MASTERTON SEAT.

Shannon News, 13 October 1922, Page 3

MASTERTON SEAT.

MK HOLMS AT MANGAHAO. | Mr A. C. Holms, J.P., well known in the Wairarapa as a public man who has occupied many important positions, and in the Horowhenua as concerning education and commercial activities, ’addressed the electors at the Mangahao River Camp last night. He ha;d the distinction of being that first candidate to visit Mangahao. He received a wery cordial reception. Mr D. Cooper presided, and at the conclusion hearty appreciation was expressed of the address, the logic of which being especially commended. Mr Holms, who was received with applause, stated that he had turned down two invitations lo contest seats. Sentiment prevailed, and he again came to Masterton, the place ol his birth.

INDEPENDENT LIBERALISM

He stood lot independence and for Liberalism. He had been a' life-long Liberal, and was an. independent personally. He did not believe in party politics. He was going to take the Liberal side, but as a volunteer, and not a conscript. He would support measures and not men. lie was out for a square deal. If elected, he would take his seat on the Opposition benches alongside such men as Colonel Mitchell. He urged the need of a strong constructive opposition. There should not be a continually negative Opposition. Liberalism stands between Capital and Labour, and for that reason Liberalism offered tbe best medium between the two. PREFERENTIAL VOTING.

He referred to proportional representation and preferential voting. At present there Were 49 Reformers in the House, 18 Liberals, 9 Labour and 4 Independents. With preferential voting there would be 30 Reformers, 30 Liberals, 12 Labour and 3 Independents in the. House. In Masterton ihe Reform Party was in the minority of 600 votes, taking the figures for the last election. The two Reformers at the last Masterton election polled 3000 votes, and the Independent Liberal and Labour 3600. Mr Holms said that the Dominion would never obtain a preferential voting system while Mr

Massev had a majority of 19. TAXATION.

He suggested Hint taxation should ■ be scientifically graduated from £.IOO, with an allowance of £SO for each ' child, as at present, and perhaps an adTiitional allowance for the wife. It

should not stop at £10,000: let it go to the top mark. There were 395 income taxpayersin the Dominion with incomes over £IO,OOO. He believed in preferential 'trading and the building up of trade. But there was too much taxation collected through the Cus-

toms. Was it giving a square deal to collect so much taxation from .this source, the bulk of the burden falling on the shoulders of the family man?

The present Government was piettgen to reduce taxation, that being iheir election cry. But the first year after the Reformers assumed the reins of office, the taxation increased from £5 to £5 10/. The Government came in under false pretences in the matter of taxation, which had increased bv 15/ per cent since 1921. SETTLEMENT OF THE LAND.

The difficulties of to-dav in the farming world were the difficulties of the new farmers, particularly regard to the soldier settler. The Government should have assisted the farmer with loan money. As it was the farmer had. to go to private institutions to raise money to carry him along, and not at the same low rate of interest as would be the case m regard to a Government loan. He referred to tihe help given in Australia and Canada and elsewhere to farmers. “You would almost think you had a Bed Fed. Government in power, and not a. farmers' Government,” said the speaker. There was a go-slow.

land policy in operation—it had been in existence since 11)06, when Mr Seddon died. The present Government forced up The values of laud. Most sympathy will, of course, be tell for the soldier settler, because he ( has been placed in the unlortunate position of having to make a financial sacrifice following upon a great physical sacrifice on behalf of his country. The first call therefore is lor prompt action to save ilie soldier from “going under.” Closer settlement and still „ closer settlement—of

the right kind—must he the watchword of the early future. It would he well to remember that increased production and increase!! population would serve to improve our social

conditions, and make more secure this Britain of the South. SOLDIER SETTLERS.. Mr Holms slated that the Government should take steps immediately i to meet the unfortunate" situation facing soldier settlers, by reducing in-

terest or rent on a percentage basis in (.accordance with the fall in produc- ) tivo value since the year of the purchase of any particular settlement. rm.

The Government should not hesitate to stand by the soldier settlers in this matter, said Mr Holms, because the

high prices had been created largely because of the Government having adopted a “go-slow”, land settlement, policy before the war period. RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION. Referring to railway administration, the speaker condemned the present Rimutaka line, and referred to the promises to make a deviation. They had never been carried out, though promised for over 20 years by successive Governments. If £BOO,OOO were spent on the Palmerston North railway proposal, then the Rimutaka deviation would be held up for some years to come, because Wellington was not the favoured province of New Zealand, and that £BOO,OOO would be the quota, for the province for some time to come. There was need for heller administration in connection with the New Zealand railways.

EDUCATION. Mr Holms said that money spent on education was money well spent. He was out to improve the system. There should be free education right to the university. Mr Holms referred to the system in Scotland, where children were kepi at continuous classes until. 17 years bi

age. He urged early application of the provision extending the school leaving age to 15 years, of special concern to country children; also the establishment. of an agricultural school in each of the nine education districts. “An educated democracy is a safe de

rnocracy,” said the speaker. He commented adversely on the fact that the Slate Advances Office had not progressed beyond the £1,500,000 limit

of annual advances to settlers, the total from 1802 being only £20,000,000, whereas in one year (1921), private mortgages had exceeded £67,000,000! instead of paying per cent to the State, mortgagors were mulcted to the tune of 7 or' 8 per cent by private moneylenders. In 1881 60 per cent of the people lived in the country; today, despite the progressive settle-

ment era. of the ’9o’s, only 40 per cent are country dwellers, said the condidate.

He favoured exempting small farmers up to the equivalent of the income exemption, say, £3OOO unimproved value of ,land, plus £SOO value per child. Thereafter the land tax should steadily progress to the highest peak in land* values.

DEFENCE. He thought tliSy“\VßUl dall recognise the value of the defence of the Empire. He was of opinion that New Zealand should contribute more lor wards the upkeep of the British Navy. The present military system in New Zealand seemed to he fairly satisfactory. Regarded in ilie light of an insurance premium against war possibilities, judicious naval and military expenditure should be supported by all sections of the people.

SOCIAL

He believed in an extension of the

provisions of the National Provident Fund to emhrace all persons over 18 years of age earning less than £3OO per annum, plus £SO additional per child, to embrace all State pension schemes, except for war service and the Employers’ Liability Act. Housing betterment was essential to social welfare. “Each man his own landlord” is an objective! tending to promote a .patriotic outlook.

WIRE-PULLING. \ He referred to the party wire-pull- ( ing which commenced about a month i before last election, when there was i a. danger of a Liberal winning the j seat. He warned them against such' tactics at the present election.. At the. last election there were one or two on the Reform side and some on the other side—hot the Liberal side—at this wire-pulling game. “Let us be judged on tiie merits 1 ' cd onr respective platforms,” "'said Mr Holms, “coupled, of course, with due consideration of our personal claims.”