RACING FOR ENJOYMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 501, 2 November 1928, Page 13

RACING FOR ENJOYMENT

COUNTRY PERMIT CRITICISM MR. J. B. DONALD’S REPLY Mr. J. B. Donald. United candidate for Auckland East, continued his campaign in St. Andrew’s Hall last evening, when he addressed a large and appreciative audience. Mr. Donald said he was not in any way opposed to country racing permits being granted as a source of enjoyment, but he was opposed to the transferring of those meetings to the cities, as it disorganised business at the same time depriving the country people of the enjoyment for which they asked. Owing to his opponents endeavouring to make capital out of the statement, that his firm advertised for Hindu labour, Mr. Donald gave an emphatic denial. He said that at that time a Maori was employed as caretaker of a farm they had at Ohinewai, and this person had secured a contract for flax cutting. He advertised in the papers, “Hindus preferred,” the applications to be sent to A. B. Donald, Ohinewai, without any consultation of the firm concerned. When the position was placed before the newspapers, they expressed regret and contradicted the statement. Mr. Donald hoped that this would have settled the question when first asked, but apparently his opponents were still endeavouring to make political capital out of it. Mr. Donald next referred to the rumour that he was a member of the Auckland City Council. As is well known, the administration of the city is distasteful to a large proportion of the people of Auckland, and an endeavour is being made to associate him with that body. Mr. Donald next referred to the incidents of company taxation and maintained that the company should pay nominal tax, but that the individual shareholder who receives most benefit should pay the income tax. He went on to say that the necessity for business men in Parliament was more apparent to-day than ever before.