MR WHIBLEY AT SHANNON.

Shannon News, 5 December 1922, Page 3

MR WHIBLEY AT SHANNON.

There was a good attendance at the meeting addressed in Shannon on Friday night by Mr F. D. Whibley, the Labour cadidate. Mr R. Downes presided.

Mr Whibley,. who was cordially received, said it was regretted the elements were against the attendance that evening, as the Labour movement had sufficient opposition from the different political parties and the Press without any more in the shape of the weather. He said he attached considerable interest to his Levin meeting, as this centre contained a large vote, and he was anxious to meet as many of the electors as possible. Throughout the electorate he had had a good reception, an dhe felt if he got a good vote in Levin he was confident / ©

the Labour candidate would be found at the head of the poll on election day. (Applause.) FIGHT BETWEEN REFORM AND LABOUR.

Mr Whibley expressed the opinion that the election would be a fight between the Reform Government and the Labour Party, and that the remnants of the Liberal Party would be wiped out after the election was over. Why had the Liberal party gone back from the days of Ballance and Seddon, the great Liberals of the oast? 'The reason was that the 1 Liberals of the present day had failed to carry - on the progressive policy of the party of old. He claimed that the mantle of Liberalism had descended upon the Labour movement, which was in the forefront of Liberal progression to-day. THE FINANCIAL TURMOIL. The candidate went on to refer to the serious condition of the finances of the country, and he pointed to the fact of there being some £50,000,000 of war loans in existence in the country which were bearing 4$ per cent and Were free of income tax. That represented a loss of three-quarters of a million to a million annually to the Treasury. The attitude of the Prime Minister, Mr Massey, in connection with the tax-free loans was anything but creditable. Sir Joseph Ward was Minister of Finance in the National Government, and an endeavour was being made to put the whole blame of these tax-free loans on him, but that was quite unfair, as Mr Massey or any member of the Cabinet or of the House could have objected, but they did not do so. When asked in the House why he did not appeal to the patriotism of the monied' people in raising the loans subject to tax in the usual way, Sir Joseph Ward replied, "What is the use of appealing to patriotism when some millions of money was wanted.” Human life was being conscripted at that time, but\it could not be done with capital. The only section that realised what these tax-free loans meant was the Labour Party, but their criticism was scoffed at by self-styled patriots.

TAXATION REBATES

The candidate, referred to the con-

cessions given by the Government to those monie'l men and commercial '•'. concerns which could pay their income tax within a given period. The results were that the Bank of New Zealand got a rebate of £17,000 and other banking concerns also got large reductions, and a Christchurch drapery company £SOO. Other instances were quoted where capitalists had got big i reductions, but the small men got nothing in proportion to the big men, 'yet they were: told almost every day what the Massey Party was doing for the small man. In 1921 seven professional men in this country had a

joint income of £152,554, or an average of £22,000 each. These were some of the people whom the Prime Minister was so anxious to relieve of the

burden of taxation, and they escaped their full responsibilities at a time when the country was in need of all the revenue it could get. The speaker went on to quote from a certain coal company in the north. The balancesheet recently issued showed the capital of the company whs £60,000, and the profit for the year ended in August last was £44,649 8/11. That com-

pany had paid dividends and bonuses

to shareholders to the extent of 35 per cent, and carried forward a sum, equal to that which had been distributed.

This was another concern which the

Massey Party relieved of taxafoin. Another was a woollen company in Otago. "This latter company, with a Capital of £83,000, made a profit for the year of £62,000. After that the sheep farmers of the country need not

worry about where their profits were. It was only too obvious. The thing was a scandal. GOVERNMENT LAND DEALS.

Another matter that had created scandals in the country were some of the land deals between the Government md some of its friends. He quoted the latest instance in the Rotqrua district. A property had been offered the Government for £BOOO, but was refused. Fourteen months later thj property was bought for £4350, and resold to the Crown through the Railway Department for £27,500. This scandal had just been exposed by the Auckland Star, and as could be under-

stood was creating some stir in the

north. Mr Massey’s attention had been called to it, but he pretended he knew nothing about it.

LABOUR’S LAND POLICY

Labour’s land policy had the object of returning to the farmer the full benefit of his labour. They aimed at the wiping out of the speculator , and the land agent. They were unnecessary. If a man went on to a highpriced farm carrying a large mortgage, what were the- use of high produce values to him. when he had to hand the money over to the mortgagee? The Labour Party was totally opposed to land aggregation, and he quoted a case in the Main Trunk district where a speculator held 17 farms, all run by two men and a boy, where previously there had been numerous families Labour stood for a policy that would give; the worker security of tenure and the full fruits of his labour. The Massey Party said Labour’s land policy was confiscation, but Labour had really built on the policy of Sir John Mackenzie, who said the State must own the soil. That was, in short, the leasehold.

Touching on educaton, Labour’s policy was free education from the kindergarten to'the college. No child should suffer because of the poverty of its parents, therefore school necessities should be free. They were opposed to any reduction in the education vote, but on the other hand wanted that increased in proportion to the increase of the population of the country. (Applause.) WHAT LABOUR STANDS FOR.

The Labour Party advocated a State bank, with the sole right of note issue and the exclusion of private banking. Mr Massey had stated from time to time that the Bank of New Zealand was largely a State institution from which they derived a considerable amount of revenue, aiid that New Zealand would not be much better off if the bank were State-owned. The experience in Australia was that State banking was a huge success, and, bet-' ter still, controlled the overdraft rate at 6 per cent, which must be a big saving to those having dealings with banking Institutions. Could anyone in New Zealand get an overdraft at 6 per cent? They certainly could not. The Labour Party also stood for the State taking over the fire and accident insurance of the country. Since the State Fire insurance office was started it had* saved over £4,000.000 to the people of the country, and at the same time had accumulated assets amounting to £348,390. Under the present accident insurance policies, benefits were payable over only a short period, but Labour wanted that period extended. Why should the worker and his dependents suffer through no fault of their own. Labour wanted those benefits extended, and rightly so. His party also supported a scheme of motherhood endowment. This was a vital necessity for the' welfare of the mothers and the children. The Labour Party was not opposed to immigration provided those who were coming to the country were fully informed of the conditions here and they were not brought out under - misapprehension. QUESTIONS. Asked if returned to the House would he' 'favour the third cut in the Civil, servants’ salaries, the candidate said No. The Government said there had been a reduction in the cost of living, but he considered the workers generally were at least, 20 per cent worse off at.the present time than in 1914.

What is the policy of the Labour Party in regard to the liquor question?

The candidate: We stand for the Referendum.

Do you favour endowment of Catholic schools? The candidate: No; I am not in favour of the endowment of any denominational schools. Asked what he intended to vote for on the Prohibition question on December 7, Mr Whibley said he would vote for Prohibition, but it was a question on which the people could please themselves. Are you aware that in 1911 the Labour Party pledged themselves to outvote the Liberals at that election?

The candidate: No, lam not. I am only aware of what, Mr Massey said at that election in regard to the Otaki seat, when he asked his supporters to support Mr Robertson at the second ballot.

Do you favour land nationalisation? The candidate: Yes, the State ownership of the soil. How do you intend, to bring it about? The candidate: We would not interfere with the man who wants to work it, but we would certainly prevent it, being speculated with.

In the event of a no-confidence motion by Mr Wilford against the Re* form Party, would yon support- it?

The candidate: No matter'who moved it, I Avill vote against the Reform Party. Do you favour reducing the amusement tax? Yes, I certainly think it should he taken off on the lower . price tickets up to 2/. ’ No more questions comtng forward,

Mr Taylor, in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker, eulogised the very able address given by Mr Whiblay, and said be thought he had given those present a very clear account of his party’s policy. Mr Quarrie seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. Mr Whibley, in returning thanks, made a very strong appeal to the electors to thoroughly consider the question he had placed before them before they exercised their votes on election day.