THE MANAWATU SEAT.

Shannon News, 17 October 1922, Page 3

THE MANAWATU SEAT.

MR MURDOCH OPENS HIS CAMPAIGN. Mr W. Murdoch, Mayor of Shannon, who has occupied many public' po :«i----tions in Shannon, opened his campaign in the Maoriland Theatre on Friday evening. There was a fair attendance considering the rough night, and he received a very cordial reception. Mr A. E. Hyde presided. Mr Murdoch, who was received with applause, stated the came forward as a Liberal candidate, which party he had supported as far back as 18 ( J0 when the Ballance forces overturned the Atkinson Party. He. said the country was then in a very bad way; that was the time when we had soup kitchens. The Ballance Government then set to work to bring about a policy of social . reform, on-ei of the most important items of which was the closer settlement of land, which was strongly criticised by the Conservatives. It would astonish his hearers to read the mterances made by the Opposition against this policy. The Liberals were also responsible for bringing the Factory Act, Industrial Arbitration Act, Workers’ Compensation Act and OldAge Pensions, and many other Acts into force, and at the end of throe years of office there was a marked • >- provement. They also assisted settlers to get. cheaper money. Thei Liberal Party could not live on its past, but. had to do something for the future. We had just passed through a great war, and Mr Massey had hem compelled to get money by extra taxation and had the Liberals been in power they would have had to do Tie same.. It. was quite impossible for the settlers to go on as in the past, owing to the increased taxation, and Mr Massey had lifted the burden, but he dm wrong in removing the graduated tax ' from the large land owners. He should have assisted the small man more. LAND SETTLEMENT. At present thei question was most unsatisfactory, and the only remedy was that carried out by Ballance, who out the people with no money on the village settlements, and assisted them tc make homes. The men in return worked at road making, etc., and in a very short time were comfortably - off. A more vigorous land settlement, must be carried out. Bringing emigrants to the Dominion and-dumping them in the cities would not do it. Production was what would count. HOUSING SCHEME. He referred to the housing scheme in Wellington, where the Government had erected houses, and contended they were not satisfactory, as they were too expensive, and it was quite impossible for people to- pay the rent. The Government should remove he duty on Oregon pine, which was now 2/ to 4/ per 100, and also reduce the railage charges which were extra, also bring about a reduction in the price of cement, thus enabling bouses to be built at a cost which the people could pay interest on. CUT IN CIVIL SERVICE. He agreed’it was necessary to make a cut, but disagreed with the Government starting at the bottom of the ladder. It should have been a graduated one, and the man in the high position should make the sacrifice first. The country required it. Mr Massey did not show moral .courage, otherwise he would-have worked on those lines. SOLDIER SETTLERS. The candidate said Mr Guthrie had stated he could not do anything else than he had done, as the returned soldiers were clamouring for land and be had to find it. The Government must have known when they were buyiig land on a basis of 2/6 per lb for outterfat that, that price could not last. They knew it was wrong to tax farmers on that basis. Mr Guthrie admitted it was too high. Something had got to be done, so it was best to face at at once .and make a rebate. .Mr Guth.rie said he could.not get land. The' speaker gave an instance of what + he Government did in that respect. Pe said he wrote to the Government re the Woods’ estate at Shannon, which was offered at- £GS per acre. The Land Purchase Commissioner came up and inspected it, and turned the off down, the same property being sold a few weeks later by auction at £sl per acre. On the other hand, at Alfredton, Ihe Government bought the Tiraumoa estate, which would not feed a rabbit to the acre, and paid £8 per acre. SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS. He sa ! d soldiers’ Pensions were in some cases quite inadequate. It was ti&r'd to prove wlm were entitled tc them, as quite a number developed trouble after being discharged. These men were entitled to be assisted, as it was not always easy to procure light employment for them. He knew from exnerience that was true. SECOND BALLOT . In 1911 Mr Massey wiped out tee second ballot, and said lie would nut something better in its place. So f ;.r he had not done so. Under the present system his party was in power by a minority vote, and he was looking after number one. 1 STATE BANK. He believed in a State Bank, and

was never more sure than during the war that it Was needed. As an instance he quoted the operations of 'he Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which was established in 1913 in the face of violent opposition and continued operations under a fire-of hostile criticism, which had gradually died away. The following were the figures la ken from the bank records of itc first half year, January to June of 1913, and a similar) period in 1917: Deposits, £2,000,000 to £36,000,000; Savings Bank deposits, £2,600,000 to £12,500,00 b, which proved the institution was a success in all respects, and that it had come to stay. He said it-was calculated the bank was now showing a clear average profit of £IOOO per day, all the year round. Yet Mr Massey said it would be a failure. A voiie: Are you in favour of a State mine? The speaker: Yes. It is a good institution, and if it were not for the the State mines you might have to pay more for your coal. HEALTH ACT;. He said the Health Act of 1920 was a very comprehensive measure;, giving wide administration, and provided for inspection and compulsory attention. The speaker had complained at Hospital Board meetings of persons suffering from infectious diseases going about without restraint or inspection, and he was pleased to say there was now a marked improvement in the work of that Department, and all cases were receiving thorough supervision. In concluding his speech, Mr Murdoch thanked those present for the patient hearing they had given him, a.nd hoped to be able to address them again at a future date. QUESTIONS. Mr Randall: I was under the impression you were one of Mr Holland’s supporters at a general election some years back? Mr Murdoch: I supported Mr Hindmarsh, but not Mr Holland. Mr Randall. Didn’t you offer to support him? Mr Murdoch: Never! Mr Randall: Did you contest a muni-, cipal election with Mr Holland in the Labour Party’s interest ? Mr Murdoch: Quite true. But it will be the last time. I was “sucked in.” It was an arrangement between ail Labour bodies to contest the election. Mr Randall: Are you prepared to sey the housing problem in Wellington is not as bad now as it was during r’r Joseph Ward’s term of office? Mr Murdoch: No. There was plenty of houses available. Mr Downes: Would you vote with the Government on a no-confidence motion if moved by Mr Holland. Mr Murdoch: Depends what it was. Mr Murray: Are you contesting I he election by invitation of the Liberal Party? Mr Murdoch: lam contesting the seat by invitation of Shannon residents. No more questions being asked, Mi Randall moved, seconded hv Mr Downes, a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker, which Ava.s accorded by acclamation.