POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3860, 20 October 1928, Page 2

POLITICAL.

MB LTNKLATER AT TOKOMARU. Mr. J. Linklater official Reform candidate, addressed a well-attend-ed- meeting at Tokomaru on Thursday evening and was accorded a splendid hearing'. Mr. J. R. Whyte occupied the chair. At the conclusion Mr. Linklater answered several questions and was accorded the usual compliment and an assurance of continued confidence in both himself and the Reform Party. MR. LINKLATER AT OROUA DOWNS. Despite inclement weather condition ■, experienced last evening, there was a large and representative gathering at the Oroua Downs hall to hear Mr. J. Linklater, the official Reform, candidate for Manawatu. Mr. E. D. B. Fergusson was elected chairman and in introducing the candidate referred to his long service on various local bodies throughout the Manawatu district. Mr. Linklater, he said, was well and favourably known throughout the district. Mr. Linklater dealt with the various Bills which had been before the House since last election and touched on the Government’s policy with regard to public health, hospitals, education, etc. He also referred to the great amount of benefit the district and country as a whole, would derive from the Massey Agriculture College. He had opposed the removal of the Weraroa Farm from the Levin district and had urged that the College be located there in its stead, but the committee set up to report on a site had ruled otherwise on the grounds that the soil at Weiaroa was unsuited for the experimental nature of the work to be carried out at the College. There was consolation in the fact, however, that the institution might have been situated in the Hawke’s Bay or Auckland districts. In touching on the recent dispute in the hemp industry, Mr. Linklater said that he was very sorry that the disagreement had resulted in the men being out of work for such a long time. A moderate estimate placed the loss in wages to this district this year through the unsettlement in the hemp industry at £20,000, and such a loss to the district was a very serious matter. His earnest hope was that' sweet reasonableness would prevail and that the industry would not be hampered by any further disputes. At the conclusion of his speech Mr. Linklater was asked by a returned soldier present if the Government could not be prevailed upon to modify or clarify the Returned Soldiers’ returns which had to be periodically made by returned men on the land. In their present form they were very difficult to understand. Mr. Linklater said he would do his best to see that the form was either modified or abolished altogether. Mr. Ljnklater was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence on the motion of Messrs Thompson and Scott. MR. LINKLATER AND PROHIBITION. Speaking at Oroua Downs last night, Mr. Linklater said the Independent candidate’s opposition to him was due to the fact that he. (Mr. Linklater) had supported the bare majority, two issues and three year polls in connection with the Licensing Bill. He was prepared to stand or fall by his decision on that question. “In any case,” said Mr. Linklater, “the licensing question was in the hands of the people themselves to decide.” (Applause). BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Speaking at Oroua Downs last night, Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., and Reform candidate, said he supported Bible Reading in Schools. He considered that certain portions of selected passages from the Bible should be read, a hymn sung and the recital of the Lord’s Prayer at the opening of the primary schools each day. Parliament was opened with prayer and religious exercises obtained in our secondary schools, and he believed it would be in the best interests of the coming generations to introduce such religious exercises in our schools.

On Monday evening' Mr. P. J. Small, the United Party candidate will address a meeting 1 in the Town Hall, Foxton, at 8 o’clock. MAIN HIGHWAYS. Mr. Linklater, M.P., referred to the Main Highways Boards at his meeting at Oroua Downs last night. He said this stood to the credit of the Government. It was only fair that those who used the highways should be responsible for their fair proportion of upkeep rather than that the whole burden should fall upon the settlers. The petrol tax had eased the burden which would otherwise fall upon the settlers. He said he approved of an increased subsidy and was pleased to know that £3 to £1 was being given in some cases in this district. In a short time the main highways in this district would be greatly improved ( applause). UNITED PARTY WITHOUT A POLICY. The Auckland Herald commenting on Sir Joseph Ward’s Auckland speech says: “The more the leader’s statement is considered, the less it yields in the shape of a platform and policy to which the party can appeal as the basis for

its claim to support. The outstanding feature, one on which all that followed really hinged, was the proposal, made definitely and clearly, to borrow £70,000,000 within a year of the party’s coming • into power, and that at no cost to the taxpayer. There has been a good, deal of criticism of the present Government because of the extent of its borrowing. Whatever the United Party may say in attack henceforth, it cannot speak censoiuously of borrowing. The gross public debt at present is roughly £251,000,000, the United Party would in one year add to it by nearly onefourth. Subtracting indebtedness arising from the war, the debt stands at some £170,000,000. The £70,000,000 which this party would raise in a year is between one-half and one-third of this amount. Is it practical politics? Yet on this depended almost all that followed, speedy completion of railway undertakings, financing of the settlement to follow in their wake, provision of capital for the small sealo settlement to be fostered, and relief of existing or threatened unemployment. This intensive prosecution of railway construction, be it noted, is coupled with the removal of restrictions on the free development of motor transport and the lowering of taxation on commercial motor vehicles. The two do not march together. The remaining points, electoral reform, abolition of the C.O.D. system of purchasing through the Post Office, extension of overseas mail services and one or two other items do not constitute a policy. Without the £70,000,000 loan there is nothing that can be taken seriously. Since it cannot be taken seriously by any thinking person, the United Party is still, in actual fact, without a policy. Its absence now is hopelessly damaging, for the statement made last night was offieiall announced as the policy.”

“The Labour-Socialist Party owes its existence to inculcating into the minds of the workers the belief that the employer is their natural enemy, and though this country was the first to introduce arbitration and conciliation as the one and only method of settling all disputes between employer and employee, the Socialist Party has never supported it, and will never agree that it should be the only method of settling these disputes, but that the strike should always be available to be used, regardless of any Arbitration Court or Conciliation Board’s decision. While they are only too ready to support the principal of arbitration in the matter of international disputes, and decry war as the last resort, they carefully preserve it in economic disputes.”—Mr. Martin Luckie, Reform candidate for Wellington South.

“If borrowing under a Labour Government were increased (and unless Labour’s platform is all win-dow-dressing we cannot see how this is avoidable) the • taxation charge for loans would be certain to rise. Labour must get down to hard facts and submit a financial policy which will bear examination. Otherwise it will be suspected of condemning the present heavy load of debt with its voice while pledging itself to proposals which must make the load heavier.” — Wiellington Post.

“The Leader of the Labour Party has levelled a good deal of criticism at the Government’s administration of Samoa, but it is very difficult to follow him in his argument, as it is so contrary to his usual policy. The Leader of the Opposition usually arrays himself against the monopolists and vested interests, but here we find him taking up the cudgels on behalf of the vested interests and monopolists of Samoa, and the only conclusions that one can draw are that Mr. Holland is attempting to make political capital out of the difficulties that have arisen in Samoa, and these are almost solely of the making of the vested interests.”—Mr. J. R. Hamilton, M.P., for Awarua.

Mr. McManaway, the Independent candidate, has addressed meetings in the northern’ end of the electorate, where he is wellknown, and he has been well received. Mr. McManaway has filled the position of chairman of the Bulls Town Board and Bulls school .committee, and is well-known in Racing circles, being a steward of the Marion Jockey Club and a member of the Wanganui District Racing Committee. Prior to his retirement he was connected with the hotel business in Bulls and Mar ton. Although standing as an Independent, Mr. McManaway favours the Reform policy and would support Reform on a no-confidence motion. It is from the northern end of the district that Mr. McManaway will probably gain support. But the Independent candidate to gain success at the polls must. be a man of outstanding ability and personality. In this connection and for comparison we are reminded of the late Tom Taylor. Anyhow, Mr. McMan a way’s friends will wish him well, but his chance of success, if the Reform vote is depended upon, is not hopeful.

The dangers of a split vote were emphasised by the Minister of Education (the Hon. R-. A. W!right) when speaking at Lyall Bay. Referring to the Wellington East contest, Mr. Wright said he could not see the use of a man standing for a seat when he was without the. support of a party. An Independent candidate could not possibly

win. “In a fight like this,” declared Mr. Weight, “if you want to preserve the seat to the Reform Party you must stand solidly behind the candidate who has been nominated by the party and has represented the electorate. As the election campaign progresses in this electorate interest is being awakened. None of the candidates have as yet spoken in the larger centres. NOMINATIONS CLOSE ON 29th OCTOBER. Nominations of candidates for the Genei’al Election, to be held on 14th November*, will close at noon on Monday, 29th October, sixteen

days prior to the taking of the poll. The election of four Maori members will take place on 13th November, but nominations will close on the same day as those for the European seats. For the first time in Parliamentary elections in New Zealand a system of postal voting for those who are unable to attend at the polling booths will be in operation. Those who may avail themselves of the system are electors absent from New Zealand at the time the poll is taken, electors who throughout the day will not be within five miles of the nearest practicable route to a polling booth, electors who during polling hours are travelling under conditions precluding them from attending polling places, and electors who are ill or infirm. The same privilege will be extended to women prevented from attending booths through recent or approaching maternity, and to lighthouse-keepers, their wives and families. Postal voting certificates are now availabe. Those wishing to avail themselves of the new system should remember that it is obligatory upon them to apply for certificates to the returning officers for the district of registration, and to return tlie ballot papers, with the certificate, before the closing of the poll on 14th November’. Envelopes received after the closing of the poll will be marked informal. The same provisions in regard to absent voting as applied in 1925 will apply this year. It is not necessary for absent voters to obtain a permit. All they have to do is to make a declaration before the returning officer of their name, the electoral district in which they are registered, and their qualification to vote. Most of the returning officers have completed their arrangements in regard to polling booths for use on the day of the election, and it is expected that the list will be gazetted within the next few days.