POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4495, 22 November 1922, Page 3

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

THE THAMES ELECTORATE!. MR. W. A. ALLEN AT NGATEA 1 . A SYMPATHETIC HEARING. Mr W. A. 'Alien, official Liberal Labour' candidate for the Thames electorate, addressed about 70 or 80 electors in the Ngatea Public Hall, on Monday evening. Mr J. Costello was elected to the chair. Mr Allen was given a very sympathetic hearing, and though many questions were asked, they were by no means hostile to the candidate, who was not subj eted to the ordeal of interruption. The chairmap, introducing Mr Alien, said it was quite important to hear every side, and it would be quite characteristic qf the district to give the candidate a good hearing, Mr Allen, speaking of the hyphenated words "Liberal-Labour,” referred to his party as the revival of Mr Seddon’s' ideals.. Mr S'eddon had said that the solid prosperity of the people did not depend on the town or country, but oa the colony as a whole. The candidate denied that there was any alliance between Ms party and the Labour Party. He was attached to nothing that was extreme, and he would not appreciate the designation of "Red Fed.”

THE. GOVERNMENT AND WASTE. The candidate spoke strongly against the waste in the Govornmem departments. For this waste the Government must be held responsible. Quoting from a report of the Auditor General concerning waste, extravagance, and neglect, he said there wa, a want of proper control or a proper system. This’ Auditor-General had been given the "walk out.” This Auditor-General had acted for the country and not for a party. BREAKING UP TRUSTS. The candidate attacked the policy -of the Government for allowing trusts to exploit the public. He referred particularly to the Cement Trust. This country was getting more and more like "Yankee Land,” and was getting in a ring of trus.s. They would soon find themselves breathless with exploitation. His party was against trusts and monopolies.. If the Liberals were returned to power there would be a, drastic investigation into all trusts, and where it could be proved properly by very careful investigation they would not ask for fines—fines were easily paid—they would ask for imprisonment. The Liberals were anti-waste . and antf trust, and were out for economy without interfering with efficiency. Amongst the exploiters of this country the Government, be thought, could find a place; BANKS AND RAILWAYS. .

Dealing with, the banking system, the candidate said: “We want cheaper money, and we’ll get cheaper money.” Agricultural banks would lean heavily on State banks for support. One bank in New Zealand, he said, made so much, profit th|at it dared not tell what profit it made, and gave it to the officials. It would be advisable to help on a State bank for New Zealand. That was ohe plank of the Liberal-Labour Party. His party, said the speaker, was out to alter the general trend on the railways. They were out to have a thorough investigation in the rail ways. It would be best to call in the best business’ men in the country to thoroughly probe the matter. In spite of all attempts there was still this constant waste. In spite pf the fact that the trains had. run 600',000' less miles last year, they had gone £BOO,OOO deeper into debt. The Government appeared to be in a "blue funk,” Mr Massey included, and yet they did not know where to lay their hands on the leakage. The Liberals were out to economise. EDUCATION.

There were superfluities, continued the speaker. A doctor could attend schools for pure love and so cut out the medical inspector’s salary. That would mean only a few thousand, but every mickle made a muckle, and if they could solder up a few of! the holes they could stop a lot of the leakage. If the parents could teach their, children to cook they could do without copkery instructors. Then there were agricultural experts to teach how to plant leeks and sow carrots. He said he had come to the conclusion that Ngatea, with all its possibilities, deserved a school worthy of the place instead of, two small buildings. (Applause.) If he had anything to do with the future Government he would have a school worthy of the piace. AH the House would not keep him fljpm voicing his, opinion. RETRENCHMENT. Dealing with retrenchment, the speaker said" all platforms agreed that there should be retrenchment. The annual, expenditure in New Zealand was £28,000,000, of which £12,000,000 could not be reduced. The other £16,000,000 must be reduced by cutting down, the Departments. THE FARMERS'. The farmers, he saidj had had a hard tijne, and when he locked back over the past few years he had wondered how he had survived. He had once thought of making golden butter. A Voice: Four bob a pound. The Candidate: Yes. Continuing, 'he said his party favoured the revaluation of overvalued land, and not the postponing of the interest, which was against the soldier settlers’ interests. His party stood, he isaid, for stable policies, strict economy, lower taxation, encouraging enterprise, co-op-eration, clean government, principle as against opportunism, and Liberal doctrines, ideals', and policies as enumerated by John Bright, Richard J. Seddon, Ballance, and Sir Joseph iWard. He resumed his seat amidst applause. QUESTIONS. Mr Kraiger: Are you in favour bf four years’ exemption for bush and ■swamp land ? The Candidate: Certainly I am. Mr 8. Bradley: Have you any platform for the 87,000 homeless people

in New Zealand ? The candidate: You are dealing with the housing problem. Mr Bradley: Yes. The candidate said the Liberals were out tp gather wisdom frpm the failures of other folk. The Government scheme had not been a success. .Mr Titchener: Do you include the Upper House amongst the superfluities ? Mr Allen : I think we can get along just as well without them. And we could thereby save a tidy little bit. To a written question Mr Allen said they had come tp tjhe conclusion that the State should help in the insurance of the worker. While the worker was ill he should be given his usual wage. (Applause.) Mr Schultz: Would that also apply to the “cockie” ?

Mr Allen : I would most certainly say it does; he deserves it. The “cockie” was one of the most hard worked men In this country. He never knew when his work was ended.

Mr G. T. Davidson asked how the candidate would proceed with breaking monopolies if some of his friends were concerned in it.

Mr Allen said they would proceed independent of fear of favour and with impartiality. A profiteer was an enemy to society. Mr Titchener asked his attitude in relation to the cut in the civil servants’ salaries.

Mr Allen said the Liberal-Labour Party was determined that there should not be a third cut. They also advocated that the cuts should not apply to those earning less than £320 a year.

Mr Davidson said that in making up income tax a man and his wife were not allowed to put their labour in as a charge. He asked the candidate’s opinion. Mr Allen said the same system applied in England. Ho thought one should be able to gauge one’s own work, and should he able to put ones work on the wages list for income. Mr Bradley asked if the candidate was in favour of the P.aeroa-Pokeno railway.

Mr Allen said it was an important railway, but a costly one. He would certainly advocate it, but he would not advocate it until he knew the minds of the people generally. Mr J. McConnell, saW lie had .heard that Mr Massey received IV2 per cent, on all the loans he raised. The candidate said he could hot say thiat. He knew that thousands of pounds’ worth o£ machinery bought at high prices was now lying rusting. He would ask this : Who got the commission ?

Mr Davidson asked why were there two Liberal-Labour members standing in the same electorate. Mr Allen said he and Mr Whiteside had met. Mr Whiteside had not been recognized by Mr Wilford as a Liberal-Labour candidate, yet that gentleman refused to stand down. It was a pity that this had arisen, and he hoped that Mr Whiteside would see the wisdom of standing down. Mr Davidson : Are you really taking him seriously ?

Mr Allen: I don’t think the majority will take him seriously. Replying to Mr Titchener, who asked for his ideas on immigration, the candidate said that if they could get the best capable men to come out here it would be all right, but first find room for the present unemployed. Mr Kraiger moved a vote of thanks and confidence to the candidate. Mr Hemmings suggested that it only be a vote of thanks, .as some may not wisli to show how they wou.d vote.

The former motion was carried by a large majority. A hearty vote of thanks was.,passed to the chair.

Mr Allen phased complimentary remarks on the way Mr Costello had controlled the meeting.