AUCKLAND EAST SEAT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2343, 18 October 1921, Page 2

AUCKLAND EAST SEAT.

THE CAMPAIGN OPENS.

ADDRESS BY CANDIDATES.

The by-election lias opened. Mr J. A. Lee (Labour) outlined his party’s platform on proportional representation, nationalisation, pesninns and other subjects. As regards housing, he blamed /the Government for blundering by competing on the open market, and he urged a hold policy of expansion instead of panic retrenchment as the best solution of unemployment. He. criticised the expenditure on defence, saying that the £250,000 spent on the Chatham would finance the Arapuni hydroelectric development works and unemployment fund. The territorial svstem should he abolished, as the expenditure on it was an unnecessary burden. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks. THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE.

The Hon. G. W. Russell, the Liberal candidate, also spoke. He said t li.nl since April the Government had had £1(1,000,000, and lie would like to know where the money had gone. He advocated proportional representation, contending that the Government was in power on a minority vote. lit! favoured a decent contribution to the navy and a reduction in land defence expenditure. Aviation should he developed, and we should help the Motherland with submarines. In telling why the National Government disbanded, Mr Russell said that shortly before Sir Joseph Ward and Dir Massey returned from the Imperial Conference a. most disastrous condition of things existed in connection with the finances of the soldiers’ settlement scheme, when £2,500,000 was owing and £5,500,000 more was required before the end of the financial year. He declared he could give sensational facts, but refrained from so doing. Sir Joseph Ward, not having been consulted regarding the finances of this department, would not accept the responsibility, and in consequence retired from the Government. Dir Russell was given a vote of thanks and confidence.