LABOUR’S CAMPAIGN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 949, 16 April 1930, Page 9

LABOUR’S CAMPAIGN

MR. BLOODWORTH SPEAKS AT REMUERA CATCHWORDS AND PARTIES A very attentive hearing was given Mr. T. Bloodworth, Labour cadidate for Parnell, when he delivered his opening speech to the electors at the the Remuera Library last evening. Mr. E. J. Phelan presided, and also on the platform were Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., j and Mr. W. E. Perry, M.P. Mr. Bloodworth prefaced his remarks by expressing regret that Mr. IT. R.: Jenkins, the direct cause of the byelection, was not a candidate, as there were certain questions arising out of hi 3 resignation that could now not be answered in the same direct form as if he had been in the contest. Mr. Jenkins, before his election to Parliament, had said, “It is because, in my opinion, the political wrongheadedness of the present Government is incurable that I have decided to make available to the electors such ability as I have, believing that sound principles must succeed in public as in private life. There is no substitute for brains and brawn, but we must have both.” With the description of the “incurable wrongheadedness” of Reform, Mr. Bloodworth said he agreed and he classed Uniteds in the same category. He knew a good many men in both parties and while a fev/ could be called liberal-minded, the real policies of those parties were dictated to and to a very large extent administered by the reactionary forces which controlled them. POLITICAL PERSONALITIES “For a political party to endure it must have something more than the personality of its leader on which to base its claim for support and that, I do not think, the United Party as a separate party has,” said Mr. 'Bloodworth. “In recent years New Zealand has been governed by catchwords and the parties had based their appeal not on deep-rooted political conviction, but on the claims of popular personalities. The Labour Party, on the other hand, based its appeal on the measures it would introduce. “It is true that to give effect to those measures it would require men and millions. The party offered men of experience in public affairs, and the millions would be secured and spent in giving effect to measures which would restore prosperity to New Zealand. They would be measures of land settlement and industrial development, providing employment for labour and capital available, developing New Zealand for New Zealand, and also developing it so that it might become a still more useful member of the family of nations.”

The candidate also made reference to political propaganda at the last General Election. An appeal had then been made to parents to support Reform on the ground that occupational opportunities would be provided for young people, but since then there were 24,000 fewer positions offering in the country. Reform had shaken its fist in the face of the boys and girls who had sought work. Another Reform poster claimed credit for the national conference between employers and employees in 1928, but if anyone deserved credit for summoning that conference it was the speaker,

who had asked the Government for it in 1920 and again in 1927. The Labour Party had been accused of responsibility for stopping immigration, but all the party claimed was that immigration should be strictly regulated by the state of trade and industry. Ever since 1915 the candidate had advocated before the Arbitration Court an increase in the standard of living—a factor which would do more than anything else to bring people to this country. “At the last election Parnell registered its lack of confidence in the Reform Party,” Mr. Bloodworth continued. "It turned down a man who had been its member for 17 years and elected in his stead a man full of promise but with no political experience of public administration in any capacity whatever. This by-election is g, proof that this experiment was a failure.

"It is a significant fact that although each of the two parties has tried very luy<l to secure as its standard-bearer in this fight men of outstanding experience in local or national affairs, each has failed to secure such a man. and each offers you a man entirely unknown in political matters and without any experience of public administration of any kind. It has been frequently urged that men who aspire to a place in national politics should first prove their worth in the field of local politics, or should give evidence of their fitness for the post in some of the many voluntary associations, educational or scientific, which strive to advance the general good. EXPERIENCE WANTED "If it is important at any time that men of experience should be sent to Parliament, it is surely more than even important that that should be done this time. There never was a more critical time in the affairs of the country. Agriculture, commerce and industry are depressed and unemployment and consequent suffering have become chronic throughout the land. In addition, this is the second session of the present Parliament and it is usually regarded as the working session.”

Mr. Bloodworth claimed for the Labour Party an enlightened national outlook. If measures were introduced during the coming session which would be to the country’s advantage Labour would support the party iu office. While parties and politicians wrangled the nation’s affairs suffered. So far as he was concerned, reforms which were urgently needed and which, if expeditiously passed, would be for the national well-being, would take precedence over mere party tactics. “Ten years ago I was the Labour Party’s candidate for this electorate and I was defeated," the candidate continued. "Since that time until the present I have not been a candidate for Parliament, but since that time I have been elected by the people of Auckland to several public offices, some of them several times over. In fact, I have only asked Auckland for one thing that it has not given me. In this election I ask to be Judged on my merits and on the policy of the party with which I am associated.” “Do not repeat the experiment Parnell made 15 months ago—do not send an inexperienced man to Parliament,” was Mr. Bloodworth’s final request. “I appeal to you on my own personal record of service among you.” Several questions w-ere answered and a vote of thanks aud confidence was unanimously accorded the candidate.