“WHAT UNITED HAS DONE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 964, 6 May 1930, Page 7

“WHAT UNITED HAS DONE”

MR. DONALD’S JOINT MEETING AT NEWMARKET MR. VEITCH IN SUPPORT ' I have felt that the people wish to see as much as possible of the candidate and not so much of other members of the party—but still, there have been those who have been throwing advice, especially one who has been brought here from Wellington and who is really a sort of ‘buffoon’ to make people laugh.” In these terms Mr. Alan Donald opened his address at Newmarket last evening. The Mayor of the suburb, Mr. S. Donaldson, presided. Owing to his having to attend another meeting at St. Meliers that evening, Mr. Donald’s time was limited and he did not go further than briefly outline what the present Government had already accomplished. “The United Government has managed the balance of national accounts and has put in order the machinery of land settlement, which has been idle for some time. That alone is a most important thing to New Zealand today,” said Mr. Donald. “State advances l\ave been put on a proper footing in spite of the fact that office was assumed when they were millions of pounds in arrears.” SHARE OF BURDEN

“In the face of the stiffest opposition the Government was able to bring into line those men who had been avoiding their proper share of taxation. We got the land owner last session, and for the first time in many years he is bearing his fair share of the burden. Then there had been appointed a trade commissioner to Canada and the advantages in this could already be seen.” The Hon. W. Downie-Stewart had offered about the only fair criticism. Summed up, all that he could say was the fact that showing a surplus was

not such a wonderful thing for Sir Joseph Ward to have done. But this, in Mr. Donald’s opinion, was a wonderful achievement.

“The other day 1 saw a Labour Party advertisement; it was in the form of a slogan—‘Agitate, Educate and Organise.’ Yes, and the keynote in Labour is ‘agitate,’ and we don’t want that.” A Voice: What are you doing now? Mr. Donald: Look what it has done in England, India and other countries. A Voice: Oh, tripe! MR. VEITCH TAKES OVER After Mr. Donald had left for St. Heliers the Hon. W. A. Veitch, Minister of Labour, took up the running in support of the United candidate. “I have introduced a good many young candidates throughout New Zealand, but there has not been one to compare \Vith Mr. Donald,” commented Mr. Veitch.

A Voice: Some of them must have been pretty bad. Mr. Veitch: I am sure everyone of them would have done better than my friend who interjected. At this stage the meeting became rather rowdy and the Minister was deluged with questions and criticisms. The Chairman (addressing one of the chief interjectors): Look here, Dufty, if you don’t keep your, mouth shut I will have you put out. Continuing, Mr. Veitch said that’ the wage-earner, the farmer, and the business people were getting a fair run, and in spite of the financial position the Government had achieved something. Sir Joseph Ward had promised that he would solve the unemployment problem. At that time there were 2,500 on the roll, but before any action could be taken It jumped to 5,000. But at the end of the period, the Prime Minister had actually found employment for a large number of men. In Auckland alone. 450 men would be found employment in the next " few days. SOLVING UNEMPLOYMENT “I may be optimistic, but I feel that we can solve the unemployment problem. This country is brimful of potentialities, and of a highly educated and healthy people. You have only to go to the schools and watch the children as they come out, and— A Voice: Yes, overcrowded. Mr. Veitch: And perhaps you and I are responsible for that overcrowding. There was an immense opportunity for secondary industries, and when the various schemes and policies were in full swing' the problem of unemployment would be solved. The United Party had declared it as a principle that the road to progress was not to be found in low wages, but that a high standard of living must be maintained. The wage-earner would get a fair run. while already the wages had been raised ot’ those men employed on relief works. The working man was entitled to the best the country could give him. “BRIGHTEST GEM” “In spite of any creed, religion, or anything else of that nature, we will build New Zealand up and make it the brightest gem in King George’s crown.” concluded Mr. Veitch.

Question: Is this Mr. Wright the same ex-Minister of Education who said that any man who tried to square up the whole muddle of the Education Acts had his heartfelt sympathy. Mr. Veitch: Yes, but Mr. Wright is a humorist; in fact what we would call a tragic humorist. His “buffooning" has by no means elevated the status of Parliament or its members. Voice: You say that a few hundred men are to be found employment in the next few days, but could you tell me how many will be sacked directly the election is over?

Mr. Veitch: That the present Government has kept all of its promises is sufficient for that answer.

Question: You say that you are in favour of Empire preference. Well, could you tell me why the new de luxe cars which were recently put on the Rotorua line were painted with German paint, and the Job was supervised by a “Yank" who happened to be in New Zealand.

Mr. Veitch: I am not here for a strict cross-examination, and that is an unfair question.