MOTUEKA SEAT

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1932, Page 5

MOTUEKA SEAT

FIXING THE DATE / ADDRESS BY HON. R. McKENZIE. (Per Association — Copyright.)' WELLINGTON, October 31. This week the Government Avill announce the. date of the Motueka byeelcction. Tentative fixtures are before the Cabinet but no decision has yet beon reached.. ■ It is understood itlie choice lies, betAveen Wednesday, November 23rd., and Thursday, December Ist., with the latter date as the probable selection.

Nominations Avill be closed about a fortnight before the election. Formal preliminaries Avill take plac e in the House on Tuesday, Avhen Mr Speaker will issue his warrant to the 'Clerk of Writs, directing him to issue a writ to supply the vacancy. The writ Avhich discloses the dates of the election and. the closing of nominations, is expected to be issued on Wednesday. -' MOTUEKA, October 31. Hon. Mark Fagan, .who arrived last AA’eek, proceeded to Cbllingwood in th e interests of the Labour oandidate, Mr P. O. Webb. Expressions of regret have been received by Mr Harry Manoy that medical advice la against his ‘acceptance of 1 nomination as a candidate,

Mr R. J, L. York, Independent, is still definitely in the field, according to a statement made to a press representative, He is evidently awaiting developments.

It is reported that Cabinet Ministers lare coming to take part in the campaign.

Hon. R. McKenzie opened his campaign at 'Collingwocd Public, Hall on Saturday night. Ninety 'attended. Before making a trenchant criticism of tlie C'oailitiorh Government, the candidate) remarked that he had come forward on this occasion because he felt that it was his. duty to do so. Thirty-nine years ago he had addressed his first political meeting in Colllirgwood.

5 “I have, no admiration for the Coalition Government,” proceeded Mi McKenzie. “Its bungling policy is not to 'he (tolerated, and much , of the country’s money, ha® been Avasted.” The public debt Av f a.s now £200,000,000, whereas 39 years ago Avhen,- the Liberal Government held political sway, it Avtas only £38,000,000. During the past 12 years the -country had not been reoetiAUng full value for the money spent. Thousands of .pounds, he said, had been wasted on unnecessary and unproductive - work, - ■and-'- the ilmit of this extravagance had long been passed. “I am standing as an Independent Liberal-Labour candidate in order that I may vote in the way I consider best in the interests of the country,” declared the candidate, “and I feel eu-re that the trust and confidence of the electors of this const-itutency will he placed in my hands for the next three years.” (Applause). Mr Coates ran the country almost entirely into debt, and there was absolutely no limit to his expenditure. Mr Forbes, .at the outset, hipd a 'leaning to Labour, and did! well, but he would have done better if he had continued thqt policy, instead of throwing in his lot in the formation of a Coalition Government.

1 Speakkg of Mr H. E. Holland, the candidate said he respected him a lot of the time, and had 1 found him trustworthy and honest. He opposed the Government’s new banking profposal, also the present treatment of public servants. Tlie Government had no Public Works policy to speak of ,to-day, and he did not ihink it ever bad much. He oppo-ed the railway policy. The building of bitumenised roads alongside the railway, and then opening tlie Avav for motor competition, Avas a short-sighted policy. He complained the school 1 age was raised from five to six, whilst the .learning age was the same, which was a hardship to mafiy people. Only the wealthy people’s sons could be doctors and lawyers. How could the Avorking people of this country be expected to support 100. CLO unemployed, ias at present? The land .policy to-day was ( unsound. The un'emnloyment taxation not fair. He would! sooner support Labour in some things than the Government, as he wasi largely against the letter. If returned. Ire hoped to join Messrs Rushwoijth, Atmoire, and Wilkinson, if th©A r played fair with the electors. It was Avrong in principle l to extend the life of the Government, which had been elected for three years. It could only be don© by constitutional means and the consent of the electors.