax. Regarding unemployment, he contended that the provisions of the Unemployment Bill were reasonable. The scheme- would serve a number of good purposes. Mr Jull explained the sustenance fund and said the Reform Party desired to- delete that fund, hut the Labour Party had sided with the United Party on the point.

Referring to hydro electricity, he instanced how he had agitated for AVaika remoan a to be made the major scheme. The Reform Government chose to proceed with Mangahao, and that at enormous expense. He s*ill hoped that the Arapuni scheme- costing over two millions, would not- yet be a complete failure.

Speaking in reference to Air Forbes attending the Imperial Conference, Mr Jull said that it was unfair and unbecoming of the Reform Party to suggest as they did that the Premier had cleared out, leaving the Dominion in an alleged unfinancinl condition. Air Forbes was highly respected. Air Forljes did not pose as any superman, but be was competent, capable and consistent,', and he was actuated ny the desire to serve New Zealand to the best of bis ability. •Air Jull' said be did not seek tor political honours, but., in response to a unanimous request, he had decided to stand. If lie were elected, he would do his best for the electorate.

A vote of thanks to the candidate and an expression of confidence in the United Party wore carried hv acclamation.