PARLIAMENT

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 83, 12 September 1938, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

MR. HULTQUIST’S SPEECH WARNING TO ELECTORS (Published by Arrangement). During his recent . speech in the -House of Representatives, Air A. G. liultquist, member for the hay of fidelity stated : “iii the earlier days of the Dominion’s political history Richard John Seddpn warned the people of New as to what woilld happen if •they heeded the- destructive criticism of the opponents of the Seddon party, and it. shows how necessary it is to remind the people or wliat happened in the days that are past. Hr Seddon, in warning the people, said this : “‘it lias taken fifty years or more to rescue the legislative machine from the Tory class, with bountiful blessings to all. the people of New Zealand. Take heed lest you divide yourselves into warring camps, or they ivill regain that machine and undo all our good work in the course of a year or two.”

Similarly, to-day, we are warning the people to take heed of the present position in New Zealand and warning them not to lie carried away by the ■destructive criticism of our opponents- If the Tory party again get on to the Treasury benches, the people will! lie sorry, as they were when the old Saddop party was defeated. However, 1 think it will he a long time before the people of this country make the mistake they did then. But the methods being used by the Opposition are as weird as they are novel. iVi\ room-mate in this House, the honourable member for Tauranga, is being opposed by an extraordinary gentleman, a Mr Doidge, who recently made a, .suggestion in connection with baby competition at Tauranga. Thiscompetition was conducted in Tn.ii- ] anga recently to raise funds lor tlu National-party campaign, and Mi Doidge suggested that the babief should he undressed and. laid on rugs. The prize was to he awarded to the first mother to recognise her offspring. It was decided, however, to use mor conventional methods ; hut I venture to forecast, knowing the services that, the honourable member for Taurangr

has rendered since he has represented his constituency, that. Mr Doidge will know what it is to' he undressed-fpo-litically, at any rate—and he will be stripped of .all Ins political cockiness. Some reference has been made —I will not say that it was Jiere, but it certainly was made elsewhere —to a whispering campaign, and my own district, the Bay of Plenty .Electorate, has been mentioned. Now, in spite cf all that might he said to the contrary, »we know that women are being employed by the-National party, and paid wages too. I know- what I am talking about when I am saying this. Without divulging confidences, I can say that at least one woman is being paid, and possibly two, in the town of Gisborne, and they ai-e working in portion of the Bay of Plenty Electorate. Here is a letter that' I have received from one of my constituents :

“I was interested to sec the reference to women canvassers in the Bay of Plenty recently, and can vouch for the following:—

“ ‘A neighbour’s wife called, on my wife a short time ago and stated that they had hoped to lie able to leave their farm to their son, hut it Labour got back to power tlieir farm would be taken from them and they would' be forced to work for £3 10s per week. She also stated that everyone knew that Mr Savage was not a British subject-’ “You can have the lady’s name it you want it. Needless to say both she and her husband are active members of your opponent’s committee.”

“Of course, that sort of thing will go on. We know that that sort of: talk goes on, and we cannot stop- it/ No one can say that this party or that party instructed so-and-so to say such-and-such a thing. But when the National party itself puts out a circular,, such as the one 1 have here, to its candidates, we can understand why a Avhispenng campaign is commenced and how it grows-. When the National party instructs its own candidates; let alone people working lor the candidates. to “use (‘very possible play ol words, every fact you can advance to show that your political opponents are fools, political hypocrites, opportunists, seekers of power, despots, not too much to expect that their traitors to their own class, to thencountry or their Empire,” then it is whisnerers will follow suit.”