ONLY TWO ISSUES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 504, 6 November 1928, Page 12

ONLY TWO ISSUES

ONE IS SOCIALISM MISS MELVILLE’S VIEWS Despite cries of “Give us your policy,” which broke out in all parts of the hall every few minutes, Miss Ellen Melville, Reform candidate for Roskill, who addressed a crowded audience in the Capitol Theatre last evening, spent the first half-hour of her address in scathing criticism of thei Labour Party. Mr. E. H. Potter presided. There were only two issues to be decided on election day, said Miss Melville. The people had to decide between individual ownership or Socialism. Prefacing her remarks by the statement that she had lived part of her life on the land, the speaker dealt extensively with the legislation put through by the Reform Government to help the man on the land. Dealing with the criticism which had been levelled at the Government over the present system of taxation of the farmer the candidate stated that land tax was applied irrespective of returns. In many instances in a bad year the tax had to bo taken out of capital. Voice; But they still hold the land. There were many land-owners who would rather pay income tax than land tax. Voice: You are not charging us for this are you? No, I am just trying to add to your education, it’s badly needed.” The people to-day, said the candidate, had to remember that the big land-owners had come out here as pioneers. General uproar, and cries of “Pinched it off the Maoris. Got it for a stick of tobacco.” “I would like to deal a little more with taxation, if you are interested,” said Miss Melville. A Voice: No, we’re not. General uproar then ensued, during which were cries of “Give us a bit of the city! I’ve got wool on my teeth.” “As a result of the Reform Party’s administration,” said the candidate, “the housing problem no longer existed.” Voice: W’ve got a doss house now! A vote of thanks, seconded by one of the most persistent hecklers of the evening, was cried down on the voices, but carried on a show of hands.