NOTES FROM THE HUSTINGS.

Mt Benger Mail, 5 October 1938, Page 1

NOTES FROM THE HUSTINGS.

Increased Expenditure. “Appropriations passed in the House a few days ago amounted to £62,000,000," said Mr Coates, who opened his campaign at Dargaville. “One needs to go back and compare that with the figure of £25,500,000 which was the cost of running the country in 1935. The Labour Party cannot hope to maintain the present pace.” A voice: Oh, yes, they can. i Mr Coates: It is the people’s credit that is being dissipated. , In 1936 taxation per head of population in New Zealand was £l6 5s 6d, said Mr Coates. The figure rose to £l9 14s lOd in 1937, and to £23 Is 3d in 1938. , A voice: What about the income? Mr Coates: Even if the income is in the same proportion to the increased ’ taxation, you are just where you were and there is no benefit. j** ♦ » * i Malicious Lies. j Reference to certain pamphlets that were being circulated in the Hutt elec- ' torate was made by the Hon. Mark , Fagan, M.L.C., when moving a vote of , thanks to and confidence in the Hon. W. Nash, at Petone. “They are mali- ,■ eious lies about an honourable gentle- „ man,” he said. “We do not know who is putting this scurrilous stuff over the fences. We have tried to find out, but we cannot, and I suggest that the best answer to the statements is for you to return Mr Nash with a 10,000 majority.” |«» * * * i TTse of Radio. J Referring to his statement that he reserved the right to use broadcasting when he liked, the Premier told his Wellington audience that he had no intention of using it to defend himself. “But I did have the intention of using it, if necessary, to defend the honour and credit of New Zealand. There are people in New Zealand to-day who would close up every bank in the country to defeat this Government. They are ready to do this to-morrow, but, thank heaven, the banks are better off to-day than ever. These chaps who are cackling on the hustings to-day are making no impression on the intelligence of the country. I will use the broadcast service, if necessary, but I’ll look , after myself without broadcasting.” I *•««*« “Whitebait Manifesto.” ! As for Mr Hamilton’s manifesto, I have little to say about it. One description I heard I would like to pass on, however. It is a little vulgar, but listen to it. It is a whitebait manifesto. It has neither head, nor gut, “nor spine.—M r C. R. Petrie, Labour candidate for Hauraki, speaking at Ho’wick last week. ***** j A Practitioner’s Attitude. j Speaking on Saturday night of the general practitioner’s attitude to the Labour Government’s social security scheme, Mr P. Neilson, M.P., stated that one medical man he had questioned recently had stated that all the opposition was coming from the heads of the B.M.A. and a few specialists. ' The rank and file of the medical profession would be able to work the scheme. The average doctor, Mr Neil- ' son said, had great trouble in collecting his money, but now that position ■ would be obviated, for the doctors had ' been promised no less than they were ■ already receiving. Trouble was being ’experienced with some specialists who were more than satisfied with their pre- 1 ■sent position. | j«* * » « Conscientious Objectors. .V •< Does the candidate consider that, 1 with several members in the Cabinet who were conscientious objectors in the 1 last war, the Labour Government is capable of controlling the destinies of this country in the event of war?” was a question put to Mr P. Neilson, Labour candidate for Dunedin Central, at the close of his address at Caversham the' other night. Mr Neilson replied that the Labour Government was quite cap- 1 ' able of doing everything that was re- ' quired of it in the event of war. “There is something to defend in this ’country,” he said, “and we are prepared to do it.” t ***** Not a Laughing Matter. “I wish I were standing before you in happier times,” said Mr W. J. Meade in his address in the Morning- ’ ton Methodist Church Hall the other night. “There are war clouds over Europe, and in New Zealand we have a declinig and ageing population. These are two features that the National' Party is determined to rectify. It is only by encouraging family life that the economic and national security of the country can be safeguarded. The question of grants for furniture to 'young couples has been made a subject 1 for levity.” he added, “and jokes— 1 sometimes quite good jokes—have been made about the proposal. But if you ' think the encouragement of the shoul-' dering of these responsibilities a laugh- j ing matter only then all I can say is . lam sorry.” , , ( I **.*** j Assistance of Doctors. | ‘ ‘ Early next year we will ask doctors who are willing to assist with the ' scheme to hand in their names,” said Dr McMillan in an address at Gore on Saturday night. “I have no hesitation in saying that 90 per cent, of the doc- ' tors will respond. When Mr Lloyd George proposed a social health scheme

jn Great Britain, 20,000 doctors were opposed to the scheme. They were of the opinion that health insurance was not a good thing. After the scheme had been in operation for a short while the doctors agreed that it was an excellent scheme and were prepared to keep it going.” He was sure that the Nw Zealand doctors would express the same view after the scheme came into • operation. i « # # * Called his Bluff. Challenging a statement made by Mr O. C. Mazengarb, National candidate for Wellington Suburbs, a man in the audience slapped his trouser pocket and said: “I’ve got £SO here In my pocket to pay over if you can prove what you say.” Without any hesitation, the candidate accepted the challenge. “I’ll take you on right now,” said Mr Mazengarb, asking the man to come forward and put his money up. But when his bluff was called the challenger subsided without another word. I 1