MR. BUNN OPTIMISTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 494, 25 October 1928, Page 7

MR. BUNN OPTIMISTIC

FOG lifting over the HILL-TOPS BOWIS AND FLOWING BOWLS •‘The Government is progressing on principles.” said Mr. Bertram Bnon, Reform candidate for Manukau, 200 electors in the Methodist Hall, Greenwoods Corner, last evening. -W> had a royal fight at Ellerslie la*t night, and Reform won. The papers maintain that I took up a strong attitude against the Government at Penrose on Monday night, but I assure you I am a supporter of the Government, and I make no apology for criticising some of its measures. Do you think I should go to Wellington as a blind follower of the Government and never offer a word of criticism? Now, do you?” A Voice: No. The Candidate: One man says “No.” I suppose the rest of you think I should. He went on to complain that the Highways Board was competing with the railways by laying concrete roads parallel with railway lines. But if the people wanted a concrete road from Auckland to Hamilton, well—he had no more to say, although that was far from being sound business. It would be far better if money-were spent on roads running toward the railway lines so that the railways would carry the goods. Mr. Coates knew quite well that he disagreed with the Motor Omnibus Bill and unrestricted immigration, and it was a fact that the conditions of the country were such that farmers were grumbling, business men were grumbling, wage-earners were grumbling, everybody was grumbling. “Now what's wrong?” A Voice: The Coates Government. “I ask you what more can the Government do?” A Voice: Get out. Dealing with relief wages, Mr. Bunn naid that he did not advocate paying men 0s a day. “I’d give you all £ l a day, but before you got it, you’d have to earn it.” Dealing with the annual public interest charges, he said that the cost of hospitals, education and public or social services all came out of interest charges. A Voice: They don’t come out of interest charges. You want a course in economics. He deprecated taking a gloomy view of the outlook, and recommended more hopefulness and optimism. The fog was lifting over the hilltops, and the sun would shine again. He alluded to the fact that when he took over the control of the Huapai Applegrowers’ Association two years ago things were pretty black. They oply handled 9,000 cases, but now the trade had increased to 50,000 cases. A Voice: You’ll get Sterling’s job soon. “I am always optimistic,” he went on. “Over at Ellerslie last night they thought I was a bloated capitalist, because I’m 15st 61b, and look happy and healthy.” A Voice: Eating plenty of apples does it. “Get the optimistic spirit,” he enjoined. “When I was at the opening of the Onehunga bowling green on Saturday and saw all the happy smiling faces, I could not help thinking that we wanted more bowlers in the country and fewer growlers. There are too many men in the pubs drinking bowls and too few playing them.” Mr. Bunn had the audience in a thoroughly good humour throughout, and the chairman. Mr. E. F. Jones, had occasion to call for order but once during the meeting. Concluding, the candidate* expressed the opinion that he would head the poll, and said: “If I fail to do my duty in Parliament in the three years I am there, you can kick me out.” A Voice: You won’t be there to be kicked. A hearty vote of thanks and confidence terminated the meeting.