That Harbour Bridge

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 507, 9 November 1928, Page 7

That Harbour Bridge

MR. HARRIS QUESTIONED “OPPONENT’S COURTESY” “In view of your close and intimate association with the managing director of the Devonport Ferry Company, how can your advocacy of the harbour bridge possibly be genuine?” This pointed .question was put to Mr. A. Harris, Independent Reform candidate for Waitemata, at his meeting at Belmont last evening. Mr. Harris replied that he. had not one iota of interest, financial or otherwise, in the operations of the Ferry Company. He did. however, have a great interest in the affairs of his constituents, and he knew quite well the great majority of them earnestly desired the bridge. He was pledged to bring the bridge about, and with him a piedge was a. solemn thing. This reply brought forth rounds of applause from a capacity audience. Mr. Harris prefaced his remarks with a reference to Mr. Osborne’s observations upon the use of his (Mr. Harris’s) name in a particular circular issued by Mr. Greville. Mr. TJarirs said his best thanks went to Mr. Osborne for his courtesy and for his clean and straight campaign method^. Dealing with the assertion of opponents of the Government that “thousands of farmers had walked off their holdings,” the candidate produced figures dealing with every class of Crown tenure. These showed that the ratio of forfeitures had been lower during the 10 post-war years than previously. From 1908 to 1928 the average annual ratio of forfeitures of holdings had been 1.107. During the past five years, admittedly the hardest period for a generation, the average had been 1.286. Contrasting Reform’s worst year (1928) with the worst year under the Liberal regime (1910), Mr. Harris showed that the respective ratio were 1.533 and 1.551. Mr. Harris laid great stress upon the necesisty for the encouragement of secondary industries, contending that a greater measure of protection was necessary. He knew of no surer way of solving the unemployment difficulties of the country. Figures were quoted showing the tremendous advances made by Australian industries since the change in the fiscal system made in 1903* Mr. Harris asserted that a corresponding result would be brought about in the Dominion. A unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was accorded the candidate.