GREW TOO OLD FOR THE SHIP OF STATE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 152, 17 September 1927, Page 9

GREW TOO OLD FOR THE SHIP OF STATE

LIBERAL’S ADDRESS FAILURE OF REFORM PARTY (From Our Otcn Correspondent) -j-, , . RAGLAN, To-dav. The ship of State had ar uncertificated master at the helm and was manned by a crew indiviJual'v too old for their jobs. y In this metaphor Mr. Thomas Parker Liberal candidate for the Raglan bvelection, opened his campaign at Raglan last evening. He asked electors to appoint him an able seaman of the ship.

Mr. Parker spoke of the misgovernment of the Dominion. .Sir Joseph l? rd '. he Said ' was the only man capable of straightening out the fina rices ? f n U i e o° U p tr y- The Government had farn ? ers badly. As proof he quoted the increase of the private mortgage debt and the number of people who had abandoned farming pursuits. s

The rise in the public debt and the increase in taxation were also points on which the candidate attacked the Government. The Reform Partv had encouraged the speculator, and had debarred young farmers from acquiring land owing to the inflation of land values. Even in the towns the young traders and working men had been prevented from obtaining land on u I ich to build homes, but at the same t me the wealthy building speculators tid been allowed to escape their lair sl,a> e of taxation.

A great wave of popularity wl irh had carried the Reform Party into power had turned to a great wave of disappointment.

The Liberal Party stood for progress prosperity, economy and efficient administration. Mr. Parker asked the audience not to pass a vote of confidence but to express that sentiment at the ballot box. The meeting recorded a vote of thanks for the address.