Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

ELECTION CAMPAIGN

THE N AT ,Yftf vSTIPTI ■

MR W. SU CN

MEETING AT^—

ATTACK

There was a large attendance of Woodlands settlers and others at the address given by Mr AY. Sullivan, National candidate for the Bay ot Plenty electorate, in the Woodlands Hall last night. Mr Sullivan proved himself a very able and convincing speaker and throughout the evening held the interest of an enthusiastic audience. Ml- John Armstrong, who occupied the chair, said lie had never presided at such an important meeting as this one of introducing Mr Sullivan to the people of Woodlands. Mr Armstrong spoke highly of Mr Sullivan, stating that- he was a successful self-made man. On rising to speak, Mr Sullivan was received with a round or applause. He said he was pleased to meet the Woodlands settlers and was impressed with the progress of the district. Unfortunate circumstances made it- impossible for Mrs Sullivan to attend the meeting as had been intended.

Mr Sullivan said that he had held several meetings which had been well attended and he felt that- there had been a vide awakening for reasons not hard to see. People would have to face up to socialisation of the country or take what was coming to them, if they cast their minds back to 198-j, Mr Sullivan said-, they would see difficulties which were general throughout the world. The Labour Party took advantage of those difficulties but did notj by any means carry out- their promises, nor had they any intention of doing so. The old government might have made things a little easier, but Mr Forbes and Air Coates did the best as they saw it- at the time. Air Sullivan claimed that- everything had been in favour of the present government. who said before the last election. that they were going to reduce the cost of living, rents, remove the sales tax and the exchange rate.

As to tho cost of living, the speaker claimed that it had' not been reduced. The ladies present would realise that domestic costs had increased between ’3O and 40 per cent. The Labour Party had promised anything to get into power; had promised they would reduce the cost of living by reducing the sales tax and the exchange rate; that sugar costing 3d under Coalition would cost 2d under Labour*. People had thought- they would lie in Paradise under the Labour Government.

Air Sullivan then went on to compare the cost of a list of household requirements which in 1932 was 13/0£ and in 1938 19/8. Figures for a list of goods for the Auckland Hospital Board which were called by public; tender were given by the speaker as £20.765 in 1932 and £28,543 in 1938 —an increase of about 40 per cent. Air Sullivan said that the Labour Party would promise the sun to get control of the Treasurv Benches.

Air Savage said before the previous, election that taxation was too high, ; Mi- Sullivan claimed, and yet taxation had . risen from £24.737.000 t0,£36.760.000; an increase of £12,000-000. ALr Savage had stated that any furth- „ or taxation was out of the question. Air Sullivan claimed that the Governments greed for revenue led it to reinstate tho graduated land tax. .. In 1935 the tax collected from this source was £492.000; while in 1938 £1.038,000 was collected. The speaker said that- in Australia taxation was £15,/8s 4d per head compared with £23 per head in New Zealand which was a; record for any country in tlie Empire. Air Sullivan gave the figures for tax payable by ]>eople earning £3OO which lie stated were : £ll 2s Id in N.S.AAG. £7 10s 2d in South Australia, and £l7 6s 5d in New Zealand. The sales tax had been put on by the old government definitely as an * emergency tax. stated the speaker, and if that government were in office to-day. the tax would not be on. In 1935 £2,070,000 was collected from that source while in 1938 £3,499.000 was collected. The speaker said that the tax was a real annoyance and-was passed on . with net costs to the consumer amounting to 7£ to 10 per cent. It was not a Labour Government that was in power to-day. Air Sullivan continued, and it was ridiculous to

say they were following in the lootstops of Ballance and Scddon. AVithout question it was a Socialist government, socialising industry and farming.

When Air Savage had been leader of the Opposition somebody bad 'forwarded hi.ni an invoice showing sales tax and Air Savage had said it was probably tho most unjust tax of all. He had promised to lose no time in wiping it off, continued the speaker, and in that respect find failed definitely. During a period of prosperity this country had built up taxation to make it a burden. An immense public works programme had been launched costing, twenty odd million pounds, making it difficult to get workers in primary industries.

Air Sullivan advocated spending money on a sound land •polieyi,|itst<iad of maintaining a' high plane ol eiipenditure on Piiblje Works.

Instances of ' interference with 'industry were referred to by Air Sullivan who said that the Transport Board’ had-been abolished and a dictator set lip over certain areas. The object of the Government was to ‘obliterate the small carriers aiid 'get them udder* one heading. . Small; car-

riers !had been licensed, out of business.

Air Sullivan claimed that a chemist had been ref to open a shop in AJission while!-a .man in Whakatane had Been' refused permission to install bowsers except inside the garage. Later, after agitation, permission had been granted.

Air Sullivan said there was no room lor a third candidate, the fight being definitely between socialists and nonsocialists. Certain members of the Labour Party had leanings towards Communism, while Communism definitely supported the Labour Party. The only difference was that the Socialists would tax while the Communists would' take.

Air Sullivan contended that trade unionism was taking control of industry, mentioning a case Avlierc a linkcry had dispensed with the services of a driver and the business had been picketed, bread not being delivered for three days. The speaker contended ■ that an employer should have the right to, ■idispbiise with the services of an unsatisfactory employee. Another driver had been dismissed and a circular issued asking for a boycott of the business. That was not tho work of reasonable socialists hut ol communists. The speaker then rn-

ferred to the increase in the number of strikes in New Zealand over the last two years.

Statements had been made that if the National Party were elected it would wipe out the Arbitration Court, bjut the speaker pledged that no such tiling would happen. If the National Party attempted to do such a thing lie would pull out from it.

.JiH e (the speaker) had succeeded through hard work and lie wanted to See those chances reclaimed, instead of the worker becoming a state machine. Mr Sullivan . claimed that in i *1 . Germany people had to give a certain riifinbcr of week’s work to the state.

’■ Referring to the hanking system the speaker, said, that lie had always received good treatment lrom the banks. The British banking system had stood, the test of time while crashes had taken place in America and Australia. He considered that banking was a matter for experts.

Trade unionism had developed to a point where it bad become detrimental. The leaders had soft jobs extracting levies from workers. Under the National Party compulsory unionism would he definitely abolished. Public Works employees were compelled l to contribute 2/- towards the Labour Pai'ty and 2/- to the “Standard”. The speaker contended that that was not' British justice and freedom.

Referring to disputes, Mr Sullivan saicj that 12 disputes had occurred in 193 f. 43 in 1936, 12 in 1937, and for three months in 1938 there were 26. Wages lost I'cr the respective years were £5,000, £12,000, £32,000 and for the first three months of 1938, £ll,500.

All- Sullivan said that the increased costs were being pushed back on to the primary producer.

Guaranteed Price.

Referring to tbe guaranteed price Mr Sullivan said that this was one oi the most important influences on the 1935 elector. It was true that during the depression everybody was led up with conditions and when the guaranteed price was offered it attracted the farmers. However, tbe scheme was not being carried out as was intended in the Act. Farmers were sufficiently strong to influence the Government to pay out £BOO,GUO. The Govermnent did not say it would take control of produce. The Minister had fixed tbe price but the farmers were so strong that they forced the Government to sbt up a. tribunal.

The guaraiKeed price was simply a myth, and the dairy framer had not yet c<d' all he was entitled to. The Government had sufficient power to pay out only 1< - even ill the tanner was entitled ,to. <

Mr Sullivan said the National Party believed that the Dairy Board should have a sav and guide the Government. The guaranteed price was a votecatching slogan. Mr Sullivan advocated the building up of foundation industries and the fostering of them along sound lines.

The Labour Party had no land policy except state socialism, and it would socialise land.

The Galatea Estate had been purchased by the old Government who bad fenced, grassed and watered it, and gave the farmer a loascnable chance. However, when farmers wanted adjoining areas. Mr Langstone said there would he no more long term leases. The result was that every settler on the estate was a member of the National Party. The Labour Party policy as far as land was concerned was useboid. Mr Sullivan then quoted several extracts of statements of members of the Labour Party, one of whiclr referred to Mr Langstone’s statement referring to the magnificent conditions in Soviet Russia and stating that there was no reasons why some satisfactory conditions should not prevail in New Zealand. Jlr Sullivan said that apparently MV Langstone expected to scientifically develop a cow which would require only a o-dav week.

Principles of National Party.

Mr Sull ivnn then briefly outlined the principles of the National Party which, weie; Private enterprise, freehold hf property, co-operation to get promotion of British trade, protection of private ownership and ot justified industries, taxation only sufficient for requirements Aif the country, wages tax on women to* he abolished, maintaining Arbitration Court and the highest wages that can he paid, salaries and' wages not to be cut, sound land devolopnlent, properly regulated system of transport with a transport board. The local bodies amalgamation 'would' not be fereed unless by the vote of the- ratepayers.

Public' Works. Mr Sullivan advocated work on the Hast Coast road, giving satisfactory access through to Gisborne. The Coast was practically isolated during heavy rain.

Mr Sullivan also advocated the extension of the Opotiki Taneatua Railway. Nobody could say he had never been interested in the line as he had been a member of the Bay, of Plenty Progress League which had done a lot of work. If the line had not been definitely started, Mr Sullivan promised to do bis best to have a start made.

Mr Sullivan said his party had adopted the principle of the compensat-

ed price

The present system of hospital voting was unfair, he continued, because everybody wanted to use the hospital and: everybody should subscribe.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr E. J. Baigent proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Sullivan, stating that he was tbe right type of man for the Biay of Plenty. Mr A. E. Martin seconded the proposal which was carried with acclamation.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OPNEWS19380824.2.9

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 74, 24 August 1938, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,949

ELECTION CAMPAIGN Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 74, 24 August 1938, Page 2

ELECTION CAMPAIGN Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 74, 24 August 1938, Page 2

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert