GENERAL ELECTIONS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 86, 19 September 1938, Page 3

GENERAL ELECTIONS

MR. HULTQUI9TS CAMPAIGN ADDRESS AT WOODLANDS The largest •political meeting ever addressed in the Woodlands Hall by any political- candidate greeted Air Hultquist enthusiastically on Thursday night. There were ninety persons present, every seat being occupied, and a'number present having to stand- Air H., T. Lammas occupied the chair, auu in welcoming Air Hultquist, referred to* his efficient representation of the district during the past three years, and expressed the belief that the electors would again return him with an overwhelming majority. ' , . On rising to speak, Mr Hultquist was given a good reception and spoke for one and a half hours without a single interruption. Among those present were a large number of ladies. On the last occasion when Air

Hultquist addressed a meeting at Woodlands the meeting was a lively one. and the difference between that

and this meeting was amazing. Those present at this meeting also included two or three of the most prominent leaders of the National Party in the electorate, who listened attentively throughout Air Hultquist’s address. Air Hultqui.st’s address was along the lines of those delivered in other places at which he has already spoken. and he opened by making reference to the claim of the Nationalists that their party, was a new one, and he quoted from the minutes of the National Party Conference lie Id in Wellington, on Wednesday and Thursday, the lJtli. and 14th. Aiay, 1930. in which it is stated that a resolution by Air O. C. Alazengarb. to add the following words after the name ‘National Party’ in the constitution—‘founded in 193 G to conserve the freedom of the individual, and to promote goodwill and sound government’ was defeated on the voices.

In regard to the allegation that tho National Party was opposed to Socialism. Air Hultquist quoted again from the minutes and showed that Air F. Lye. Waikato,, a delegate to the conference, had Proposed that the following words he inserted in the constitution of the National Party—‘to promote good citizenship and selfreliance. to combat socialism and communism, to maintain freedom of contract, to encourage private enterprise. to safeguard individual rights and tin.' previlegeol ownership, to oppose interference by the state in business. and state control of 'industry.’

“It is interesting to know,” said Air Hultquist. “that this resolution was defeated. Air. S- Black, another delegate, in voicing his objection to the words ‘against socialism and communism’ stated that the word ‘socialism’ in its modern interpretation stood for liumanitarianism.

Commenting on the allegation that the state interfered unduly in industry. Air Hultquist went on to quote Neville Chamberlain. Prime Alinister of Great Britain, who at the British Industries Fair about three months ago said “In the early days of our industrial development the Government played but a minor part in its activities, hut. in more recent times, we have had to realise that an industry left to itscTf, however efficiently organised and carried on, cannot create or maintain the conditions necessary for successful operation. Only governments can deal with governments, and to an increased extent the actions of governments to-day regulate the direction and volume of trade.”

Dealing with housing. Air Hultquist stated that a start had been made uitTi the organisation of a Department of Housing Construction in September 1936; the first Contracts were signed in Aliarch 1937, and to date land had boon acquired in eighty-three towns. So far tenders had been called for ',5.777 houses, the average number of houses in each contract being five. The Department lias at present, said Air Hultquist. 153 different contracting firms at work, or just commencing work, and in addition double that number of linns are probably engaged as sub-contractors. The total number

■ f persons directly engaged on housing construction,-. and associated works is 4,582, and probably at least <>,1.04 persons in all arc directly deriving employment as a result of the operations of the Department. Those people are in turn employing retailers, manufacturers etc. of household goods; and houses are now occupied in twenty towns. Recently a' contract

for six houses was lot in Opptiki, and further contracts will be let until the needs of Opotfki are met. ’ So far 40 sections have "been acquired in Whakatane for housing construction, and 24 houses have been built. , The number of building permits issued in 1936 was 11,853,' the total value of which was £5,523,789'. laist year the liumi)er of permits issued was 12,809, an increase of 956, and the ,value was £7,043,970, an increase of £1,520,181Indicating what the master builders think of the . situation Mr Hultquist quoted an extract from a report presented to the conference of New Zealand builders aiul published in the ‘New Zealand Builder’ on the 31st. March, 1938. This extract ' read as follows: ‘Notwithstanding the higher building costs owing to increased prices of materials, shorter hours of labyur, and higher wages rates, building progress as indicated by the number of permits issued for the year and the value thereof has shown consid-

erable''advance. Your executive trusts the improvement will continue. ’ With no political axes to grind, said Mr Hultquist, the builders’ conference records a steady improvement in build-

ing progress. Mr Hultquist 'quoted '‘from a letter written ' bv the town clerk of the .Whakataiie Borough Council to the Under Sect clary lor Housing, in. which, when referring to the new block of Government houses in Whakatune, lie said: \Yly council has taken a considerable interest in the project throughout, and it has been glad of the opportunity to cooperate with you and with your' J)e; partment in the establishment of what, wfien completed, undoubtedly will, be one of the neatest and most Compact block of state dwellings in any of the provincial towns of the' Dominion. . This is no exaggeration, and for confirmation I have no hesitation in referring you to the local member, Mr A. G. HultquiVt.’

Referring to farmers’ incomes Mr Hultquist showed that the average income of small farmers with valuations • under £.3,000, mainly dairy farmers, was in 1935 £lO2, or £2 per week; in 1930 £lB2 or £3 10s per week, and in 1937 £2S'5 or £5 log per week. ■ Tliis was the net income alter paying rent, interest and working expenses, and are the figures supplied by the farmers themselves on the Mnployment Tax Returns, and represent an increase of 0.2 per cent, over 1930, and 289 per cent, over 1930. While not pretending that all inequalities and injustices had yet been removed, flic figures quoted showed a. magnificent advance over the Forbcs-Goates-Hamilton period.

Mir Hultquist concluded his address 9.45 and for the next half-hour answered a number of questions, among which was one relating to the recent action of the four colonels, and a suggestion that there had been differentation of treatment as between the- colonels and Mr Scrimageour, Controller of Commercial Broadcasting. Answering this question Mr Hultquist referred to a recent statement bv Col. Gambril], one of the colonels concerned, who said : ‘As far as the punishment of the four colonels is concerned we ask for fio assistance from the Returned Soldiers’ Association. What we did was done with the full knowledge that we were breaking military tradition. We know that punishment must follow and wo accept it. We do not want anyone taking up the cudgels on our behalf.’ One of 'the four colonels concerned, said Mr Hultquist', was an - aide-de-

camp to the Governor-General, and by the terms of. his commission, he automatically ceased to be A.D.G. as a result of his action, and neither tin's Government nor any other could prevent that happening. As far as Uncle Scrim was concerned, I believe said the candidate, that the Government did what the people wanted it to do, by retaining Scrim as Controller of Commercial Broadcasting. Hundreds of letters were received- by the Prime’ Minister urging that Mr Scrimageour be retained, attd only one asked for his dismissal. I know of no man w T ho could have organised the Commercial Broadcasting Service better in so- short a time as the present Contrbller has done-

The meeting closed at a reasonable hour with a hearty vote, of thanks to the- member lor his address, and confidence in liis ability to represent the electorate, and in the Labour Government of which he is a member, on the voices, with only -two or three dis sentients.