REFORM’S CLAIMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 501, 2 November 1928, Page 7

REFORM’S CLAIMS

' RIDICULE AT PUTARURU COUNTRY PARTY ENTHUSIASM (From Our Own Correspondent) PUTARURU, To-day. Before a full attendance in the Putaruru Town Hall last evening, Mr. S. H. Judd, Country candidate for Rotorua, dealt in detail with Reform’s claims. He said that the total cost of the last loan was £5 3s 7d per cent, which with 3s per cent, for losses and 3s 4d for administration, brought the cost to 5& per cent., at which it would have been lent to farmers, instead of at 6i per cent., as charged. The Mataraata County Council could get all their requirements at the lower figure. In regard to good roads, the balance of £900,000 in the highways account was due to county councils being unable to pick up their “authorities” owing to their big burden of rates. The Highways Act had increased farmers’ rates, and not decreased them.

The Reform Party’s claims in regard to herd-testing and the Seeds and Fertilisers Act were described as audacious, as the Farmers’ Union had founded the former, and secured the latter after years of agitation. Work for farmers which the party did not boast about was the Dairy Control Board, while on such leading questions as the Arbitration Court, unemployment, agricultural bank and electoral reform, they “sat on the fence” and appointed commissions of inquiry. The Government was bankrupt of ideas and policy. No vote of confidence was asked for, but a vote of thanks, moved by Messrs. L. M. Nicklin and A. R. Vosper, w*is enthusiastically carried.