OHINEMURI ELECTORATE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4490, 10 November 1922, Page 1

OHINEMURI ELECTORATE.

MR. 11. POLAND’S OPENING WELL ATTENDED MEETING AT MANGAITI. Mr H. Poland, who has represented the Ohinemuri electorate f.or the last seventeen years, delivered the initial address pf his campaign for re-elec-tion at the Mangaiti Hall-last Monday evening, when there was a good attendance of electors. Mr C. E, Mace presided, and briefly introduced the candidate, saying Mr Poland was' so well known that he hardly needed an introduction. He had proved a very good and faithful representative over a long period. One - of fits greatest achievements was probably the initiation and strong advocacy of a comprehensive scheme for draining what was" 17, years agb a useless swampy area of tremendous size,. Now tibe Piako Swamp has become the wonderfully rich Hauraki Plains, than which no better farm land existed in the Dominion. Mr Poland was welcomed with applause. He modestly disclaimed full responsibility fon the Hauraki Plains reclamation scheme, but he confidently asked for threo-fourtlhs of the votes of Mangaiti district. He was and ab ways had been a Liberal, though he would not tie himself to any particular leader. He preferred to be an Independent Liberal. Mr Poland paid a tribute to the Reform administration for its progressiveness and tenacity in carrying on the Hauraki Plains reclamation. However, the Government had not been so successful in some ot'hier undertakings. He blamed the Government largely for the slump that followed the Great War. Loan moneys had been raised, and interest on one loan alone had to be paid at the rate of £6 16s Id per £lOO. Cheap money was essential to the prosperity of the Dominion, and this money could have been obtained. In 1911-12 £2,700,000 was received for the Advances' to Settlers Department. Last year that Department had. its allocatiffn cut down to £1,200,000. This was a very unwise action.

After referring in eulogistic terms to his political opponent as a gehtlei man find as a soldier Mr Poland referred to Mr Alien’s statement that when the Reform Party came into power the Treasury coffers were empty. Mr Poland quoted Sir James Allen’s figures showing the annual: surpluses ranging from £700,000 down to £37,000. Before the war the surplus in London was £17,000,000, but the Reform Government had utilised the whole of this. Despite the greatly increased taxation the cost Of administration tad increased steadily. The Reform Government’s claim that it was the salvation of the country wis not justified by actual facts. The Government’s land settlement scheme had been a failure, for practically only spldiers' had been enabled to obtain land from the Government. He quoted the Otago Crown Lands Commissioner's report, wherein it was stated that the purchase of blocks of partly,-improved land for closer set-, tlement was a failure, for the prices paid were too high. Parts of the Hauraki Plains'were striking examples of the failure of the Government’s land settlement policy. There, lani that had cost approximately £5 an acre to improve had been sold to soldiers at £2O an acre in areas up to 120 acres. The soldier settlers had been on one block for three years and they had not been able to pay even one year’s rent! The candidate explained his advocacy of giving the right of the freehold to holders of national endowment lands, much of which was in the Ohinemuri and Thames electorates, The Minister’for Lands had last session inserted a clause granting the right of the freehold., Mr Poland declared himself a convinced supporter of proportional re-< presentation to ensure that the successful candidate was the elect of the majority of the electors. Former methods in this connection were not ideal, but were better thap the present system. The Reform Government in 19.11 had pledged themselves to do away with the Second Ballot and introduce some better method. This had not been done. The abolition of the Upper House was .another broken pledge of the Reform Government. The Upper House for years past had been - nothing more than a useless extravagance. An Upper House should compose only a dozen members to revise any legislation passed through Parliament. The candidate declared himself a keen educationist, Teachers should be better paid, and t'he Education vote could be increased with advantage to the State. If Railways departmental heads were paid from £3OOO down to £llOO, why were the leaders of education. only worth less than half the latter sum ? The greatest need of the country to-day was improved educational facilities.

Last year the State Advances Office had £2,000,0'00 available fpr loans to settlers and workers, but that money was largely advanced to other departments, despite clamours for assistance by workers and settlers. What money was actually advanced to these classes was only what had been repaid by earlier borrowers. Referring to agricultural banks Mr Poland said the persistent advocacy had been caused by the Government’s failure to utilise the powers of the State Advances Office. No agricultural bank was any good without a Government guarantee behind it. The Bill introduced last session was not worth twopence, and merely beggared the question. The State Advances

Office could easily be empowered to meet all demands. Mr Poland next dealt with the Butter Control Bill', saying a mass' of evidence had been tendered to the Parliamentary Committee. Most of the small companies—co-operative and proprietary—opposed the scheme. The big co-operative companies were strongly in favour. The Bill was a wise one, but undoubtedly it could be improved. He .hoped that there would be wiser counsels when the Bill was reintroduced . next session. Shipping freights were abnormally high, and only concerted action could secure a satisfactory reduction, even to the extent of establishing a State line of steamers to transport New Zealand produce to the English market. A State shipping line was a growing necessity. (Hear, hear).

Mr Poland also advocated a State insurance scheme to take over the business’ at present conducted by the 35 insurance companies operating in the Dominion- Only half of what the employers paid for accident insurance actually reached the injured employee. AU thie rest of the mopey was “incidental expenses.” Twb of the big insurance companies last year paid 79 per cent .and 73 per cent interest on their original capital. The big shareholders and directors were the most prominent people in the cities, and any Government seeking tp cor-t rect the trouble would be faced by strong opposition. But. it must be done.

Referring to his opponent’s statement that there were only two parties, Reform and Labour, Mr Poland said that when he entered Parliament in 1905 the present Reform Party was composed of only 17 members. The Liberal Party at present had 23 members. If the Liberal Party was not wprthy of consideration now, what about the Reformers in 1905 ? QUESTIONS. Mr M. Fitzgerald asked if the candidate wouS.d endeavour to have carried out Mr Massey.’s promise of better educational facilities for backblocks children. Mr Poland said he would give general support, at all. times to such a scheme.

Mr Poland said he favoured promo-i tion by merit in the Civil Service, on general principles, but no cast-iron rule could be Oaid down.

To another question the candidate said that the freehold option for mining lease properties did not apply to minerals.

On the motion of Messrs M. Fitzgerald and W. .Johnstone the candidate was accorded a. very hearty vote of thanks, by acclamation, for his interesting address.