POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2063, 4 December 1919, Page 2

POLITICAL.

LARGER RALLY AT FOXTON. ' A Labour Rally in’ the Cjfj Town Hall on Tuesday itwt. There -‘*' was a fair attendance. The prc*si- -q dent of the local branch of the New Zealand Labour Party (Air Rpwlntt) occupied the chair, and introduced IjC, the speakers (Messrs A. C. Hi liter, 1 . Mamuvatu Labour candidate, and P. Fraser, Labour M.P. d'or M’ellington Central!. Mr Ilillier said that since he last spoke in Foxtmi he had been rigid through (lie e!e< torale, and bad met with a good reception. Ills meetings ™ at the northern end of I he electorate where he had thought that probably his reception would have been cool, were the most enthusiastic he had held. Mr Ilillier said lie had very carefully read what his opponent, Mr'Newman, had said in hi- speech at Foxton, and he could find very little to criticise in it. One point touched upon by Mr Newman which he wished to refer to was the question of land aggregation. Mr Newman had stated that he was against land aggregation. 'Phis appea )•(?& s to be a popular cry, but the speaker said lie would prove tlml Mr New--man had voted in the House in 1018 ' in favour of land aggregation, in that session “The Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public. Bodies Empowering Act” was passed, Mr Nowumu voting in favour of it. This Bill included the following, clause: — “Tim M'ellington Land Board is hereby authorised and empowered to sell to (he owners of adjoining land Section 1, Block ViH,, Rangitolo Survey Dislriel, nig mm hundred and sixty three acres, mm rood, more or less, at a .vifA price to bo mutually agreed oa between 1 lit* said Land Board and Hie said owners of adjoining land, or, : ey: in default of such agregucnl, at a A; f price to be determined by arbitration in manner provided by Section nine of ‘Tim Laud Laws Amendment Act, iniii: and it Jus expressly declared that the said owners of adjoining land shall, not withstanding anything in law to the contrary (whether in regard to restriction of area or otherwise) be entitled to acquire and bold Urn said land; and; the District Law Registrar is hereby > empowered and directed upon a sale as aforesaid being effected, to regis-ter-any transfer or other instrument vesting the said land in the said owners of adjoining land, or any of them which but for (he provisions of this section would or might, have been required to be made.” A ppm:- ) ently the owners of the adjoining land already owned as much land as the law allowed them to hold. If this was not land aggregation, was it 1 Mr Ilillier said this was an instance of the sincerity of the Alas- , sey Parly on the question of land aggregation. He contended tlmty 1 ’ this land should have been thrown open to (ho public. A Patriotic Society in the district had tried to get it for the returned soldiers, but had ■ been unsuccessful. The speaker , contended that the Massey Party was not sincere in its claim to he opposed to land aggregation, and ho asked his hearers to give very careful consideration to this matter. Mr Ilillier then proceeded to explain the various planks of the Labour platform, which included Electoral Reform, providing for proportional representation, the initiative, referendum, and roe all. At the present time the country was governed by Cabinet, and the Cabinet controlled by one man. The Labour Party was out to restore to the people the power to govern themselves. A great deal had been said about the leaders of the Labour Party. The Labour Parly recognised- no leaders; every man having the right f to give free expression to his views, provided they were in accord with the platform of the Party. The chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Parly was not the leader of that party, and the platform was manufactured by the whole of the members of the Parly, and not, as was the ease in the Reform Party, by one man, Mr Massey. Mr Ilillier said the llmd question was the basis of our civilisation, and on this matter the Labour Party stood for land ownership on the basis of “occupation and use” only. Speculation in land values must be put a slop to. The Party also stood Hr State ownership, a Slate Bank', Stale shipping, and State insurance. In conclusion, Air Ilillier said he wished to touch on the proposal to make it compulsory lor our youths to undergo four months’ military training, Sir .James Allen, in the South, advocated 'this term, and,-' Air Massey, in the north, was saying that there had never been such, a proposal. Mr Hillier contended the Massey Party was not to be trusted in this matter. When, during the war, a proposal was made to, conscript youths of nineteen, a letter of protest was sent to Mr Massey, Sir James Aden, and Sir Joseph M'ard. The three replies were dated from the various Alinisterial offices the same day, Mr Alassey, in his reply staling that no such proposal had been before the . eminent. Sir James Allen said no decision had yet been arrived at, although ..the - matter had been considered by the Government. Six* Joseph M'ard was more “cute” than : the others, as his- reply was, “A our protest will receive my earnest consideration.” To say the least, Mr Ilillier contended, that the.-e throe letters proved that some one was “very careless of the trutn. In a view of the above, could the-. Massey Party be trusted in the matter of military training? asked Air Ilillier. As far as heVas concerned, no was absolutely' opposed to the proposed four months period. Mr Fraser said that he appeared

before them for the purpose of advocating the cause which Mr Hillier represented in the Manawatu contest. Mr Hillier was a trusted and <gMk k d man in the Labour movement, *wno had always done his best in the interests of Labour, and be earnestly hoped that the people of Mana- • watu would return him as their representative in Parliament. He said the Labour Party could be joined by anyone who was willing to support its platform, and the members contended that this platform was in the interests of the useful.people of the community. He pointed out that Mr Hillier had been selected to contest this election by the whole of the members of the Labour Unions and branches of the Labour Party in the electorate, whereas his opponent, Mr Newman, had either' selected himself or had been pushed into it by Mr Massey. *Thc speaker said he had been asked through the Press to say why the Labour Party does not make loyalty to King and Empire its fundamental plank; also to justify tlj£ “go-slow” policy. Mr Eraser 'said the Labour Party was as loyal as any party could be to the Constitution of New Zealand, as an integral part of the British Empire. At the present time the Empire was a limited Monarchy, and the Labour Party did not say, and no party could say, that no change in this would come about. Loyalty must be to the people of the country and Empire as decided by the majority of those people, and the Labour Party was loyal to the Constitution as at present, and would be loyal to

any Constitution decided upon by v the majority of the people. With a great many people in this country who opposed the Labour Parly their loyalty began and ended with themelves and their own pockets. Ns far as the “go-slow” policy was concerned, lie would point out that the Labour Parly was a political body, dealing only with politics, and had nothing to do with (he industrial section of the communily. Personally he was opposed to strikes, and had never yet met anyone who was in favour of them. Ju connection with the coal mines, Mr Fraser said there was a great deal of profiteering going on. Coal was cost - ing the consumer in Wellington from £3 to £3 3Os Od per ton, and all the miners received for hewing the coal was from 2s (id to 3s per ton, the balance being taken by the coal companies, the shipping companies, (he merchants and the re tilers. The miners received the least of the lot. lie contended that national ownership was (lie only remedy. Dealing with the question ot war profits, Mr Fraser said that up to October 3.lst, Jol7', the war profits totalled the collosal sun ot lortytive millions. These enormous profits were made out of the needs of the people of New Zealand, and the starving people <>f Groat Bril am. Mr Fraser briefly referred to the legislation passed during the war period, contending that the Deform Government and the National Government had throughout shown a great deal more consideration for the interests of Wealth than they had for Unman Life. He said the Massey Government stood tor Wealth and the Labour Party tor Humanity. He criticised the raising of war loans free of income lax, which meant Unit the large investor were gelling interest equal to seven and eight per cent, on the money invested. The Labour Party had opposed conscription, contending that it instead of five shillings per day, the soldiers were paid the highest trade union wages there would have been no . need for conscription. If necessary, the Labour Party said, every man who stayed at home should also have been put on the same footing us far as wages were concerned as the men who went away, ns they contended that people should not make money out of the blood of their fellows, and should not take advantage of the extremity of their country. The Labour Party also advocated the conscription of wealth, and when Mr Cvaigie, Liberal member for Oamaru, said he would support it, Sir Joseph \\ ard . was horrified, and said it would amount to “legislative robbery,” and would be a blot on the escutcheon of New Zealand. Another instance of the consideration for the interests of wealth as against human life, said Mr Fraser. An excess profits tax had been imposed, but after one

year was repealed, Sir Joseph A arcl I staling that it was not a success, and had been thrown out alter being tried by other countries, alt: Fraser said that the excess protits lax was still being collected in Great Britain, and was most successful. It should never have been repealed in this country, A tax of threepence per pound on tea had been imposed, instancing again that the interests of the family were nothing as compared with the interests of wealth, according to the party in power. Mr Fraser said that the National Government had made no effort to reduce the cost of living, or prevent profiteering, and (pioted figures in support of his argument. He concluded his address with a spirited denunciation of the provision for allowing indentured labour in Samoa, and drew attention to the very great evils that were associated with this class of labour. He referred to the awful conditions that had existed in Fiji among the indentured labourers, and which were brought before the public in a report from Mr Anderson, Methodist missionary there. It would have been far better for New Zealand to have refused the mandate rather than tolerate indentured labour in : Samoa. Mr Fraser concluded with an appeal to his hearers to support Mr Jlillier. ‘ The only question asked was by

the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, as follows; Are you in favour of (1) Continuance, (2) State Control, (3) Prohibition, (4) To prevent strife, would you favour the licensing poll being taken every nine years, instead of three years us at present. Mr Hillier said lie' supported the Labour Party’s platform on the licensing question. He was not in favour of taking a poll once every nine years only, but would favour the licensing poll being taken at a time other than at the general election. ' Mr C. C. Band moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded both speakers, also that this meeting has every confidence in the Labour Party. This was seconded liv Mr J. Hannah, and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair and cheers for the Labour Part} concluded the meeting. Mr B. Smith: Will Mr Field give us a definition of an extremist? Mr Field: The socialisation or nationalisation of land and capital — where men are seeking to do away with capital —that is going to extremes. Mr Smith: Would you term the people of I/cvin extremists, then? (Laughter.) They have socialised the gas supply, the water supply, and they own a large block of land in the business area. Yet during the war they never raised the price of water, gas, or land a penny. (Applause.) Mr Field: By all means let the State have its share and the municipal bodies their .share, but leave the land now in private occupation where it is. if the gas and water can he Jim better by private enterprise, let private enterprise do it, but if they are being run satisfactorily by the borough, leave I hem as they are. Mr Field went on to point out that only last session he had hoard dial flic Government proposed to sell the land purchased in Levin for workers’-dwellings, lull he at unco objected to the Stale parting-with Die laud, or any part of it, and as a result the proposal was dropped. A Labour voice; You are very nearly an extremist. (Laughter.) .Mr .McAllister; What sort of man would you say he was who advocated shouldering a rille against his political opponents '! Mr Field: I am a most peace-lov-ing individual, and would he the last to talk of taking up my gun. When 1 spoke at Palmerston of shouldering a rille I was only talking of a sudden eruption of Bolshevism in our midst. A voice : Oh, rol! Air Field: i had in mind the French Revolution, and that in Bussia, and said we might have I hat in our lime, and would have to resist it. When have 1 ever incited .the tanners to shoot down the workers? Why, dash it all, some of the workers arc my very best friends. Why should 1 want to shoot them down? A Labour voice; In the event of the Labour Party being returned (o power —(laughter) —will Mr Field join them, too? (More laughter.) Air Field: Emphatically, No!

A question whether he would accept office in a Liberal Government in which .there was a “Ked fed’ element was asked of Mr L. M. Isilt at a meeting addressed by him in Christchurch on Thursday evening. “No! 1 would not!” Mr Isilt replied. "T don’t understand how dense some people arc. Hir Joseph Ward has stated —T heard him with my own ears —that he would not hold office at the mercy of Extreme Labour. I say the same thing, .now, I have to bo very careful. (A Voice: Yes.) Wo cannot prevent Extreme Labour voting with us against Mr Massey; but suppose (counting on his fingers) that, by the aid of five votes —”

A voice: There will he more than five!

Mr Isitt: Well, I was thinking there might he only throe! Me 11 take three! (Uproar.) Supposing that, by three, votes of Extreme. Labour, we could heat Mr Massey, and by one vote turn him out of oliice, I would not vote against Mr Massey —that is delinite and .clear! It, however, the Liberal Party had a working majority, I would vote against Mr Massey because I am a pledged supporter of the Liberal Parly, I would a dozen times rather see Mr Massey and the Reform Party in power than I would see (he Independent Labour Party. (Applause and heckling.) Just imagine! Just imagine for one moment, Mr Holland as Prime Minister!

A Voice: Good man! Good luck to him!

Mr Isitt; And Mr Fraser Minister for Defence, and Mr Howard .Minister for Finance —

A Voice: They would be better than vou!

Mr Isitt: But it is too awful—l won’t go any further!

The greatest employer of labour iu New Zealand was the Government, said Mr Aright, next in turn coming the various municipal bodies. The 30,000 Government employees were the servants of the State —the people. “Are these employees slaves'?” asked the candidate. “Yes,” replied a chorus of voices from the Labour section of the audience. “Well,” retorted Mr Wright, “they are working for you. You are their masters. You are their employers. 1 am surprised that you have slaves working for } ou. It was apparent that this well-directed slot discomfite’d the candidate’s,opponents, for they evidenced no desire to carry the discussion further.

Auckland is sharing the experience of some other parts of the Dominion in regard to the mixed nature

of the candidates’ meetings. hilst meetings addressed by Labour candidates, are generally very orderly, and in many eases devoid of incident, those held by other candidates, during the past few days have been characterised by considerable interruption and heckling. A marked instance of this occurred on Monday evening at a meeting addressed by Mr A. J. Entrican, Liberal candidate for Auckland .West. Labour supporters were present in strength, and there was a running fire of comment and interjection throughout (ho candidate’s speech, much amusement being caused by two or three women interjeetors who have been present at previous meetings with hostile intent. The chairman appealed for order, but the hostile element remained very much in evidence. When Mr Entrican stated that British immigrants had a preference for Canada, a woman remarked: “Because they are better treated there.” The candidate: “I wish you would hold your tongue.” This produced an uproar, and the speaker asked: “Is there a policeman about.?” (More uproar.) The interjections continued, and finally the chairman interposed with the remark: “We don’t Want a policeman. We want an inspector of nuisances.” Uproar and cries of “Sit down!” greeted this remark, and the nuisance continued without much abatement until the end of the meeting.

Mr Bennett,-Government candidate for Auckland West, who addressed a meeting’ at Ponsonby on Tuesday evening, was also subjected to considerable interruption. Hecklers were present-in fox’ce, but (he candidate, who preserved a smiling Countenance all through, was equal to the occasion, and inlerjeclors did not by any means have things their own way. A similar experience befell the Hon. A. M. Myers at a meeting in Auckland Hast, many of the intt'rjectors being women. During the course of his addiess on Tuesday night, Mr P. Fraser gave a political definition ot Mr Edward Newman, whom ho described as “(ho last remnant of the oldfashioned Tory in New Zealand. He was one of the last ‘relics,’” and the speaker believed after this election he would ho able to say “derelicts, politically, of course, of: the old I ory (ype in this country. ,\!r Fraser said on 1 uesday night that whenever the taxation ot land values was suggested, “poor Mr Newman was liorritied.” “Not a progressive idea ever crawls across Mr Newman's brain,” said (he speaker. “Mr Newman is not in favour of anything that will benctil the mass of 'the people.”—Mr P. Fraser, on Tuesday night. deferring to his opponent, Mr I’red Pirani, on Tuesday night, Mr ]>. Fraser, M.P., Labour candidate for Wellington Central, said that he should really consider himself fortunate in being opposed by Mr Pirani, a man who had boxed (lie political compass, had succeeded in looping the loop, and carrying out other stunts in the political world. He was not I alien very seriously in political circles.

Nelson, Dec. 3. Mi' H. E. Hoi I sin (I was announced to deliver sin address ut Murchison 10-nil I ,'ll I, ond at the appointed hour just over 100 residents had assembled in the local hall. Mr J. Bradbury, a prominent citi - zen, was voted to the chair, and when he rose to introduce Mr Holland, Mr A. Thompson junr. moved the following motion: —‘‘That in view of the fact that the Murchison district was second to none in the Dominion in loyalty to King and Country in (he great war, and in view of the Diet that the Minister for Defence had cause to describe Mr Holland as being throughout the war disloyal to his King, his Country, and the men who wont to tight for freedom, now this meeting of Murchison citizens feels that though in full sympathy with the. legitimate aims of Labour, if cannot suffer to be addressed by the Labour representative now present, and every Idyal citizen is therefore urged to quietly leave the. hall/’ This was seconded by Dr. Warnford.

An amendment was proposed that Mr Holland he accorded a fair hearing, whereupon Mr HoJland'suid that Sir James Allen’s quoted statement was unfair and untruthful. Dr. Warnford remarked that Sir James Allen was not there to defend himself, and walked out of the hall.

He was followed by 70 others, only 22 remaining behind. The chairman then declared lumsclf in full sympathy with the resolution, and also retired. The remainder of the audience then elected another chairman, and the meeting proceeded. Those who had left the building joined in inging the National Anthem, and then dispersed.