“SELL THE RAILWAYS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 503, 5 November 1928, Page 6

“SELL THE RAILWAYS”

UNITED CANDIDATE’S CONTENTION MR. SAVAGE CRITICISES The official Labour candidate for Auckland West, Mr. M. J. Savage, addressed large meetings of electors in the open air at Wood Street and Oliphant Street on Saturday night. Dealing with the attitude of the Parliamentary section of the United Party, Mr. Savage stated that on all vital divisions taken in the House since he was elected in 1919 they had either voted with the Government, or had left the House to avoid being placed on side. “It is not too much to expect,” said Mr. Savage, “that when candidates are sent to Parliament as pledged opponents of the Government that they will give effect to their election pledges on every available opportunity.” Labour members would always be found supporting no-confidence motions against the Reform Government whether those motions came from the United Party in the House or from the Labour Party. The same could not be said of the United Party. The present attitude of the United s?arty would probably result in again dividing the progressive forces at the polls on November 14, and returning the Reform Party with a new lease of life. Mr., Savage dealt at length with the administration of the railways, and referred to the fact that the United Party candidate for had been reported as saying that he “would sell them to anyone who would buy them.” Mr. Savage contrasted that statement .with the policy outlined by Sir Joseph Ward in which it is proposed to borrow extensively for the purpose of completing certain unfinished lines with the object of opening up the country. “The railways,” continued the candidate, “are among the most valuable of our social services, and no private company would be likely to give the concessions and services to farmers and others as is the case at present, irrespective of whether the lines showed a profit or not.” It was generally agreed among those who had considered the matter than the main object of the railways was to render service to those who were doing the pioneering work. After a considerable number of questions had been put to the candidate, votes of thanks and confidence were carried with enthusiasm at both meetings.