POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2503, 7 November 1922, Page 3

POLITICAL.

THE PRIME MINISTER, ON THE WAR PATH. The Prime Minister arrived at Auckland .onSunday to commence his campaign in his electorate, Franklin. In an interview with'an Auckland press man, Mr Massey said: — “I have always had faith ( in New Zealand —-faith,,,in the land and faith in its people —hut I don't suppose I would have ventured twenty-eight years ago to prophesy the changes that I have witnessed, yet we are just at the beginning of the development of this country and no man may set a limit to our future. There is work, ahead for many Government’s, and our grandchildren’s grandchildren, guided right, will continue the building of a great nation under our southern skies. May Providence help us to lay tlnrfoundntion.s squarely and firmly.” What s your vision of New Zealand in'the-next twenty-eight years? asked the reporter. Mr Massey paused a moment before he answered. “We will increase our population to 3,000,000, perhaps 4,000,000,” he said. “Our rate of natural increase is exceptionally high. Official immigration is going to continue, and people wll come here on their own account in increasing numbers. There is no more attractive field for immigration in the world than New Zealand, and the inquiries that reach me personally from, many lands are surprisingly numerous. “Then we shall continue to increase our exports, not perhaps as rapidly as in the past since our local consumption is growing all the time. We can double and treble our outpitt of dairy produce; our exports will become diversified; and we shall make notable advances in the secondary industries. “I doubt if many people have realised fully I lie significance of hydroelectric development. The Government has in hand a national scheme that will result within a few years in making electric power available iii every'district of the Dominion., The work is proving more expensive than we anticipated, bill it will he carried to completion. We have had an illustration of wlmt that is going to mean industrially in Christchurch, where new industries have come into existence and old industries have expanded under the stimulus of easily available power. Nobody can say to-day how far we will go in the secondary industries, I know of one big New Zealand firm that is opening an establishment in Australia for the distribution of its agricultural implements and ltuicliihery. It can compete successfully with the Australian manufacturers on their own ground. Electricity is going to be of enormous assistance to the farmers.” And the future of political parties? queried the reporter. “Only two parties,” declared Mr Massey promptly. “We shall have on the one side a National Party, standing for stability and progress, for equality of opportunity and the maintenance of the law and the Constitution; and on the other side the Socialistic Labour Party, in whatever form ite development may take. That is bound to he the line of political division in this country. I don’t know how soon it will come —possibly after next election, perhaps later. The sound commonsense of the New Zealand electors will not permit the confusion and danger of the three party system.” MR. LINKLATER’S CANDIDATURE. Mr J. Linklater, Reform candidate for Manawatu Electorate, spoke on Saturday night- at the Tc , Arakura School to a large and very attentive audience, amongst whom were several ladies. Mr Hansen occupied the chair, and, in introducing the candidate, briefly referred to the large part Mr Linklater had already taken in public affairs and how willing he had always been to give what assistance lie could. It was at the consistent representation of sqgreat .number of people, owing to the retirement of Mr Newman, that Mr Linklater had been asked to contest the seat and the people of the district had greaf confidence in him. Mr Linklater was greeted entlius- • iasticaily. His speech followed the lines of his previous addresses, special references- being made to thje Labour Party’s land policy, how liberal the present Government really was, the Civil Service, the commandeer,. Nauru Island, the Meat P<j>ol and to a comparison of the three parties. Several questions were asked the candidate , at the conclusion of his address and those were answered satisfactorily. On " the motion of Mr Neil Campbell, a very hearty vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Linklater was carried unanimously. •Under the heading of “Sound Sense,” the Rangitikei Advocate, slys editorially: The above may be applied to the excellent speech delivered at Greatford by Mr J. Linklater, the Reform candidate for Manawatu, in succession to Mr E. Newman. Mr Linklater dealt with the political position forcibly and well, and showed grasp of puhlic questions, besides displaying a firm belief in the future of New Zealand, provided it continued to possess good government. .As a farmer himself, and a very successful one, he is well acquainted with the needs and requirements of .a country district. Unlike some candidates, he did not deal in fireworks or theories, but told that kind of “unvarnished tale” that commends itself to sensible men. He showed that he is a

man who does not accept any statements that may he made without enquiring into their truth and thinking for himself. Though well able to expound his views, he is a doer rather than a talker, and doers are the people we require in Parliament, and the only ones who should represent districts in which all are producers, or dependent on produeton. His address leaves no doubt that Mr Linklater ought to he successful and win the seat by a substantial majority. Mr Linklater, Reform candidate for Manawatu, speaks at Glen Orona in-night at 8 p.m.