GENERAL ELECTIONS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 93, 5 October 1938, Page 3

GENERAL ELECTIONS

MR. SULLLIVAN’S) CAMPAIGN 1 ■ 'i'r't ■ . • . ADDRESS AT TIKITIKI 1 ‘ ' ;\f : Heading north on his East Coast tour, Air W. Sullivan, National Party Candidate for Day of Plenty, met a Humber' of settlers and otherp on tho >vay. After dinner a\. Tikitiki between 30 and 40 attended his meeting, braving a wot night to hear him. He criticised tho Social Security Act, saying Labour was not responsible for establishing the pensioh system which had operated since 1898 and had been developed year by year in keeping with what the country could afford, to a recent peak of £3,500,000. Old age pensioners would have to pay the new-tax through the years to get 30s. a week instead of the 22s 6d at present available without additional taxation. Mr Sullivan thought New Zealand hospital services to-day were as line as any in the world, using the hospital levy and consolidated fund to treat those who could not pay.

The Government would have hope of keeping up the high standard of living in New Zealand if there was a recession in overseas pnoes, said Mr Sullivan. “They have financiers in other countries just as clever as those in New Zealand,” he continued amidst laughter, “and they have no ‘insulation plan’. If the present Government has one it is time they let it out- ol the bag. The fact is that their ‘plan’ is just another electioneering gag-”

Itw a’s all very well for Air Armstrong to say there was no unemployment problem in New Zealand, be went on. If that was true, what did he want £5,000,000 last year for? That was what unemployment taxation cost this country.

Had the dairy farmer marketed through the dairy company as he used to, he would have received £600,000 more than he had had from the Government, who had placed this much to the credit of the Dairy Industry Account.

A Voice: To boost next year’s price ? Mr Sullivan: Yes. To boost next

year’s price. The dairy farmers to-day realised they had been trapped . In the AVhakatano area Labour members had received votes 01. “no confidence. All Lee Alartin had received such a vote in his own electorate. The farmer had lost all right of appeal. He could go to no court ; only the Minister, a primary products dictator. The Transport and Industrial Efficiency Acts applied similarly. [ (l a recently published hook Alt J oe had said ‘sweeping changes can be effected only b.v repeatedly and continually breaking down the makiim system,’ continued Air Sullivan criticising him trenchantly and quoting him as saying, ‘Euless the New Zealand voters show that Soeialish can be achieved democratically, it will be dictated from above.’ “There you have it,” continued Air

Sullivan. “Dictated from above, by Air Lee and his colleagues .... if ever he gets half a chance.” “Broad principles are at stake to* day,” said Mr Sullivan in closing. “Definitely the National Party are not going to slash wages and salaries. Let us be fair and square and above board. If we are not fair and square with the. electors, we cannot expect them to be square with us on October 15- We are telling them what they can expect and that is the only way to' go about it. Play youi’ part on October 15 to end this State Socialism that has come to engulf us.” Tho questions asked all dealt with the Social Security Act. The first was: “Would superannuation funds under the National Party be kept in a separate trust account, and would provision be made for superannuation apart from health services? The Labour Government made no such x>rovision.”

Mr Sullivan: Under National Party control the money will be there when you >vaut it. It will not be absorbed along any otliei- avenue. Tlie questioner (Mr R. Wills) : The candidate said the taxation ' would amount to? 2s 4d in the £. Would consumers’ pockets be touched further i. For instance, through the company Is in tho £ tax?

Mr Sullivan: Of course. The Farmers’ Union worked it out at 2s Bd. The Associated Chambers of Commerce said 2s 6d. It will be charged back to the public in increased commodity prices. Although they may not see it, it will be taken into nett costs, to which various percentages must be added. The Government are giving with one hand and taking ar way with the other. Mr. Wills: I would like to move a very hearty vote of thanks indeed to M!r Sullivan for a good address. He put the National Party’s policy very clearly and I hope he will return again before the election. Ready agreement with the motion was expressed by acclamation. There was no dissentient voice. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting. Te Araroa Address. Mr and Airs Sullivan spent the night at Tikitiki and lunched next * clay at Te Araroa. A remarkable welcome awaited them at Hicks Bay in the afternoon, nearly 50 x>eoi>le listening attentively under the chairmanship of Mi* A. B. Kemp. In the. extraordinary interest he found in the elections on all sides, Mr Sullivan said, were definite signs of the favour in which the National Party was held. He went fully into primary products marketing, criticising the Alinistcr for “arbitrarily willing out the findings ol an expert committee, based on 25 days’ careful weighing of evidence and an expert review of market conditions.”

Air Sullivan uttered a grave warning that the Socialist Government’s treatment of the primary producer would be extended through licensing until every industry was marshalled under .State control, without access to the courts or the right of appeal. It

was no less tlian dictatorship but the Government would never have been elected in 1935 had they told the public they were going to take control of primary produce as they had done.

Mr Sullivan was severely criticising compulsion of • Public Works employees to contribute to various union funds and to the Labour newspaper “The Standard”, when an interjector challenged him. “There is no compulsion about it,” he said. • "

Air Sullivan categorically denied this statement. “It is he said, “insofar as if you refuse to subscribe you can go and get another job.” ‘ ‘These men who are battening on the worker, running around the country in ‘flash’ cars collecting union dues, are not tho real representatives of the workers,” he continued. “They are getting fat iucomes of £6OO to £7OO a year, many of them on a 40 per cent, or 50 per cent- commission, but they are an extremist element. They ,are not playing the. game by the country.” Air Sullivan told of a scow on the Coast being x>ut out of commission by trades unionism. It liad been c'osted out of business through demands for immense overtime by the seaman’s union-secretary in Auckland, although ui> to then the crew had been perfectly contented with their pay. The result had been an increase of 32s 6d a ton residents of the northern area had to pay in freights. One store had found costs had risen by £IOOO a year.

A Voice: Quito right. Mr Sullivan detailed his Party’s policy. Public Works would not be stopped; the Social Security Act would not he operated but pensions and allowances now payable would bo continued. Taxation would be reduced. As the candidate resumed his seat the applause lasted tor nearly half a minute.

A questioner: How do the National Party propose to reduce taxation and still pay to-day’s benefits? Mr Sullivap: By cutting out waste expenditure. He mentioned “levelling” of a slight rise in a tar-sealed road; broadcasting losses under two directors instead of one as in Ungland; and the “Onekaka steel plant on which they spent wastefully and which has now gone ‘phut’. ” The chairman thanked Mr and Mrs Sullivan for coining, .round the district and “a vote of thanks to Mr Sullivan and confidence in the National Party,” was moved.

Mr C. ;E, Wood: I would like to second that.

Spontaneous applayse drowned the chairman’s call for an expression ot feeling.

Returning to Te Araroa from Hicks Bay, Mr and Mrs § W. Sullivan met a number of electors at Kawakawa Hotel prior to the address in the theatre that evening. He was introduced by the chairipan, Mr W. F. Metcalfe, and traversed in detail the ground he had covered at earlier Coast meetings. The National Party committees, he said, had worked splendidly, their organisation being reflected in the meeting attendances and the receptions he had been given. Eighty-eight people heard him through attentively.

Ju no uncertain terms Mr condemned the Rev. Kohere said, had written to the papers after he (Air Sullivan’s), io'rWler Te Araroa meeting.

“He complained that 1 had tailed to answer satisfactorily a question ho says he asked me about the PacroaPokeno railway. This question was never asked. I have spoekn to a number of people who were at that meeting and they will bear me out.” said Mr Sullivan. “Concocting such a tale to attack! me through the free columns of the press, purely party political propaganda, constitutes nothing less than unfair tactics. We want to get away from that sort of thing. It surprised me. Ho was to trap me, over my views on the East Coast railway.” Mr Sullivan took Mr Scrimegour to task for “blasting over the air an opponent who had no opportunity to reply-” He condemned the Government’s “abuse of radio” and said the Reserve Bank governor had not been given a chance to> state his side ol the case. He also criticised the Hon. E. Semple for “attacking a woman Jrom the floor of the house because she was a National Party organiser, a fact lie found unpalatable.” “He is hot game to repeat ms statements from the public platform'.’, said Air Sullivan, “because he cannot claim the privileges of the House then. He attacked her and then hid under the hod.” (Lnughtei). The candidate said he was certainly not opposed to unionism, hut strongly objected to extremists and

compulsion. In this connection the Minister of Public Works was grossly unfair to Public Works employees. “Nothing has been placed in the National Party's policy to outbid the Socialist’s programme,'’ said Mr. Sullivan. “It is a sane and reasonable platform, carefully thought out by men who have matte a success of thenown private ; businesses; a thing not every Government member can claim.” Mir Sullivan spoke for 2% hours without interjection, although Ins address was punctuated by approving, “hear hears” and applause. “I am here as a plain ordinary man,” he concluded, “with a good deal of local body experience, and I. have always been able to holcf hiy own.” For 13 years he had been unopposed as Whakatane’s mayor. He had not added one penny piece to the borough’s debt, hut , had wiped out its liabilities and then reduced rates from 2/4£ to 1/6The applause was most marked as the candidate resumed his seat, and “a hearty vote of thanks for -Mr Sullivan’s. able address” was moved by Air Halliwell and carried by acclamation, the meeting concluding with a vote of thanks to the chair.

MEMBER CONTINUES CAMPAIGN BIG MAKARAKA MEETING To a large audience of nearly 300 electors in the Makaraka-Matawliero Hall last week, Mr A, G. Hultquist, M.P., Labour candidate for tlie Bay of Plenty seat at tlie coming Parliamentary elections, related what he referred to as a proud record of achievement by the Labour Government. The candidate was given an enthusiastic reception, listening to, an address lasting for nearly two hours with scarcely an interjection and punctuated frequently with applause. At the close and after being called on to answer only two questions, the candidate was given a vote of confidence, to which there were only a few objectors. Mr. Hultquist, who rose to a round of applause, said lie had had l a wonderful time during the past fortnight, far exceeding his expectations, and he had met large and enthusiastic audiences, commencing at the Wliakatnne Paper Mills. “Never So Confident”. “.You have never seen me look so confident,” Mr Hultquist continued, as he referred to the position at the last election, when he secured 4'3 per cent, of tlie votes against the. Nation-

al 36 per cent., while the Democrat candidate admitted tiiat Ins entry into the campaign had helped to reduce the Labour vote. , * His opinion was that 'the Labour Government had better prospects of | securing 60 seats than 50 seats. News from farming districts in other parts of the North Island indicated that the dairy farmers would vote strongly for Labour. v ■' The Bay of Plenty district did not get preferential treatment because it was held by a Government member, for all districts were treated according to their needs, but he, being a Government member, could put the needs of tlicv district properly before the Government caucus, at which legislation was framed. Continuing, Mr Hultquist said lie would not claim any credit for the Labour Government because New Zealand was. as prosperous as other countries. He did not blame the National Government because New Zealand felt the depression, but because Uew Zealand felt, the depression more than it need have done. He said that New Zealand was now more prosperous than other countries because the Labour Government had distributed the national income to good advantage. There had 1 been higher butter and wool prices in other years, but the country was not as prosperous then as now because the greater income was going into the pockets of a few. In the efforts of his opponents to frighten the people from the Labour Government, they would‘say anything at all against Labour. The .Labour Government had kept all its promises. In regard to the exchange rate,tlie candidate said that the Labour Party had criticised the raising of the rate because the then Govei-nment had reduced the ability of the people to pay the additional impost on imported goods. To-day, the people’s purchasing power had been so greatly restored that instead of the high exchange rate being a barrier against the purchase of British goods they were being bought to a greater extent than ever before'.

He also referred to methods used to secure the withdrawal of Independent candidates. Personally, he welcomed a, .straight-out contest. In Opotiki -Mr J. T. Merry would have polled a big personal vote, but Mr Hultquist was confident that he would secure a bjg majority there now. He was proud that so far the campaign had been kept clean and so far as lie was concerned it would bo kept so. (Applause).

Mr Hultquist declared that the National Party would not put the social .security scheme into operation and that pensioners would suffer because they would remain as at present instead of going up to 30s as Labour had planned, if the National Party came to power.

Referring to Labour’s promises, Mr Hultquist said that the 12 promises made at the last election, had been kept.

Mr Hultquist admitted that the cost of living liadi gone up in New Zealand ■during the past, few years, but it was not so high as in 1926, and wages were higher now than then, so that the people were getting a double edged benefit, and he quoted figures to support his contention. It was costing only £1 now to buy what it took £1 3s to buy in 192 ; 6. The address concluded with sustained applause. Two questions, were asked. Mr. C. Cooper asked it there was any chance of the rate of exchange being lowered. Mr. Hultquist said' there were some industries which relied on the present rate of exchange. Ho was not prepared) to say what would happen to the exchange ratif/-" because lie did not know. He believed that because the rate had been at such a high level for some years, the present rate was as near its correct level as it should be, more particularly as. the Australian rate was much the same as our own. “You will agree,” Mr Hultquist asked, “that it is wise for our rate to be the-'samo as Australia’s?” .Mr Cooper: lYes. Before thejhnooting concluded, a vote of confidence- in the candidate, moved by Mr AY. Staples and seconded by Mr R. 7.1. Itobb, was carried by a large majority, only a few ‘times” being heard when the motion was put to the. meeting.

MR. HULTQUISTS’ CAMPAICN ADDRESS AT TE PUIA On Friday evening last Air Hultquist addressed 70 electors of Te Puia and surrounding districts in the Te Puia Springs Hall. Air G. 11. A. AATiiting, Air Hultquist’s Coast or-

ganiser, presided over the large gathering, and in welcoming, him to Te Puia inaue reference to the many tributes which had oeen paid to the present member lor tlie Lay oi Plenty at every meeting winch he had addressed. The meeting, which was an enthusiastic, one, was addressed by Mr Hukquist tor nearly two hours, and ax the conclusion only a iew questions were asked, and a resolution of thanks to! the candidate, and comidence in tlie Government and himself as member was carried with only tour dissentients.

During 1 his brief stay at Te Puia Mr Hultquist made it his business to visit tne Te Puia Hospital. The sister in charge at the time met Mr Hultquist on iiis arrival, and accompanied him through the various wards, where he chatted with die patients', many ot whom he had met before. On Saturday meaning Mr .Hultquist returned to Gisborne, and left immediately lor Kanakanaia where lie addressed a further meeting at 10.30. This meeting was presided over by Mr E. CUsties. - Although the hour was an awkward one for farmers to attend a political meeting there was nevertheless quite a numoer present' who listened to Mr Hultquist axtentively and at the conclusion carried a resolution of thanks and confidence in him as candidate. On Saturday afternoon Mr Hultquist left for Matawai, but arrived too late to visit the flower show. He did, however, attend the basketball tournament, where lie partook of afternoon tea, and in the evening addressed a packed house at Motu- At this place Mr A. E. Legge presided over a gathering of upwards of 160 electors, which from the outset demonstrated that it was favourable to the Government audits policy. Applause punctuated Mr Hultquist’s address, and at the conclusion of the meeting a resolution of thanks and confidence in himself as candidate, and in the Government was carried with only 4 or 5 dissent- J ient voices. After- the meeting supper was served to all present, and a dance followed. This meeting was made particularly interesting by the remarks of Mr E. W. Peddle, .at .the conclusion of Mr Hultquist’s speech in supporting' the vote of thanks to the candidate. Mr Peddle congratulated him on tlie hard work he had done for the electorate, and said that the district appreciated fully the close interest he had taken in the district’s needs. Mr and Mrs Hultquist and party left Motu at a- late hour, for Upotiki, where they stayed overnight, and- on Sunday the candidate returned to his home at "Whakatane. At the request of tlie Maori people at Paroa, near Whakatane, Mr Hultquist met nearly 200 members of the native race at the Paroa Pa on Sunday afternoon, and discussed with them some of their immediate problems. At the conclusion of the discussion the chief moved a vote of thanks to Mr Hultquist and wished him success hi bis campaign, stating that be trusted that the member would be privileged to serve the Bay of Plenty district for many years to come.