THE MANAWATU SEAT.

Shannon News, 24 November 1922, Page 3

THE MANAWATU SEAT.

MH LINKLATER ADDRESSES SHANNON ELECTORS

Last evening at the Maoriland Theatre, Shannon, Mr Linklater, the Reform candidate lor this electorate, addressed a good attendance of electors and received a splendid hearing. The Mayor (Mr Murdoch) presided. In introducing the speaker, the chairman referred to the public services rendered by Mr Linklater as chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board, chairman of the Kairanga County Council, and other public bodies he had been connected. with, stating this work was a true guide as to the worthiness of the candidate. He said he felt sure those present would give the speaker a fair hearing. (Applause.) Mr Linklater, on rising to speak, was received with applause. He stated he was very pleased to meet the people of Shannon for the first time from the political platform. When (he fact of Mr Newman’s retirement became known he received many re quests to become a candidate. He hesitated, but so pressing were the ie quests made, and so kindly the references to him, that he at last consented lo stand. He thought that he had at least mastered the ABC of politics in local government, and was now justified in launching out on the greater sphere of Dominion affairs. If he was returned he would do his very best to represent the important Manawatu electorate as it should he represented. (Applause.)

THE CHOICE. ’ We were living in critical times—threatened by war from without and afflicted with war within. We (had Bolsheviks and revolutionaries in the Dominion, whose sole idea it was to overthrow the institutions of the country, and even, if they could, cause the downfall of the British Empire. They must therefore be very careful in the men they chose to represent them and to lead the country. They had the choice of three parties and three leaders. There was the Liberal Party under Mr Wilford who did not seem to have been able to keep his party together and some of them were going over to the Reform Party. The very fact that he was willing to range himself on the side of the Labour Party on the issue of proportional representation ruled him out of the calculation. Then they had the Labour Party led by Mr Holland, associated with whom were Messrs. Fraser, McCombs, Parry and others,, who (had no admiration for our British methods of government, and were more or less openly fn favour of the Soviet form. He had no personal feeling against these men, and w’ais quite willing to meet them as worthy citizens. But he was most strongly opposed to their principles as expressed in the official policy of the New Zealand Labour Party, namely, the nationalisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange. This was the I.W.W. aim, and it had been applied to Russia with such disastrous results to that unhappy country. He wondered that these ideas took root in a country such as this, which had one of the freest forms of representative government and a heritage second to none. LABOUR ON LAND.

Mr Linklater said he! was very much interested in the Labour Party’s land policy. He read a letter written to the press last month by Mr Rod. Ross, who was secretary of the Labour Party in Palmerston, in which he: said: “As one who has been in the inner circle of the Labour Party for many years, and who has tried to put Labour’s land policy on honest lines, I am able to state without fear of contradiction that the Labour Party’s land policy was drawn up for the special purpose of deceiving the farmer; in other words, to catch the innocent fanners’ votes.”

Mr Linklater said he hoped the Labour Party would not be able to mislead the farmers of this country as to their aims. Mr Holland appeared to have imbibed all his ideas on government from foreign countries, and he had declared himself in favour of the Soviet form of Government. REFORM’S LIBERALISM.

The difference between the Liberal and Reform parties was in name only, except that Mr Massey’s Liberalism Was expressed in acts, while Mr Wilford’s was expressed by the manipulation of the soft pedal. Mr Linklater quoted Sir John Findlay’s definition of Liberalism, and said that, judged hy that standard and by his works Mr Massey was a real Liberal, except that the Reform Party had been more consistent in its Liberalism in that it had repealed none of the Liberal Government's humanitarian legislation, hut had extended, liberalised and o ldel to it. Now, if they had two parties with so little to choose between them it became a question purely of leaders and men. He quoted Sir John Findlay’s opinion that the Liberalism of BalTanee and Seddon had broken down and that the present Prime Minister was the most practical exponent of Liberalism left in New Zealand to-day. (Applause.) Many Liberals were now ranged on Mr Massey’s side because

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they fully realised the truth Of Sir John Findlay’s words. Mr Massey had always given the best that was in him to the welfare of the country. There was no part of this great Empire where he would not he an

honoured and welcome guest. Applause.) Mr Linklater considered would be foolish to dispense with the services of such a well-trusted .statusman so long as he was willing to give them. (Applause.)

CRITICISM REPLIED TO. Whatever Government was t. power and whatever It did, ft would be criticised, said Mr Linklater. Tht only way to escape criticism was to be nothing, say nothing and do nothing, and he proceeded to deal with various criticisms directed against trie Govern ment. It was alleged that the Reform Government stood for reduced wages, but in 1911, before it took office the average annual wage of the male fac-tory-workers was £lls, and of female workers £SO. In 1920 the respective a\ rages were £2lO and £96. The average wage of the Civil ser/iee had increased under Reform from £IBB 1o £?B3 in 1921-22, and the minimim salary for married men in the service was raised from £l4O to £234. Coming to the removal of the war Mr Linklater said the circumstances of ths countiry were such th-P nniPbo a cut were made some of ‘he workert uld have to be put off. He was no* one to reduce wage.} end had not done so, but he recognised that meG.ing had to be done so f a r ..s the country was concerned. Bonuses have been given prior to 1920 amounting to £95 in all. The total out lay in that connection was millions, every penny of which was paid by the taxpayers of this country. In any case, the State employees were not in anything like the poor condition they were in in 1913. hoped no more cuts would be necessary, and that it would be possible to increase wages. In 1916 the taxpayers contributed £2,430,477 to the revenue, and in 1922 £9,937,924. Revenue began to slump in 1921-22. there being a falling off of over £6,000,000. No less than £900,000 was outstanding on account of land and income tax assessments. Last year’s collections totalled £7,640,803. Retrenchment became imperative and the taxpayers’ burden became intolerable, and even now was insupportable. There were people who cavilled at the rebate on land tax last year, yet it was apparent that unless it was, made many taxpayers would not have been able to pay their taxes. It required a great deal of courage on Mr Massey’s part to bring forward his retrenchment scheme just prior to a general election.

Coming to education, Mr Linklater said in 1910-11 a sum of £1,294,000 paid for this service, while in 1921-22 the total had risen to £3,573,000. There would be 7500 more children of school age next year to be provided with schools and teachers. The Government built 706 new schools last year, 636 in the country districts. The Government hoped by the end of 1923 to reduce the size of classes to about 40.

On humanitarian grounds the Government deserved' better than its predecessors. He quoted the increased amounts paid in widows’ and children’s pensions, reduction of the age limit; for old age pensions to 60 years, the improved miners’ pension, and Said the soldiers’ pension scheme was the most liberal of all the Dominion. Only 209 dwellings were erected by the previous Government in the six and ahalf years tlhe Workers’ Dwellings Act was in operaton, but the Massey Government in its first three years built 422 houses, and during the last three years 11,110 houses. He quoted the increase in Savings Bank deposits, friendly society funds and insurance as evidence of the welfare of the worker under the Reform Government. Proceeding he referred to the high credit enjoyed by the Dominion in London. What some considered the most liberal Act was that passed to give women the right to seats in. Parliament. If women were returned to Parliament they would be of great assistance as well as an ornament to that institution. (Applause.) LEGISLATION FOR FARMERS.

The Reform Government had stabilised land tenures by assuring tbe right of the freehold, which made for better working, and was better to raise money on. The Moratorium Act had been of great benefit to many farmers in New Zealand. The Board of Agriculture hadf been set up and had done a great deal of good. Instructors and demonstrators were sent out amongst, the farmers and crop-grow-ing competitions organised amongst the high schools. The Government was also assisting in the testing of cows, not only stud herds but ordinary herds. The Nauru and Ocean Island purchase might seem a small thing, but it would save hundreds of thousands of pounds to the farmers of this country, 'though he did not suppose this district needed great deal of phosphates, especially the flats, as the land was second to. none in N.Z.

The Meat Control Act had resulted in bringing back the price of meat to somewhere near its old level, and ho hoped the same principle would be applied to the dairy industry.

Mr Linklater referred to the Government’s development of hydro-elec-tricity, which, tended to make life on the farms more attractive and to keep the young people on the land instead of drifting to the towns. Concluding, Mr Linklater said the Reform Government had the welfare of the whole of the Dominion at heart. It had been confronted with problems that no Government had ,ever been called upon to face in this country before. At its head they had men willing to sacrifice themselves in the cause of democracy, and with the assistance of the electors of Manawatu he hoped to range himself on their side. But whether in or out of Parliament, whether speaking with that authority which rightly belonged to the representative of this great electorate or merely expressing the opinions of a humble citizen, he would always do his best for the people of the country in which he lived. (Applause.) He thanked the audience for their attention and expressed .the hope “that when December came they would not forget that Joe Linklater was contesting the Manawatu seat in the Reform interest.” (Applause.)

At the conclusion of Mr Linklater’s address, the chairman said the speaker had spoken in eulogistic terms of the good work done for the district, by Mr Newman whilst member. As Mayor of Shannon, he had had a good deal to do with Mr Newman, and he had always found-him only too willing to do what he could lor any district requirements, and he wished to move a vote of thanks to that gentleman by acclamation, which was given amidst apllause. Alter a number of questions (held over till next issue) had been asked, it. was moved by Mr E .Spencer and seconded by Mr C. Spiers, that, a hearty vote of thanks be aaccorded the candidate.

An amendment, • proposed by Mr Logan, and seconded by Mr L. Richardson, “That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded the speaker for his address, but the meeting has no confidence in the Reform Government,'’ was made. On the vote being put to the meeting, the motion was carried by a large majority.

The meeting terminated with a hearty vote of thanks to the chair.