THE HUSTINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 493, 24 October 1928, Page 18

THE HUSTINGS

“I try to be fair. I don’t believe in hitting below the belt.”—Mr. G. C. Munns. Before a solitary boy is brought overseas to Flock House, the Government should see that New Zealand boys are given the same opportunity,” said Mr. F. N. Bartram, at Point Chevalier last evening. “I am an old campaigner, and I neither expect nor intend to give quarter,” said Mr. F. N. Bartram, last evening. “But I have always had a reputation for fighting clean, and I hope to emerge from the present contest with that reputation unsullied.” * * * “We must acknowledge the great work done by the old Liberal Party in laying the foundations of liberal and humane legislation.”—Mr. A. Harris at Bayswater last evening. * * * In a speech lasting a little over an hour, Sir Joseph Ward proposed to borrow £70,000,000. Heaven only knows what he would have borrowed if he had spoken till ten o’clock.—Mr J. Lee, M.P “You will probably remember Mr. Coates’s speech at Morrinsville in May this year, when he said that the Government had in mind a magnificent land policy. The announcement was broadcast everywhere. We’re still waiting for the scheme.”—Mr. G. C. Munns. “I’ve got as much chance of winning Tatt’s as Sir Joseph Ward has got of putting his £70,000,000 scheme into operation.”—Mr. F. N. Bartram. at Point Chevalier last evening. * * * GUINEA-PIGS? “Could the candidate tell us whether the Hon. A. D. McLeod meant human beings or guinea-pigs when he said in the House that a family of five could live on 35s a week?” This question was put to Mr. G. C. Munns, United candidate for Roskill, last evening. “Guinea-pigs,” was his answer. * * * MORE BEER “Our industries want more money,” said Mr. • J. Lee, M.P., last evening. "We want to make more bread, more jam, more biscuits— A Voice: And more beer. Mr. Lee: I don’t know why mv friend’s mind always reverts to beer. I wish he would not do it. ... It always makes me uncomfortable to see a man wake up in a comatose condition and say ‘more beer.’ (Laughter. ) COATES AND WASHINGTON “Recently I opened a packet of cigarettes and discovered inside two

pictures of famous men. One was George Washington and the other was the Right Hon. Gordon Coates. George Washington was in th© gallery of the great men along with Mr. Coates. Washington never told a lie and Mr. Coates did not need to,” said Mr. Lee. “He had good advertising agents.” “SQUATOCRACY” A new political word has been coined for the approaching elections. It has been heard from several United Party platforms already. It is “squatocracy.” Mr. G. C. Munns used it last evening. As the United candidates point out, it is scarcely necessary to explain that the word is intended as a broad hint as to the Government methods of dealing with the “squatters” and large landholders. * * * MANY-COLOURED COAT “I suppose that, like Joseph of old, he has a coat of many colours,” said the Hon. W. Downie Stewart of the United Party leader. He was speaking of Sir Joseph’s bold borrowing proposals, a curious contradiction being that Sir Joseph had been one of those who in recent years maintained that loan expenditure was too high. CHANGING OVER “I know a young Labourite who has linked with us because he believes that Labour will get no further in New Zealand,” Mr. G. C. Munns, United candidate for Roskill, told a Mount Albert audience last evening. Mr. Munns went on to say that about a dozen Reformers had come to the conclusion that a new party with a new policy was badly needed in the Dominion. SELF-CONTAINED PARTY “It was somewhat pathetic to think the Liberal Party has faded away. Sir Joseph Ward used to get up in the House and say he was the last of the Liberals. He could hold a party caucus, propose a motion and carry it unanimously. When he was on deck the party was on deck, and everything in the garden was lovely.”—Mr. A. Harris at Bayswater last evening. DASHING SIR JOSEPH Sir Joseph is not too old for politics, agrees the Hon. W. Downie Stewart. “His complaint is exactly noosite.” said the Minister at Dunedin. “He is too young, too dashing, too extravagant, too spendthrift—in short, too much of a plunger for the careful and prudent people of New Zealand." AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT “I am of the opinion that capital punishment should be abolished throughout the Empire,” said Mr. Allen

Bell, M.P., addressing the electors of iCaitaia last night. “Most murderers are subnormal and irresponsible, and nothing could be more barbarous than the manner in which they are dealt with from the time of their conviction till their execution.” • * P A LONG LEAD, “Are you leading up to a question or making a speech?” asked the chairman at Mr. Kells Mason’s meeting at Onehunga last evening, when a man began a long statement. “I am leading up to a question,” the man said. “Well, you are making a pretty long lead,” the chairman remarked. “He must be a bowler,” observed the candidate, amid laughter.