THE OHINEWURI SEAT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4493, 17 November 1922, Page 3

THE OHINEWURI SEAT.

mb. POLAND AT KEREPEEHI. Mr H. Poland, Independent Liberal candidate for the Ohinejnuri eelctor■ate. addressed the Kerepeehi electprs on Wednesday evening. Mr A-' Chatfield was elected to the chair. There was an attendance of about 60. The chairman, in introducing the candidate, said Mu Poland was’ well known in the district, especially in his efforts in connection with the development of tihe Hauraki Plains;. Mr Poland, before going into politics, said he had. that day met a man who had asked, "How is it you only come out here when you want a vote The man had said Mr Poland did not come .tp the local sports gathering. Mr Poland said there were half a dozen sports meetings on that day and he did not go to any of them. It was not the duty of a member of Parliament to go tp sports meetings. The man had said, “You did not come to our show.’’ Mr Poland said he did go to the show, and also to the pne before. He continued that he did not have a motor, car; he did not even have a trap. He had a borrowed trap. Three years ago he had a borrowed motor car, and he was trying to borrow another one now to see him through the elections. He was only a small dairy farmer, and he had all his time occupied'during the recess. While he bad beep in the House he had: in every possible way and at every opportunity endeavoured to push on the development pf the Hauraki Plains, .not forgetting Kerepeehi. He stressed the fact that he was an Independent Liberal He was not a supporter of Mr Massey, but when Mr Massey brought in something that would benefit the country he voted

for it. Criticising land settlement under the Reofrm Government, Mr Poland said that since 1920 there had been . no land on the Hauraki Plains opened up. How much of the Urewera Country had been opened up in the last ten years? The Government was still negotiating with the Maoris. The peat land near the Patetonga tramway. lie said, did not cost more than £3, £4, or £5 per acre to open up, and it was not fair of the Government to charge the settlers 1 £lB to £2O for it. His esteemed opponent had charged him with voting top often with Labour, or, as he put it, "Labour often voted with me." He voted, he said, as he considered was in the best interests of the people of the Dominion. Also.he would always vote against indentured Chinese labour in Samoa. If there was ever an independent member required in New Zealand it was to-day. Loyalty to epuntry was better than loyalty to party. He resumed’ his seat amid loud applause. QUESTIONS. Mr Jones asked if the candidate was in favour of the taxation Of bachelors. The Candidate: Only as a last resort. If you are one f P’ty you. (Laughter and applause.) In reply to Mr G. A’.' AVey the candidate said the best way to increase the. revenue pf tihe Postal Department was to bring the charges down. / To Mr W. K. McLean the candidate said'he was in favour pf an agricultural bank on the right system. Mr Lu A. W. Bagnall: In the event of a ho-confldence motion by the Liberals or Labour, which way would the candidate vote ? Mr Poland said his position was the same as three years ago. He would vote against the Government if the Liberal’ Party moved a vote of no confidence.

To Mr. J. Twist he said he claimed "that Labour had its rights and claims in the administration pf the country. He did not favour extreme Labour tactics. He supported genuine Labour.

Mr Jones': Is it hot a fact that the New Zealand returned soldiers have received more sympathetic treatment than those in 'any other country? Mr Poland said He had /eard it said so. He did not know what the other countries were doing. Mr Lowden: Would you support a Bill for compulsory secondary educar tion?

Mr Poland: No, I wouldn't. It’s not possible at the present time. A VOTE OF THANKS.

Mr J. H. Nicholson proposed a vote of thanlre to Mr Poland and the motion was’ carried by loud acclamation. Mr Poland said he did not want a Vote of confidence. He knew it would come on the 7th, but he wished it left out at- the meeting. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.