HIKUTAIA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4498, 1 December 1922, Page 3

HIKUTAIA.

POLITICAL ADDRESS. Mr , g g. Allen, the official Reform candidate for the Ohinemuri electorate, addressed .a meeting at Hikutaia in the hall on Monday evening, when Mr A. R. Robinson presided over a fair attendance. The candidate, wno spoke for over an hour, was the re cipient of an excellent reception, his’ choice English, lucid and logical, arg-, uments, and the sincerity and, honesty with which, he Expressed his views, free alike from diatribes of abuse and personalities, won favour with his auditors, who appeared to be deeply impressed with Mr Aden’s personality. After giving reasons for his candidature and his preference for Mr Massey as a leader in preference to Mr Wilford, Mr Allen deprecated any cut in the education vote, appealed for more and better provision for defence, “ the national insurance for the cpuntry’s; safety,” and advocated economy and efficiency in all State departments. The land policy of the Labour Party, as laid down in Mr Holland's platform, wao as impossible as it, was unfair, and was made a plank wherewith to catch votes rather than as a serious proposition, which, to brijng dairy farming into line connoted a cow that would refuse to deliver her milk outside the 40 hours that comprised the labour week. The Bill dealing with the dairy pool contained several classes that he objected to, but these,' no doubt, would be, eliminated when the Bill was brought down for discussion in the House. Taxation was at its maximum limit, and the party to which he belonged, aware of that fact, would reduce it in conformity with the needs of the Dominion. He was of opinion that, the Reform Party would be returned to power, as it was the only party that qould steer the country through the difficult times New Zealand is passing through a l , the present juncture. A strong Government was a sine qua jnon, and it was the duty of all electors to vote. Only one question was asked, the voter inquiring whether, if he were elected, he would reduce the salary of members of Parliament to the lowest rate of pay earned by the labourers. Mr Allen said he would not. A vote of thanks to the -candidate and a similar courtesy tp the chairman brought the meeting to an end. NEW HALL MOOTED. The Bowlers’ Ball and the bazaar . held last week showed the inadequacy of the hall accommodation and ap- ' polntments. Tp remedy this state cf affairs a local syndicate, we are credibly informed, intends to erect an up-to-date hall, with dressing and other rooms, on ,a site near Mrs Corbett's new residence. The syndicate holds an option over the site proposed-