PARTIES ANALYSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 502, 3 November 1928, Page 10

PARTIES ANALYSED

UNITEDS “AN APOLOGY” MR. J. A. LEE ON HUSTINGS In the analysis of Mr. J. A. Lee, Labour candidate for Auckland East, there are “two parties and an apology” in the election field —Reform, Labour—and United. The latest entry into the political ring was figuratively hung, drawn and quartered by Mr. Lee, who, in speaking at Parnell last evening, chided the members of the party for their imposition upon Sir Joseph Ward, their new leader. Frequent subdued interjections provoked a sharp, “Keep quiet, please,” from Mr. Lee. Otherwise the meeting was orderly. “Notwithstanding its promises to stop borrowing, Reform has in 17 years added £170,000,000 to the National Debt,” said the speaker, “and yet it has failed to settle successfully the land in New Zealand. Is it any wonder we have unemployment when the settlements have been depopulated by 13,581 in three years?” The speaker, said that, before we could absorb immigrants, we must have the right type of Government. Reform had favoured the big man at the' expense of the small man. The Hon. K. S. Williams, Mr. Lysnar, and the Hon. W. Nosworthy paid not .a penny in income tax. When a squatter received an income of £IO,OOO it was not fair that he should pay nothing in income tax; yet everyone else in the country had to pay £3l a year to supply the interest on the National Debt. Reform had increased the tax on the small business man, but not on the man with an income of £IO,OOO.

“We have to go overseas for money,” ho went on, “because the big men do not contribute to the consolidated fund.”

The United Party, its origin and its personnel were criticised extensively by Mr. Lee. Thi*ce years ago the original United candidates were attempting to join Reform against Labour, and now the party was using Sir Joseph Ward, a sick man, for the purpose of helping it to climb into Parliament. In 1927 every Liberal mem %r had voted in favour of fixing the unemployed labour wage at 9s and 12s a day. A Voice: Free of income tax. Mr. Lee: No question is of more vital importance to this industrial area than employment and unemployment.

In defence of local industry, Mr. Lee said that the right place to start British preference was here in New Zealand.

Dealing briefly with Labour’s policy, the speaker advised that his party advocated increasing taxation for the man on the top rung of the ladder, and lessening the burden of the man on the bottom rung. In regard to health, their policy was to have the community supply free nursing, doctoring and surgery. The incidence of accident insurance would provide a State monopoly, which would double the present pension at extra cost to the State. In replying to a questioner, Mr. Lee said he thought it reasonable for men travelling to public works jobs to demand free passage.