GENERAL ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1931, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION

Air J. W. Greenslade, Coalition candidate, is bringing his tour to a c.ose today and to-morrow. Although the time at his disposal ha.s been brief, the candidate has covered much ground ranging from Weheka in the south to Totara Flat in the north, and Otira in the east. Air Greenslade expresses great satisfaction with the result of his tour and is very sanguine of the result of meeting his highest hopes and expectations. He has made many friends throughout his tour, and has been most encouraged by the promises .of support accorded him.

To-day Mr Greenslade met Hon. E. A. Ransom at Otira, and will arrive here this evening with the Alinister, after winch Air Greenslade proceeds to Ross where he speaks at 8.30 o’clock. To-morrow he will tour the electorate as far as possible, speaking at the Westland Hospital in the afternoon and having a final rally at Greymouth in the evening.

A NOISY MEETING. (Bij Telegraph —Per Press Association) BLENHEIM, November 30. The noisiest political meeting at Marlborough dor many years ‘took place at Pieton on Friday night, Mr Healy (Coalitionist) being subjected to continual interruption by an apparently well organised minority. The Mayor of Pieton presided and appealed for a fair hearing and was solemnly counted out, while a motion thut the Chairman did not possess the confidence of the meeting met with howls of assent, from the rear of the hall, was drowned by warm applause from the front. The candidate got home more than once on interrupters. At question time there was a perfect deluge of prepared questions one ol which the Mayor refused to put on the ground that it was insulting. ' At the conclusion a motion of thanks was carried. Ah' Healy took the opportunity to remark that fortunately noise did not count, he depended oil the silent vote and was confident of the result. PUBLIC SERVICES. further coalition attack TAUMARUNUr, Nov. 28. Mr H. E. Holland, the Labour Leader, adressing a crowded meeting at Ohura last night, .said Air Coates had said that the fight of the Coalition was against Socialism, by which he meant the social legislation proogals put forward by the Labour Party. They could only take from this declaration that Air Coates was pledging the Coalition to cany still further the attack already made against social services of the Dominion and the social campaign ' would, of necessity, cover the whole range ot the Public Serice. The railways already were as good as under private control.

Referring to Mr Forbe’s latest statement that the Labour Party bad been invited to join the Coalition Mr Holland said that referente to Hansard woud show that when this matter was before the House Mr Forbes expained in effect, that h * invitation had been to the Reform Party and “all others who bad the interest of New Zealand at heart.” The Prime Minister had argued that it was for the Labour members to say whether they considered that they came within the latter category. When Mr Forbes, who was continually shifting his ground, announced that he would not permit the ,Special Economic Committee to conclude its sittings unless there was argument to form a national Government and to postpone the e'ection. Labour memb- „•<, rightly objected that this was no party of the work of the Economic Committee, but no invitation as suggested had ever come from the Prime Minister himself. Any such invitation would, as a matter of business and courtesy, have come in writing and the record of it would he on the files. Mr Forbes was really asking tb e public tu believe that, as Prime Minister, he discarded the methods of business and courtesy.

MR FORBES GKEERED OTAKI, November 28. Hon. G. W. Forbes this afternoon addressed a large gathering of electors. and received a cordial reception and a splendid hearing. He covered a range of subjects, especially public finance, and also dealt with the formation of the Coalition. He referred to the attitude of the Government reguarding the 'selection of candidates. He advocated lightening farmer’s burdens. Regarding public service cuts, he severely criticised the . Labour attitude. He predicted a slackening oi depression, and referred to farmers as J the back bone of the country. He maintained more production was wanted, and favoured giving them assistance. Mr Forbes said he considered the Arbitration Court should be more elastic. The Government, he said would see to this. Ho criticised promises made by Labour. Three cheers wore given, followed by “For lie’s a .Tolly Goccl FVl’ow,” in which the ladies 'predominated, and there were further cheers. j MR PETER FRASER. MASTE.RTON, November’ 29. Mr Peter Fraser, Labour, addressed a meeting of about seven hundred at Master-ton last night. He made a bitter attack on the press, particularly the Wellington papers.

Mr Fraser said: The leader writers found it easier to heave muck at the Labour Party than to heave dirt on relief works with the long handled shovel! The press, from one end of New Zealand to the other, he declared, was owned by the enemies of Labour, ana Labour expected its opposition. Dealing with the railways, Mr Fraser said that while the new workshops were full of costly plant that was being but little used, a thirteen thousand sterling order for axle boxes, which could (easily have been made m this country, had gone to Sweden. UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURE. ALLEGATIONS BY LABOUR. WELLINGTON, November 28. The Secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party, Mr Walter Nash states: “I am reliably informed that an order for axle boxes to the value of £13.000 has been placed in Sweden by the | Railway Department. All the n-ecea-I sary plant for the manufacturing of these axle boxes is available in the (Railway Workshops from which the men who could have made the boxes have lately been dismissed. Mr Forbes, as Minister of Railways, must accept the responsibility for the action of his Department.” MR ARMSTRONG’S EXPOSITION. " CHRISTCHURCH, November 28. Mr 'H. T. Armstrong addressed a crowded meeting of about 600 peopie, many failing to gain admittance, in the Sydenham Football Hall.