REFORM POLICY DEFENDED.

Shannon News, 13 November 1928, Page 2

REFORM POLICY DEFENDED.

MR LINKLATER IN SHANNON

ADDRESSES LARGE ' MEETING

Over 300 people were present at the Maoriland Theatre at Shannon on Thursday evening, when Mr J. Link-

later, M.P., the official Reform candidate, addressed' the electors. He re

ceived a splendid hearing from a goodr humoured audience. Mr T. C. Thwaites occupied the chair.

CHAIRMAN'S APPRECIATION. Mr Thwaites said he felt that no introduction was necessary in regard to Mr Linklater as he is so well and favourably known to all. "Mr Linklater," he said, "comes before us tonight with more than promises. He *

conies with a record of six years' conscientious work in Parliament on behalf of the citizens of this electorate. No matter what party you belong to, in all fairness you must give credit where credit is due.' 5 He knew from his own personal experience, both as President and secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and also as a member of the Borough Council that Mr Linklater had always been easy of access, had given an attentive and, sympathetic ear to anything Shannon. h,ad to bring before him, and had been prompt and energetic in forwarding any movement for the betterment of this borough and district. He felt assured that if Mr Linklater was returned, he would serve them as faithfully in the future as he had done in the past. On the other hand, if they do not see fit. to return him, he would leave behind him a record that his successor would have to work hard to live up to. No matter, which way things went, Mr Linklater had, formed a great many lasting friendships amongst those with whom he had come in contact and ha*3 earned the respect of all. "Wo cannot all see eye to eye, but we can listen quietly and intelligently to the views of another. Let us therefore accord Mr Linklater that courteous and sympathetic hearing he has ever, extended to us. • In full confidence that you will afford him such a hearing, I now call on Mr Linklater" to address you." (Applaxise). > Mr Linklater in his opening remarks said he appreciated the Chairman's tribute, also the courtesy always accorded him on his visits to Shannon both in social and public matters. He said he had always done what he could for all parts of the electorate and could honestly say he had done his best for Shannon. This was the third time he had come before them asking for their suffrages and Jie thanked the local people for their support in past years, which he assured them, he very much appreciated. He realised that this was the hardest fight, he had ever been in. His old friend, Mr Small, was carrying the United Party's banner, and he had no complaint against him because it was the right of every citizen to stand for Parliament if "he wished. It did not alter the fact, however, that the moderate opinion in the electorate was being divided into three. When the United Party was formed it was claimed that quite a number of Reform members would go over to that Party, but nothing of the sort had happened. Some disgruntled Reform supporters had certainly done so, but no Reform Parliamentarian had joined them. Mr McManaway's Opposition. '"So far as Mr McManaway is concerned," continued Mr Linklater, "at last election he was one of my staunchest supporters and worked very hard for me in the northern districts. Now that he is opposing me I ask why he is doing so. I have suggested that it is because of my attitude on the Licensing Bill. I don't refer to last session, but to 1937, when this vexed question first came before the House," Mr Linklater explained that in 1927, while he voted against a bare majority clause, he Had voted for the Bill as a whole which embodied the bare majority. Last session he voted for both the clause and the Bill, so that there was no inconsistency in his action. "There are only two lobbies and a man must vote in one or other," said Mr Linklater. "And whichever way you may vote you at at issue with fifty per cent, of the electors. I have voted for the bar,e majority because I feel that every man's vote is of equal value (applause). The real issue is in the hands of the people themselves and not in the hands, of the members of Parliament. That is the democratic way of settling it." Bible-In-Schools. Dealing briefly with the Bible-in-Schools question, the candidate stated that he had always voted for that Bill and could not see any reason against ! allowing the exercise in schools. He said Parliament was opened by and religious exercises in secondary schools were allowed. It seemed wrong to him that this privilege should be denied the primary schools. (Applause). Daylight Saving. "I have always been opposed to this measure" said the speaker, "because I consider that it is not in the best interests of the farmers of this country. A committee presented a report to the House with a recommendation that the clocks be advanced one half hour. This'system is now in operation and appears to be a fair compromise between the cities and the country. Personally I would like to see it extended to operate during the wholo year because in winter time we find It dark by 5 p.m. and by having the clocks advanced in the winter time, an extra half hour of daylight would obtain." Election Promises, '' As far as the election promises of the 1925 Government are concerned, I think that the electors who carefully study the. facts and figures will realise that these promises have been kept and that the administration of the country's affairs has been thoroughly .'4-VH- iTfl** (Continued on next page.)

safe yet \ vigorously ' progressive. Its recor/pvovi that it has workedcor, sistently in .the interests of all tho people and not for one wction of t It has set out a qj work which was necessary for *r, Zea **?,? advancement and has carded out that programme successfully The GovernLnt has been tested through years ot exceptional difficulty and now asks lor a mandate from the people to carry out its self-reliant and liberal policy. Helping the Farmer. The' Government had done everything possible to help the farmers It was not able to buy as much land for settlement, as they would have liked during the last few years. During the war very high prices had been obtained for the Dominion's produce and lan* values had been tremendously \ nflated in price. A great many people had paid too much for their land, and when produce prices went down, a great deal of the inflated value remained on the land in the shape of mortgages. Every effort had been made by the Government to find cheap mtoneyj for the farmers who were in difficulties, and many thousands of them had been kept on the land by /his policy. Money had been lent to farmers from the State Advances Department up to £3500 and by the Eural Credits Board up to £5,500 on farm security. The Intermediate Credit Board has now been formed and he suggested it is going to do a good deal of good in future years. This Board, was set up to enable farmers to raise money, on farm stock and improvements at sj low rate of interest, caused the Government to raise very large sums?, and critics had not been slow in condemning the Government for borrowing in this way to keep the farmers on their holdings. If, in addition to raising large sums to' keep settlers on their farms, the Government had raised money to buy more land, then it might easily have earned the condemnation of borrowing too much to-day. It was the Government's intention to acquire and. cut up large estates for closer settlement as' soon as the time was opportune. This land would provide an opportunity for those in search of good land, and would be eagerly availed of by those in search of smaller holdings. Land Policy. The Government had made i it easy for those wishing to take up bigger blocks of land. All they had to do was to seek out the land they wanted stad pay 5 per cent of the value down.. If the Land Purchase Officer approved of it, the Government would financed the purchaser into it. Mr Linklater also stressed what had been done forthe soldier settlers by way of revaluation and other assistance. This was a problem that the Government had ■faced courageously and, as a result the soldier settlers' position had been firmly established. As a result of the Government's general policy 200,000 acres had been added to the occupied lands during the last, five years. . Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture ha, been set up in order that the farmer should be advised in the proper conduc of the business. The old rule of thuml, methods that had applied to farming would have to go and scientific method? were rapidlv taking their place. The only method that would renew tin. pastures and bring back the farms to full carrying capacity, was top-dress-ing and he was pleased to say the farmers of New Zealand were gradually waking up to the fact of the great advantage of using it. This year the Government had granted a subsidy of £10,5.00 toward herd testing. The different associations in many parts of New Zealand were doing good work but he regretted to say only a percentage of the dairy farmer? had so far" taken advantage of this great aid to production. He believe I the pork industry would build up a tftide that will be beneficial to the Dominion.' Some people thought that industries should not be subsi dised. As a rule he agreed, but when an industry was in a bad way for lack of reasonable export price he believed the principle to be quite sound. He was pleased to know that a Flax Research Committee has been set up and he felt sure it would bring forward many uses for fibre and that hemp prices would go higher and wages would increase. He said he .was sorry to know that 10 per cent has been taken off the men's wages. He agreed with the Prime Minister that when andustry is Up against it that the men should meet the situation by accepting a decrease in wages, but when the business prospered, the men should prosper with it.

The Agricultural College. ''The most progressive step that has been taken by the Government, to assist agriculture has been the establishment of the Massey College. I 'know that this is a contentious question, but I want to say that so far as I am concerned I did my very best to get the agricultural college at Weraroa." As long ago as 1926, said Mr Linklater he a,nd Mr Field convened a meeting of representative people in Levin in regard to the College and they got the two Ministers most interested, the Hon. Mr McLeod (Lands) and Hawken (Agriculture) to visit the Farm and receive a big -deputation there. "So far as I am concerned I left no stone unturned to see that the advantages of Weraroa were made known. I know perfectly well that yofi have been told otherwise ami that people have short memories. I feel that we are to be congratulated that the college is practically at our doors." As the years go by our farmers will derive great benefit from that institution. Many parts of New Zealand wanted that college and it might.haye been situated in Hawkea Bay or Auckland." Mr'Lin Water said he was not one who wont behind people's backd t'o say what he had to say. He had done all he could to have the. College at Weraroa and he could not say more than that. (Applause). • Local Health Facilities. The Government fully realises that

good health is the best asset that people can. possess, said Mr Linklater when referring to the encouragement that was given to Plunket Societies "and St. Helens Homes, and by school doctors and dental clinics. _ One of the directions, he continued, in which the Government was promoting good health was by the establishment of Dental Clinics at the schools. At first these were not thought much of They were the outcome of the discovery during the wax that too great a the y° nn S men *% T . e suffering from dental disease. Sir James Parr extended the systems to the schools. Mr Linklater stated that he had striven very hard to have the dental nurses sent into the country districts. He was glad to say that from the end of the year one of these nurses would be operating from Levin. (Applause). ' Main Highways.

Dealing with the roads, he said the main highways had been inproved and the back block roads' had not been forgotten. In connnection with the former he had long realised that something would have to be done. For .seven vcars he has been .chairman of the Kai ranga .County Council and he knew that taxation was becoming a burden on> the ratepayers. The Prime Minister had been responsible for the Highways legislation and it Avas to him New Zealand owed the easing of the load of taxation that weighed on the shoulders of every taxpayer where highways ran. The petrol tax had provided additional funds for highway construction and this part of the country had lately received as much as £3 for £1 on the Rangitikei and Foxton Line roads. .Tha Government realised that if local taxation increased unduly, and the land became unpayable, the chief source of wealth was lost to the Dominion. All will agree that the petrol tax should be imposed on, those using the .roads. It was only right and just that they should contribute towards the maintenance.

Hydro-Electricity. Mr Linklater gave credit to the Government for pushing on the hydroelectric schemes; and said it„was marvellous the way the people of Manawatu and Horowhenua had responded to it. They hoped to have Waikare■moana switched up to the Buunythorpe station in about'three months.

The railways were the life blood ot commerce and business; it was impossible to do without them. For the last year or two' they had been run at a loss, due to the competition of motor lorries, but it must be remembered that the Government had carried lime free of charge and fertilisers at a reduction >f '4O per cent, on ordinary rates. Goods' were carried- on an average of 2.4 ct per ton, mile. If that price was raised to 3d the railways would make ,i handsome profit. The reason for the ,033 was that' the railways were carrying the least payable goods while the lorries were taking the best paying lines. The railways we're carrying freight very much cheaper than -the motor lorries. The policy of the Government was to finish the uncompleted railways as soon as possible.' Referrin'g to the Taupo railway, he said there is a lot of pumice land which the railway would give access to. and would tap ■BO,OOO acres of forest land. A voice: Tell us about Mr Sterling. Mr Linklater: His worth has yet to be proved. Railway managers in some other countries are paid higher salaries. I believe he will prove his worth. Finance. Mr. Linklater thought New Zealand was to be congratulated on the fact that it had come through the year of depression with a surplus of £IBO,OOO. lii Mr. Downic Stewart the country had a very able Minister of Finance T%e affairs" of the Dominion were in a very satisfactory condition, despite the f'aei: that the critics were continually adversely criticising the Government. It. could truly be said of the country that it was emerging from a depression to better and more settled times. The speaker quoted import and export figures to show a healthy state of affairs. He observed that it would be necessary to borrow for some years to come and it was pleasing to road what various financial journals in the Old Country thought of our loan proposals.. If the, electors of New Zealand desired to see New Zealand progress then it was their duty to return to power a party that won... secure not only the confidence of the people of this Dominion but also the people of the Old Country on whom they' were dependent for finances. The Leader of the United Party had guaranteed that he could raise 70 :ullio."s in one year for the development of this Dominion. "I think that this is the finest tribute any mai, could pay to the wise administration of ,' the Reform Party during the past few years, ' stated tli e speaker. There were no more critical people in the world than money lenders and if thoy were prepared to lend this Dominion 70 million pounds so readily there seemed little need for alarm so far as the future Avas concerned. Education. As far as education was concerned, the efforts that had been made by the Government had been very great indeed. Many difficulties had been overcome and there were still many to be dealt with, but the Government, since it assumed offiec in 1912 up to the present time had done everything possible for every branch of the educational system which was costing nearly four millions a year . That amount was increasing, but it must not be forgotten that the number of children was increasing. He was pleased to say that even to-day New Zealand ranked high in the countries of the world in its educational system. Defence. The candidate said they had to provide for land, air and, '-sea defence.

All would agree that a defence force was essential. New Zealand was dependent on the Navy and for this reason the vote of a million-towards the Singapore "dock was justified. If hostile aeroplanes came to New Zealand it would be by cruisers. The Government also realised the necessity for encouraging aviation and it was gratifying to find many young men coming forward to qualify for the air force. Public Health.

The Reform Government had done a great deal to safeguard the health of the people and he instanced the encouragement of the Plunket .system, and the dental clinics for the children. The hospitals were the most democratic in the world, the inmates being only called upon to pay according to their ability. The hospital rate sometimes pressed heavily, but the Government contribiited half of the cost. Trouble in Samoa. Mr Linklater said he had the privilege of visiting Samoa last year for health reasons. He met there a number of chiefs whom he had had the pleasure of showing over the Mangahao hydro when they came to New Zealand to meet the Duke of York. These men had nothing but praise for Sir George Richardson's administration,, and the improvements he liad made in regard ,to hospitals, schools, roads, and sanitation in the villages. Trouble had been caused .by those merchants avlio were making fortunes out of the Samoans by buying copra for £9 or £lO and selling it for £25,0r £2O, and German influence was also at work. Mr Holland on this occasion had ranged himself on the side of the exploiters. Some interruption here occurred through some imembers of the audience

raising their voices in a discussion between themselves. The Chairman: Will you please stop the conversation in the corner. It will be an advantage. Mr. Linklater: They are alright. (Hear, hear). They have been very good, and I appreciate the patient hearing I am being given as at some meetings it has beer, h&rd to get a Avord in. In conclusion, Mr. Linklater, after criticising, the Labour Party's policy appealed" to the electors of Shannon for their suffrages, stating that if again returned he avouUl do his very best to do justice to their interests Avith credit and s-atisfactiou to them. He felt sure, from what he had seen in the electorate that the support he would receive would be as solid as it Avas-at last election. (Applause). Many questions wete asked the candidate and answered. Mr R. Law moved a hearty vote of thanks to the candidate for his address, also thanks for what he had done for the district and confidence in him as member for Mana'watu. This Avas seconded by Mr. R. L. Tippler. Mr. R. Downes moved an amendment which Mr G. Quarrie seconded, that the candidate be accorded a vote of thanks for his address. On being put to the meeting the amendment was declared carried. Mr Linklater, in returning thanks, said the place to show their confidence was at the ballot box on November 14th. "Don't forget that. Joe Linklater is standing" he said (Cheers). A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.