DEFENCE OF UNITEDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 958, 29 April 1930, Page 7

DEFENCE OF UNITEDS

MR. DONALD WELL RECEIVED AT GREEN LANE ATTACK ON REFORM PRESS A vigorous defence of what he claimed the United Government had done and an exposition of what it intended to do during the coming session formed the speech of Mr. Alan Donald, United candidate, before 200 electors of Parnell in yie Green Lane picture theatre last evening. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Donald Was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. His chairman was the Rev. Jasper Caider, Anglican city missioner. “Oh, no,” remarked Mr. Caider, in introducing the candidate, “Jasper is not taking sides. He is here simply as a schoolmate of Alan Donald and oae who knows him to be absolutely straight. The Press has never been able to associate the name of Jasper Caider —such as it is—with any partisan cause,” declared the missioner. He came representing no Church or creed but just as one who had known and respected Mr. Donald when they were at the Auckland Grammar School. Mr. Caider had a bouquet for the United Party. He could safely say that in his social work he had received more courtesy, more prompt replies and more sj'mpathy in the few months the present Government had been in power than in the whole term of the previous Government. (Applause.) ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT Treating unemployment first, Mr. Donald conceded that the efforts of the Government during the past nine months had been only palliative. The question was too deep-seated to be overcome in a week, a month, two months. Legislation would be brought down to give effect to the recommendations of the Unemployment Committee, whose report was now in the hands of Cabinet. The Government could not be expected to put the country right in 12 or 16 months. “The Reform Press in Auckland has brought out its heavy artillery and now you find the poison has has been let loose,” Mr. Donald said warmly in attacking what he described as Reform half-truths and suppressions. Such tactics had never defeated British people. The public now had masks it could put on. The Reform morniDg paper knew (hat if it had given all the facts it would have no leg to stand upon. “Instead of rejoicing that Sir Joseph Ward had been able to balance the national accounts, the paper I refer to actually seemsbitterly disappointed,” the candidate commented. A Voice: They are frightened of Joey. (Laughter.) Mr. Donald gave some ime to elucidating the United land policy and contrasting what the party had done in its brief term of office with what Reform had not done in all its 16 years. Outlining projected 'legislation the candidate intimated that it was the intention of the Government to overhaul the transport regulations to eliminate wasteful competition, and to assure suburban districts of satisfactory services. An effort would be made to co-ordinate rail and motor traffic in order to turn the railways into a non-losing business. Mr. Donald answered a number of questions. At the conclusion of his remarks Mr. G. C. Muiras, M.P. for Roskill, addressed the electors.