POLITICAL TRICKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 962, 3 May 1930, Page 8

POLITICAL TRICKS

“A SIGN OF WEAKNESS" MR. DONALD AT REMUERA “Reports we have had from our band of enthusiastic workers, and it is an enthusiastic band, show that we are going to win this election," said Mr. Alan Donald, the United candidate, speaking at Somervell Hall, Remuera, last evening. “When the opposite side has to descend to the old trick of halftruths and personalities, we know that they are fighting a losing battle," said the candidate. Mr. F. Burbusli" presided over a moderate attendance. Referring to , tho personalities that he said had been introduced into the campaign, Mr. Donald said he did not blame the official candidates so much as tho outsiders who had entered the campaign—outsiders such as Mr. Wright and Mr. Samuel. Although Mr. Samuel had started off in the race he had appeared to get tangled up in tho tapes, and had not been heard of since. At his first meeting Mr. Samuel had referred to attacks alleged to have been made upon his character, but everyone knew that no such attack had been made, said Mr. Donald. Mr. Samuel also liad referred to the unfairness of tho Government in sending a Minister of the Crown into Mr. Coates’s district with tho idea of tying Mr. Coates up in his own electorate and preventing him from taking part in the campaign. The speaker quoted a report appearing in a northern newspaper referring to the visit of the Hon. G. W. Forbes to Mr. Coates’s electorate, and in which it was stated that Mr. Coates himself had written to Mr. Forbes stating that, as the date of his visit coincided with the opening of the shooting season it would be advisable to alter th© date. Thus, said the speaker, it was clearly shown that whatever arrangement was made in regard to the visit to Mr. Coates’s electorate was made with Mr. Coates’s knowledge and consent. Several interjections from a person referred to as “Shorty" drew forth a warning'from the chairman that continuous intejections would not be tolerated. “We don’t want personalities in the business of running this country," said the candidate. “We want men who will help to raise politics to a higher plane, and who will devote their energies in an attempt to solve the problems facing th country today.” Referring to the problem of unemployment, the candidate said the Government fully realised that the efforts it had made were not regarded as a cure, but merely as a form of temporary relief. More yet remained to be done and the cure of unemployment was one of the main endeavours of the Government. Motor-coach building was suggested by the candidate as a potential industry for the Dominion. He also considered that something should be done to place the timber industry in New Zealand on a sounder footing. Mr. G. Munns, M.P., also addressed the audience, after which a nufinber of questions were answered. A hearty vote of thanks and confidence was carried by acclamation.