THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Otaki Mail, 8 November 1922, Page 3

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

MR W. H. FIELD AT WERAROA. On Monday Mr W. H. Field, M.P., the sitting member for the Otaki electorate., addressed the electors of this portion of the district in the Weraroa Hall. Mr 11. J. Richards presided, and there was an attendance of between 50 and 60 present. Mr Field commenced by referring to the early days of the Massey Party and followed its progress until it. assumed office. At the present time no man ih this country was more fitted to hold the office of Prime Minister than Mr Massey, and never at any time in the history of the Dominion was a sound, stable Government more necessary than that, which was now guiding the destinies of New Zealand. Mr Field stated that he was never so much impressed with Mr Massey’s grip of the affairs of the country than when Sir Joseph Ward went out of the National Government in 1919. Sir Joseph had been Minister of Finance and left office very suddenly, yet Mr Massey was able to take a grip of things and carry on the affairs of ihe Government. A DIFFICULT POSITION.

Coming lo (lie present election, Mr Field stated he had a considerable difficulty to face in that he was to be opposed by a Reformer in Mr Harkness and a Liberal-Labour candidate in Mr McClure. If be had faithfully represented the Otaki district for so many years he claimed there was no need for a change in their representative. During the time he had been in Parliament lie had done his best to represent the interests of the electors. No fmemlber was able 'to do everything he wished to do, but he had done his best in all circumstances for the electorate. It had often been said he did not reside in the electorate. The Otaki district, however, extended up the Hutt Valley as well as along this coast, and his residence in Wellington, therefore, was central and he was able io serve the electors in any part, of (lie district at tlie shortest possible, notice. 1-Ie had carefully considered his position in the coming election. Before the campaign started he had consulted Mr Massey as to whether he should stand, and the Premier assured hirn it was the wish of himself and the party that he 'the speaker) should do

HIS OPPONENTS. Concerning his opponents, he would say a few words. Mr McClure was formerly Commissioner of Crown Lands, aiul some time ago- the position of Under-Secretary of Lands became Paeant. Mr McClure applied for the position, but did not get it, and he appealed. The appeal was considered by the Public Service Commissioners, with the same result. Mr McClure thereupon resigned and announced hirnself as the Liberal-La-bour candidate for Otaki. Mr McClure was a perfect stranger to the district and had no interest in it. He claimed to be a sporv and a supporter of healthy sport. Mr Field said lie could say the same of himself. He had been a racehorse owner in former years, took a keen interest- in rowing, mountaineering, and other forms of sport. Coming to Mr Harkness, the position was different from the political standpoint. He was either an Independent Reformer or an out-and-out supporter of Mr Massey. In a reported reply he had given to a gentleman as to what he would do in event of a no-confidence motion, Mr Ilarkness said he would support Mr Massey. If that was so, why should he attempt to ruin the prospects of the Massey Party tn this electorate by opposing the present member? Mr Harkness had emphasised that he was a member of the Education Board and the Horowhenun CountyCouncil, and had done considerable service in the public interest. He was certainly a young man of ambitions mind, but it was a question for the electors to say whether he should be their representative in Parliament. The speaker said he would refer there and then to a statement which had arisen out of Mr Ilarknc.—didature, but he li'ope'd that gentleman was not responsible for.

This was that an understanding was come to' at last election that if Mr Harmless aid not contest it, the speaker would stand down in his favour this election. Mr Field denied that there was any such understanding or that he had given any promise not to come forward this time. The very fact that Mr Harkness had considered standing for Maiiawatu and not Otaki in the first place was proof of that. Another report in circuulation was that the coming election would see a split in the Reform vote, the return of Mr McClure, and the outing of himself /Mr Field'., and that Mr Harkness would only have Mr McClure to contend with next time. He did not think Mr Harkness was responsible for that report either, but at the same time it showed the possible effect of his candidature. "He may ruin my chance of election and allow the Wilford candidate to get in," said Mr Field. Then there was the chance of a Labour candidate, and he heard there was a possibility of a candidate standing. If there were three moderate candidates in Mr McClure, Mr Harkness and himself, and they split the moderate vote, it would give a very good chance to the Labour nominee slipping in between them. "It is not important if T lose this seat, but it is important if the Massey Party is not returned to power, ana that is the view I want you to take of the matter," he said. CRITICISM REFUTED. Mr Field said he would refer a. little further to reported remarks of Mr Harkness In the first place_ Mr Harkness had taken a good deal of credit to himself for what, he had done for the district as a member of the Education Board, but the speaker was also a member of the Board and had been so for a number of years. What had been done in different parts of the district, was pot the work of

J any individual member, but the Board as a whole, and the following out of a settled policy. Mr Harkness’s platform favoured the LevinGreatford deviation, the opposition of the proposed railway extension at Palmerston North, and supporting the Rimutaka deviation. Mr Field said no one had worked harder than himself for tihe Levin-Greatford deviation, and it was not likely that anything would be done at Palmerston North for many years, if at all. As regards the Rimutaka deviation, that would probably take the Napier express off this line, and the speaker was opposed to this. The New Plymouth and Napier expresses stopped at alternate stations along this coast and gave the district a good service, and he would not like to see that altered. Mr Hflrk- j ness had criticised the small amount

that had been given this district in I tire way of Government grants during I the last six years or so, which includ- i ed a grant of some £2OOO for the Oturoa Settlement road. Mr Field contended that the- Horowhenua County Council had acted wisely in not pressing the Government during the war for grants, and the Council was evidently well satisfied with what it had got. (Applause.) Mr Field went back to 1806, in the early days when his brother was representing this district, m Parliament and settlement was commencing. His brother had got the Government to start off on the reading and bridging of this coast, but as this work proceeded the number of Government, grants naturally diminished and other districts were assisted. At. the present time the need for Government grants was not as it was years ago, but what he had done of late, and particularly during the last season, was fo impress on the Government the urgent necessity of pushing on with the Hult-Waikanae road,

the improvement-of the Paekakariki Hill road, and other important district- roads, and he had particularly urged that ns much of this work be put in band as possible to give relief for unemployed. He had been told that it was bad policy to bring labour into his electorate for these works, as they would vote against him at the election, but he had put the interests of the district before his own, and was prepared to stand by it. (Applause.) Mr Harkness had further stated on the platform that we did not want more lawyers or Civil servants in the House, but farmers. ■When I went to Parliament first I . noted that the farming community 1 was not fully represented, and I was J one of those who worked for the start- | ing of the Farmers' Union, with the : result that the farmers are fully re- I presented in the House.” Mr Harkness had urged the establishment of a state bank and State shipping. Tt

was not wise, the speaker considered, to start these forms of enterprise in the present state of the finances -of the country. The country had ample banking facilities in the Bank of New Zealand, in which the country was interested, the Post Office, and the Advances to Settlers, whilst the experience of StatP banking in Australia had not been n success. As regards State shipping, he considered if the rates could be brought down there would be no advantage in State shipping. There was no harm in the farmers having a few ships if they thought, it wise, but if they could get all they wanted In the way of freights without, embarking in the shipping business so much the better. A GOOD RECORD

Mr F-ield went on to refer to the principal work, of the Government during the year, and was, he claimed, a record of which the Government could Well be proud. The Government had been criticised for using its accumulated surpluses for me purposes of soldier settlement. The fact was ihe Government had accumulations of money in London, and found it. was cheaper to use this money for settlement purposes than pay a higher rate of interest for money by borrowing it elsewhere. The candidate made reference to the policy of the Labour Party, which he said, aimed at State ownership of land in particular, which would not be acceptable m +*-- . bulk of -»-* -■ - tUe = real ,ne people who had worked for the freehold of their holdings. Mr Holland, speaking at- Christchurch ine other day, said the two greatest- curses they had to get rid of were war and capitalism. It was true they all wanted to end war, but whether this

would be brought about in their time it was hard to say, however much they may desire it. as for the doing away with capitalism, they had an example of what this meant in Russia to-day. The Government intended launching another scheme of finance from the State Advances Office up to £SOO for the assistance, of farmers and others to stock their properties or make improvements. The rate of interest was 61 per cent, and was repayable in five years at the rate of 10 per cent the first year. 15 per cent the second, 20 the third, 25 the fourth and 30 the fifth, when the loan would be repaid with interest. It yyag a new departure ami promised to be a success,

NO SOLDIERS TURNED OFF FARMS. X lot or criticism had been levelled against the Government policy’ of soldier settlement and harsh treatment of soldiers, but it could not be said the Government, had turned one soldier off his farm. If the men wished to stay they could do so. but the speaker considered the Government had paid too much for some of the land it had purchased, and should therefore have a re-valuation made. Provision should also be made for assisting and advising the soldier settlers, a step that would repay itself tenfold. A lot had been heard, too, of the reduction of Civil Service salaries. These, said Mr Field, were not salary 5 reductions, but reductions of bonuses onlv. The bopuses were given to meet the rise:- in the com of living, on the understanding that they* would be reduced as Ihe con of living came dow n . in the meantime, however, the regulation increases in salaries had been going on. just the same and would not be reduced Civil servants had to retpember they had the super-

annuation fund at the back of them when their service was over, and, taking all things into- consideration, the civil servants were not being so badly treated. Two cuts had been made, and a third was due, but he sincerely trusted that it would not be found necessary to put it into operation. In conclusion, Mr Field said the general outlook of the country had greatly improved, but the people had got to realise that to keep the Dominion going on its present sound basis it was absolutely necessary to keep a sane and safe Government in power, and if they continued to let the Massey Government run the country 7 all would be well. (Applause.) THANKS AND CONFIDENCE. Mr W. H. Becher moved, and Mr Shanks seconded, a vote oLthanks and confidence to Mr Field as a fit and proper person to represent the electors in Parliament. This was carried with unanimity.