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Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 84, 14 September 1938, Page 4

the votes polled in 1935. On that occasion, said Mr Hultquist, Labour polled over 43 per cent, of the total vote cast in the Bay of Plenty; the Nationalist polled: only 36 per cent. This meant, said the candidate, that in order to obtain one over half of tho total vote, lie had to gain another 7 per cent, of the votes which would be cast, whereas the Nationalist had much more leeway to make up. Of course, the alteration in the boundaries was ' bound to have some effect but in his opinion it would react in his own favour. A great area of country had been taken away from the Bay of Plenty, and put into Gisborne at the southern end of the electorate, and a portion of the' Rangitajki'. Plains added to the Electorate at the northern end. • ~ '

Beferring ten the attitude,,- of the farmers, Mr 'Hultquist.' stated thatTihe felt that'an overwhelming majority of them would record their tyoteft- for- the. Government, ‘ and referred to h list of

farniers who had signed his nomination paper, among whom were some of the most prominent farmers of the Bay of Plenty electorate, who had authorised him to use tlieir names,

paper mills:.* ,; v . - .k,T The candidate reminded his audience of the state of affairs which existed in New Zealand from the years 1931 to 1935, and quoted as, an excuse foi doing so, a statement made by .the Eight lion. Richard John Seddon, prior to one of the elections which lie faced during the nineties. Richard John Seddon said “It has 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 Jest you divide yourselves into warring camps, or they will regain that machine and undo all our good work in the course of a year or two.” The people, s.<id Mr Hultquist, ignored Richard John ■ Seddon’s warning, .and for forty years almost .New Zealand was in the wilderness until the National Party debacle of 1935, when the first Labour Government of New Zealand was elected with such an overwhelming majority. Mr Hultquist warned his audience in similar terms to those used by Richard John Seddon that if they ignored the warning they* may suffer acand he proposed to do so at a later date. His nominators included too, prominent business men. including Mr Horrocks, managing director of the

eordingly; . 7 7 • - Mr Hultquist then referred to the twelve promises on which Labour had been elected, and showed how each' promise -had been kept. Only twelve I promises * were made—reference was made by. himself and most other candidates tortile sales tax' and to the exchange rate, and personally, lie still hold very , definite views in regard to both these questions, although in his opinion, !tiie exchange rate was prooably nearer to its natural level to-day than it had been, for many years past, and any reduction at the present moment may precipitate a, crisis, which it would bo difficult to face up to. Twelve promises and twelve only had been made, and they were known as Labour’s twelve points.. Pensions iiad been restored, and new pensions instituted. National superannuation and national health services were incorporated in the Social Security Bill, the last major measure to be passed during the-present 'Session. Wages had been restored, and increased to such an extent tnat not only were people able to pay better prices lor tiie commodities ‘ they bought, but were able to buy more goods, both local and imported, and in audition were .saving more money, too. in. tins, connection, Mr J-iuJtquist, referred to tlie Post Oxiice having Bank deposits in Wnakatane. in tiicre were i,200 accounts open, and the total .amount standing to the credit or tiloso accounts ' was £s(i,;-JoU. To-

day 0.4/1 accounts are open, and tlie amount standing to the ciedit oJ these accounts is, £*.43,42.1. iJie rigures speak lor. themselves, said tnc canuiuate- .1 lie same state or affairs exists

to-ciay in every other postal uistmt, m the Dominion. Control oi the public credit bad been taken, anci a money service sufficient to give effect!ito tire will oi Pariiameiu bad been instituted. Healing with unemployment, / ;ilr. Hultquist showeu, that wucreasfin 19*33, mere weie -ocl unemployed ill tiie i.uy oi: rienty clectoiatd," to-day there were only 23, tlie majority jpr whom were un.it H>r any work, and who will be provided ■lor next year under tlie provisions or the Social Security Bill. Actually there is to-day a shortage oi labour, not only m the primary industries, but in every other industry as well. 'I He problem boils down to one of lack ol population moil than anything else.

guaranteed prices had been instituted. and lie knew that tlie overwnelming majority of the larmers would licit go back to ralterty rules. Secondary industries had been given a great impetus. Mr Hultquist quoted iTom the Year Book to show the en-

urinous increase in pi-eduction which had taken place in every branch of industry. '.i lie mini her or persons engaged in iactories had increased by 52 per cent, since- 1935. Thosb engaged m the clothing trade iiac! increased l>\ 2(j per cent. ; boot and shoe manufacturing employees had increased by 22 per cent. ; sawmilling and sash and door making employees had increased

by 26 per cent.; motor engineering employees had increased by GO per cent.; general engineering employees by 34 per cent.; furniture workers by 50 per cent- ; apprentices by 13K per cent.; shop assistants by 40 per cent., and building trade employees by 42 per cent. There are to-day, said the candidate. 1,659 more lactories than Micro were in .November, 1933. and 3,033 more shops, an increase of 10 per cent., and 11 qier cent, respectively, and. the Government doesn’t own one of them, nor does it intend to acquire any. Turin mortgages had been reduced to the extent .of nearly 13,009.030, and this represented a tiemendeus saving in costs to primary industries. Every promise, said Mr ilult-' quist, had been kept, and a world’s record created. .No previous Government in liistoiv t had ever implemented every planjk in its plationn during its first three years of office. Mr Hultquist dealt with many subjects, under the headings ot taxation, housing, pensions, education, and coneluded. by dealing briefly with the Social Security scheme.

After Mr Hultquist had spoken for one. and 11-half hours, without interruption, the following resolution was moved:—That this meeting of Wliakgtane Paper Mills employees, and residents of the surrounding district, expresses its thanks to Mr Hultquist for his address, and has utmost confidence in him as the representative of the Hay of Plenty Electorate, and in the Labour Government, of which he. is, a nu’Uiber, and furthermore, pledges- those present to work and vote lor Plus return with a substantial majority- aty-.the. forthcoming General Election. The motion was carried with applause by the lfirge audience jiflTseM:-.,' on the voices—there being .only twio The meeting

closed after Mr Hultquist had Answered a miinbc{' of questions relating to several matters, with a vote of thanks to the chair. 1 Mr Hultquist continued his election tour with a public address at Te -Teko last night, and to-night will speak at Toatoa, Woodlands on Thursday, Ginanunutii and Torero on Friday; Umaio, Kaukokore and Te Kaha on Saturday. He will be on the Gisborne side* of .the electorate and the East •Least for a week or tw<> before returning to the northern end to deliver further addresses there.