BANKRUPT OF LEADER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 494, 25 October 1928, Page 6

BANKRUPT OF LEADER

REFORM PARTY ASSAILED UNITEDS DEFENDED Mr. R. H. Greville, United candidate for Waitemata, addressed a goodtempered mixed audience in the Masonic Hall, Devonport, last evening. Mr. J. Hislop, Deputy-Mayor of Devonport, presided. Mr. Greville claimed that the United Party had been formed in Auckland, mostly by Reformers who had become dissatisfied. He instanced Mr. E. Allen, United Party candidate for llauraki, 40 years a Reformer and a nominator of Mr. Massey for Parliament, who had joined and helped form the United Party. Reform was now bankrupt in leadership, statesmanship and policy. Mr. Greville said the Hon. Mr. McLeod was of a hopelessly pessimistic temperament and Reform had knocked £1,250,000 off income tax and put it on Customs duties. The loaf was 2d dearer than it should be. In ten years Customs duties had risen from 29 to 52 per cent, of the total taxes. The United Party believed that the leasehold system was the best land policy, but would give people their option in land tenure; would put on the Customs free list all tilings not made in New Zealand, and would subsidise local essential industries. He admitted that the “annual crop” of young New Zealanders 10,000 in number, that left school every year, could not all go on the land —vocational training was needed. The United Party would finish out railways likely to be revenue-pro-ducing. Stating that "we must all admit Ward is brainy as regards finance,’ Mr. Greville defended Sir Joseph’s borrowing scheme on the ground that the money would be spent on increasing the productivity of New Zealand. No political scheme introduced by Sir Joseph had been a failure, but Reform had crippled or killed the State Advances Act; failed in its Dairy Produce Control: ruined the timber industry; and in four years had flooded 41,000 immigrants into the country. A vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate was carried.