THE HUSTINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 489, 19 October 1928, Page 16

THE HUSTINGS

Mr. Robert Howell, who had announced himself as a candidate for the Wallace seat in the Labour interests, lias definitely retired from the contest. • * * “The Reform Government has already spent £410,000 on unemployed relief works. Don’t say that nothing has been done.”—Mr. Frank Adeane. • * * “Yes, I have twisted. I was once a Liberal, but there is no Liberal party now. The Reform people are carrying on the traditions of Richard John Seddon.”—Mr. Frank Adeane. * * * “Under other Governments old people used to die at 70. Now they are just getting into their prime and waking up at that age.”—Mr. Frank Adeane. “I have brought facts to put before the sensible men and women here. Perhaps I should have brought a bale of hay for some of you.”—Mr. V. H. Potter, Reform candidate for Eden. * * • “Mr. Thomas is one of the finest Labour men in Britain. He is sane, sober and serious—not second even to Mr. Havelock Wilson.”—Mr. V. H. Potter. * * * “Had the Auckland City Council kept its pledges to the Government and provided adequate services without raising the fares, there would have been no trouble. It ignominiously failed in both.”—Mr. V. H. Potter last evening. * * • “Labour will never be satisfied until the population of New Zealand is increased tenfold with all earning and getting a decent living.”—Mr. M. J. Savage. ♦ * * Following a caucus of 85 delegates at Patea last evening, Mr. James Douglas Hislop, of Wellington, is announced as the United Party’s candidate for the Patea seat. —P.A. * * * Mr. C. E. Bellringer, M.P., opened his campaign at New Plymouth last evening, addressing a good meeting and receiving a vote of thanks and confidence. He declared himself a wholehearted supporter of Mr. Coates, though he opposed the wheat duty and the Licensing Bill. * * * -e STRAIGHT-OUT FIGHT Sir Joseph Ward will have a straight-out fight with Mr. S. M. Macalister (Reform) for the Invercargill seat. REFORM AT PATEA Speaking at Westmere last evening, Mr. H .G. Dickie, Reform member for Patea, dealt with the “fantastic” land scheme propounded by Sir Joseph Ward, and traversed the main features of the policy speech of the Leader of the United Party. He pointed out that the £70,000,000 mentioned by Sir

Joseph would cost over . 5 per cent, in interest. The speaker reviewed the past three years’ record of the Reform Party and covered the chief points of its policy for the future. He was accorded a vote of confidence. * * 9 DUNEDIN NORTH Mr. Charles Robert Smith, deputychairman of the Co-operative Dairy Company of Otago, has been selected as the United Party’s official candidate for Dunedin North. • * • CASTE RULE “England is a very dignified old country,” said Mr. Frank Adeane last evening. “Caste rule has gone on there for years, and everyone is pleased to let it continue.” • • • FARMERS AND CREDIT. “Don’t imagine I am married to the cocky,” said Mr. Frank Adeane last evening. “However, I do think he is the backbone of the country. I give him credit.” “Not too much, though.” said a heckler at the back. Mr. Adeane saw the joke and laughed with the audience * * * J-P. INTELLIGENCE “I think a Justice of the Peace should have some intelligence. I think he should be able to write his own name, anyway. I would like to think that because I might have to appear before one of them some day.” —Mr. Frank Adean«. WHO WAS IT? A reference by Mr. V. H. Potter to the State Advances Department drew cries of, “Who brought it in.—Joey Ward!” “Now, be careful,” said Mr. Potter. “Who did bring it in. Was it Ward or Seddon?” * * * WORTH HIS SALARY? “I will make bold to say that Mr. Sterling has saved more money in the four or five months he has been in office than the amount of his salary for the next four or five years.”—Mr. V. H. Potter. A Voice: “He’s a friend of yours.” Mr. Potter: “I admit I like a man with money. So do you, if you’re man enough to iL” LABOUR’S LAND POLICY Labour does not advocate the immediate nationalisation of land. Nor does it intend to interfere with the right to private treaty. Mr. M. J. Savage, deputy-leader of the party, madethat quite clear during the course of his address at Ponsonby last evening. Labour, he stated, would work through established channels to prevent

land aggregation and encourage closer settlement. Where land was held in large blocks and was not being. adequately worked it would be acquired at its productive value. If private treaty failed, then legislation already on the Statute Book would be brought into operation. * * * ONLY ONE BEST “Is there any chance of the best elements in Reform and the Uniteds joining together to form a Government?” Mr. R. H. Greville was asked at Northcote last evening. Mr. Greville: No. All the best elements in Reform have already joined the United Party. • • • HIGHER TASKS Dr. H. T. J. Thacker has refused an invitation to stand for Parliament this year. His rejection of the offer is couched in the following terms: —“I find it is impossible for me to go into politics just at present. There is a wider scope open to assist mankind, and I am trying to find one to prevent disease and operation and to improve health. My best thanks this time —perhaps later on.” * c * MORE THAN RIGHT TURNS Mr. R. H. Greville, United candidate for Waitemata, wants to see drastic changes in the Dominion’s system of military training. Instead of doing a few right turns once a week and having his name called, the youth should go to camp for two weeks every year, which would set him up physically and be of some practical value. • » • WAS IT MODESTY? Mr. J. B. Donald did not want to stand for the Auckland East seat. “Maybe it was hie native modesty,” said Dr. Horton in explaining the candidate’s attitude, “maybe he thought it would not pay. Or maybe he just did not want to do it.” Mr. Donald did it, however—as his audience reminded him when questiontime came, and the “heavies” went over thick and fast. • * * HE PLAYED SAFE! “The Government, in imposing the wheat duties and saving for their friends between £300,000 and £400,000, assisted the growers because they feared a big loss of votes in the South Island,” declared Mr. J. B. Donald, United candidate for Auckland East last evening, quoting as his authority a statement by the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. O. J. Hawken) in the “Newsletter”—the official Government organ. “What would you call that?” “Bribery,” called a member of the audience. “You have said it,” Mr. Donald rejoined, “but I will not say it!” * * * FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH “You can make figures do anything,” said an interjector at Mr. V. H. Potter’s meeting last evening. Mr. Potter took up the challenge. “I’ll show you,” he said. “Now if you go to the races with £3O and you put £2O on our horse ... A Voice: Are you making a book? Following the red-herring, Mr. Potter proceeded to discuss bookmakers. What could not be prohibited, he began, should be controlled. . . . Cries of, “Is this politics?” mingled with, an appeal, “Give us a tip.” ‘Til do that,” said Mr. Potter. “Vote

for Potter and you’ll be right.” Applause and laughter greeted the candidate’s retort. * • • UNEMPLOYMENT Comparative unemployment statistics were given by Mr. V. H. Potter in the course of his address last evening. He said that the numbers of unemployed were: U.S.A.—I in 84. England.—l in 38. Australia.—l in 199 New South Wales.—l in 69. Queensland. —l in 63. New Zealand.—l In 300. Mr. Potter’s statement met with incredulous cries such as, “Dont believe it!” “Rot!” “Rubbish!” “They are the official figures,” he said. • • • BORROWINGS Business men are borrowing money every day,” said Mr. V. H. Potter in his address last evening. “Where are they going to?” asked a questioner. “I don’t know,” replied Mr. Potter, but some of them are making a wonderful success of it—like we are. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and London is lending money to New tha “ “ other par: