POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4891, 16 October 1925, Page 2

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

MR. POLAND AT PAEROA. AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING Mr H. Poland, who has represented Ohinemuri in Parliament since 1905, and who is again a candidate, addressed the electors in the Gaiety Theatre on Monday evening and gave an account of his stewardship. Mr W. Marshall, Mayor of Paeroa, presided. In opening the meeting Mr Marshall expressed his thank 0 for the interest taken by Mr Poland in matters concerning the borough. Mr Poland had served the district faithfully and well for 20 years, and there were not many in Parliament with a greater term of service. (Applause.) Commencing his address, Mr Poland thanked, the Mayor for his remarks and said 'hat at his meeting in Springdale Mr F. Walters, chairman of the Piako County Council, and a strong Reformer, had presided, and had referred to the great appreciation of the County Council for the services of the speaker. He had also a letter conveying a resolution of the Tauranga County Council Voicing appreciation of his services. The candidate said that he had done simply his duty, and now came before the people seeking their contiued support. He had been in Parliament for an unbroken period of 20 years, but he had stood at the election 23 years ago against a Liberal and a Reformer, and had been defeated. He had been a strong Liberal, but during the past six years had stood as an Independent Liberal, as he had seen the vicious effect of being tied to a party. Prior to his election Ohinemuri had never had the same representative for more than three years. He again came before the electors with every confidence that he would be returned. He had never been a strong party man, and had never given a “pair” in the House in his life, as he objected to have his vote recorded on any subject on which he* had not heard the discussion

Mr Poland explained .the viciousness of the system of “pairing,” whereby men often had their votes recorded against their convictions ; and the still more vicious system of party politics, undei which, no matter what a man’s views were o?n any particular question, he had to vote with his party, right or wrong. He was again asking the right to vote as his conscience dictated, and dp his best for the country. Were he a. party man it would be no use him advocating things which the party did not favour, as he would have to vote for the party against his convictions. He had been charged that he’had voted with Labo'ur, but he voted on all matters as Ins conscience and his sense of fairness dictated, and if he happened to vote in the same lobby as Labour members it only proved that he and the Labour members agreed on that particular issue. At the first division in the last session there had been a vote of no confidence in the Government and he had voted against the Government. The Liberals had walked out of the Chamber, and in the second division they did the same; but on the third division Liberal and Labour and he voted against the Government. At a later division on a particular issue he hfld voted with the Government, although it was a no-confidence motion.

■ The Government, said, the speaker, did not have the confidence of the country as a result of last election At that election the Liberals had won 11 seats from Reform and Reform had only won .two seats from the Liberals. The Liberals had lost seats to Labour, as that vote had meen increased from 9 t 017. The Government was returned with 38 supporters. No one could say what the position would be after the election, and no one should take any notice of the “He.'ald.” Whatever the result, we would vo.te as he believed right, and would not be tied down by any party .tie' .to vote against his convictions.

Discussing the Government, Mr Poland said that he had no objection to any item in the Prime Ministers manifesto ; but there was no policy in it. It was all generalities The country required a vigorous land policy, but nothing was being done. In 1919 the Government had proposed opening up 750,000 acres under the Homestead system, but after six years not one settler had been put on the land under .that system. There, were thousands of acres of second and thirdclass land in the Auckland province, and with manures this could be made productive. The land would be taken up if it was made available on satisfactory terms, but as there was no such land available the population was drifting to the towns. Millions of acres were held by only a few people. There was an Act to deal with such estates, but it was not brought into operation. Land liiid been bought for the settlement of soldiers, but it was impossible to ascertain from the Government who sold the blocks for soldier settlers, what price was paid, and what the Government valuation was The Government had been helping its friends at the expense of soldiers by purchasing lands at .the vendors’ prices without arbitration. The valuations had since been reduced, but the vendors had not been asked to refund any of the exorbitant sums they had been given.

The soldiers, said the candidate, were still not being fairly treated, despite the reductions which were being made. The soldier settlers were cn the land, and had their homes, but if butter-fat fell they would still be in a bad position. At the time of the 1919 election he had seen Crown sections at Patetonga being offered for selection to soldiers at a price which he considered quite unreasonable. Soldiers who had not seen the land had applied and secured the sections, and now, after five years, the Government had to remove them, with their houses and everything. If the land had been offered at 30s an acre there

would have been an excuse, but there .. . was no excuse whatever for the. Gov- • ernment charging from £l4 to £2O ah acre for it. Mr Poland said that the Government claimed .to carry out its duties economically and without extravagance, but the present Prime Minister had stated in 1920, when he became Minister for Public Works, that he had found that department in a state of chaos—obsolete methods in use, no system of stores control, practically waste and extravagance in every direction. When he took over Railways in 1923 the same position was disclosed, .and he how claimed to have instituted business methods in those department, and also in the Post and Telegraph. If, however, the facts were as stated by Mr Coates, what about the Lands Department, the Agricultural Department, and the other departments. Was it not fair to assume, said Mr Poland, that waste Wais going on in these departments also, and an overhaul of their methods was very necessary. The late. Prime Minister had said that no matter .what party was in power waste and extravagance would creep in, in time. PENSIONS. Mr Poland said that credit was due to the Government for having increased the old-age and widows’ pensions. The Old-age pension had been introduced by Richard John Seddon 27 years ago, and it was then the greatest humanitarian Act of any country. The pension was then 6s lid a week, and in 1905 it was increased to 10s. In 1917 it was increased by the National Government owing to the tremendous increase in .the cost of living to 15s, and this year to 17s 6d. Widows’ pensions had also been increased by the Reform Government. New Zealand was a year behind with its old-age pensions, compared with Australia, which now paid £1 a week, having raised the amount last year to 17s 6d and thi- year to £1 Mr Poland said that he claimed credit for having had the exemption of the home included in the amendment of the Act.

. Regarding war pensions, Mr Poland said that he was of opinion that the board had been very unsympathetic, and was reducing soldiers’ pensions more than it was justified in doing. In regard to miners’ pensions, the speaker said that in 190 S he had got a clause put into the Compensation Act providing that a miner should receive the same consideration if he contracted miner's complaint as for an accident. This, however, w.as repealed in 1909. In 1910 the Liberal Government had brought in the Gold Miners’ Relief Fund, and in 1915 the National Government had passed the Miners’ Phthisis Act. Today the relief was 35s a week for a married man and 25s for .a single man. This was far from being sufficient, and in thinking thus he was supported by members of all parties.

The Government had in 1911 promised an Invalidity pension, continued the speaker, but so far it had done nothing. If the country could afford to reduce taxation, including the taxation on racing clubs so that the Auckland Racing Club which was now only paying the same as it did 30 years ago could have its taxation reduced, then the country could afford to pay a sickness benefit and also better pension benefits. THE UPPER HOUSE. Discussing the appointment of members of the Upper House, the candidate tsaid that the present Government had opposed the present method of appointment when it was in opposition, but when it came into power it continued the same scheme. He had supported the abolition of the Upper House in order to get a reform of the system. INSURANCE.

lii regard to compensation for' injured workers he (Mr Poland) hhd always advocated a monopoly of accident insurance by the State because by such a method injured workers would be able to get full Wages and full medical and surgical expenses, and the employers would not be called upon to pay any more than they paid at present.

Last year, said Mr Poland, £700,000 was paid as premiums to insurance companies for workers’ compensation, and only half that sum’ was paid out as benefits. The 37 insurance companies operating in New Zealand were making enormous profits. The solution was to take the accident insurance out of the hands of private companies and put it in the handis of the State. Permiums could be paid at any post office, and at least 95 per cent of the money paid in should be available to be paid out.

In concluding, the candidate repeated that he was standing as an Independent, pledged to no party. He had lived in Paeroa for 31 years, and had represented Ohinemuri for 20 years, so the people knew his record, his views, and his mistakes He asked them to give him their votes and return him at the head of the poll as before.

Only two questions were asked the candidate.

In moving a vote of ,thanks to and confidence in Mr Poland Mr W. Forrest said that he had been one of Mr Poland’s first supporters and had followed his career very closely. He knew that Mr Poland was held in very high esteem by members on all sides of the House. (Applause.) In the House Mr Poland did not speak much, but when he did speak notice was .taken of what he said. Mr Poland’s character was without blemish, and the electons could have perfect confidence in returning him as member for Ohinemuri. (Applause.) It was one of Mr Poland’s strongest recommendations that he was an Independent. The whole of .the parties were in a state of flux, and only the Independents knew where they wtere. (Applause.) The motion was seconded by Mr Krebs and carried with enthusiasm.