THE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1919, Page 6

THE ELECTIONS.

TEE TARANAKI ELECTORATE. MR. S. G. SMITH, M.P., AT NW PLYMOUTH. There was a large audience at the Empire Theatre last night, when Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., gave an address on various matters relating to the pregent political situation. The chair was taken by Mr. J Jas. Clarke, Mayor of New Plymouth, who briefly introduced the speaker; and Mr. Smith's speech was followed with close attention and punctuated at intervals with approving applause. Mr. Smith said that the trust which the electors had placed in his keeping a year ago he now came to hand back, and he was able to do so without having sullied it, a nd>>he desired also to give an account of his stewardship during the period he had, held that trust. He thanked his opponents for the courtesy of allowing him to have *the first shot in "the election, cuapfeijjpi before bringing out. their candidate. He hoped to suggest, that by what he had been able to do {on the district since his election to Parliament he was justified in asking for a return of the «onMence placed in him. Mr. Smith said he had to thank all sections of the community for the many expressions of appreciation of his services as their representative. Even those who were opposed to him had written to say they "thoroughly appreciated the vigorous and sane manner in which he had represented the interests of the district." [f that was so, he remarked, what better representation could they want? (Laughter.) NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT. In dealing briefly with matters of interest in the district in which he had been able to make Mich representations to the Government as had resulted in distinct gains to the community, Mr. Smith referred to the plan of the Government for the sub-division of the Prison Reserve at Moturoa, which provided that 28 tares should be reserved as a domain, 4 acres for a school site, and 10 acres for sections for workers' homes. All this was practically a free gift to the people of New Plymouth. Jn addition to that-, 20 acres of what was known as the Saxton Estate 'was to be set aside as a public park. In view of these additions to the public reserves of the Borough, Mr. Smith suggested seriously to the Mayor that the Council, in recognition of the mar.ner in which the Government liad treated the community, should "come to light" with the 4} acres at Tukapa as a site for a new school to replace the present one at West End. Mr. Smith then dealt with the difficulties that departmental officers had raised in the matter of expediting the conversion to the freehold of the West Coast leases, and hoped that the right of the settlers to the conversion would be expedited. He also touched upon the urgent need for better Government buildings for New Plymouth, and expressed a hope that the public bodies would protest against the people of the district being compelled to transact their business with the departments in sucli old and dilapidated premises. The matter of the embargo on the export of hides, and the fixing of prices for good hides and not for damaged hides, in which there was evidence of some gambling having been going on, were subjects of brief mention by the speaker, who also noted, in his general review of the work of Parliament, and of what he had been able to do for Taranaki. the additional subsidy of •■€4oo to the Egmont Park Board and a subsidy of £SO to the Tourist and Expansion League. He urged the Government should do more to encourage tourists to see the country's beauty spots, and he hoped the time was not far distant when the North Egmont Hostelry would be taken over by the Government, and be run as a national undertaking, and those who had established it recouped for the money they had expended.

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY. The speaker then dealt with ilie question of the Opunake railway line and its removal from the Railways Authorisation Bill. He claimed that it had been restored to the schedule of the Bill because he and others interested in the line had demanded it. He ridiculed the idea that the line had got into the Bill by mistake. He'thought, however, as the line had now been authorised the matter might well be left alone. The importance of the line, said Mr. Smith, he fully recognised, not only to New Plymouth, but to the whole of Taranaki. He thought the policy of the next Government would be in the direction of completing all the lines for which votes were made before making any new authorisation. Personally he thought the best policy for Ta.ranaki was to concentrate on getting the Strat-ford-Okahakura line completed, the main road to Te Kuiti metalled, and then the Opunake line built. They would then have three great feeder lines for the pojt of New Plymouth which would serve practically the whole province. A voice: Why not take in Wanganui too? Mr. Smith: Take in the North Island if you like! Continuing he referred to the vision of New Plymouth becoming the first and last of call for steamers between the Dominion and the Commonwealth, and although some newspapers had termed it a bold bid, it was not so. He believed it would come, and then the port of New Plymouth would take in the whole of the North Island. THE RAILWAYS BILL, After touching on the question of the alleged promise by Sir Joseph Ward ot a bonus to postal officials, and the Royal Commission to inquire into the same, Mr Smith proceeded to review the debate which had taken place in Parliament on the Railways Bill, and the statements of of the Government to the men of the lower division, when the Bill was submitted to them, that no further increases could be given as there was not another shilling to spare, though when the Bill came before the House large increases were proposed for officers in the higher division. Mr. Smith said his long experience in the department had convinced him that the head office staff was suffering from senile decay. The proposals in the Bill would have given many officers who were nearing the retiring age largely increased pensions when they did retire. In one particular ease it would have meant, an increase in pension from .-Gftfifi to .-ESS.'! if the Bill had gone through.' Mr. Smith then dealt with the railway cut and the reason for the coal shortage. The responsibility was on the Minister himself, who had the offer of coal from Newcastle but he refused on account of the increase in freight rates. He contended the Minister would have been justified in paying the increased rate in order to keep the industries of the nouotqf /toiaz.

THE BUTTER PAYMENT, The Butter Equalisation Bund was, the test for Mr. Smith's nexit topic, and* the decision of the Government to pay. to the producers the difference between the export price -■ nd the fixed price on j the local market Some papers had said it was an election bribe to the farmers, but he looked upon it as only justice to the producers. It was the jesult of a long-sustained protest. Sir Joseph Ward, in his manifesto, had promised to pay the amount out of the Consolidated Fund, but Mr. Massey had come along and paid it. Mr. Smith, after stating he held no brief for the 'Hon. Mr- Mac Donald, though he did hold a brief for fair play, protested against all the blame lor die butterfat placed on the shoulders of Mr. Mac Donald. The National Government must carry the burden of responsibility for its own act. Ho. section of the community, who could- not afford it, should be asked to supply cheap butter for the rest of the people, and Mr. Smith quoted from reports ol evidence gathered by the National Dairy Association,, and submitted to the Prime Minister, which showed that was what was actually being done. THE BOARD OF TRADE. The speaker dealt briefly with the operation's of the Board of Trade, and referred to the legislation passed providing for a new Board being set up and enacting provision by means of which it was claimed profiteering would bo prevented. He hoped tha>t claim would be realised, as he was convinced there had been deliberate profiteering in this country. He thought the merchants were mostly responsible though the retailers had had to bear the blame. THE HOUSING PROBLEM. The next matte" dealt with by Mr. Smith was the housing difficult? In regard to the special position .'!> llcv Plymouth on account of tender: ?e:ug considered too high, he said he wa.? not satisfied with the Premier's statcraent that when some of the contractors had finished their work in-other centres an effort would be made to induce them to come and erect house? in New Plymouth. It was not sufficient, either that the Government was prepared, to help the man who would pay the difference between the maximum allowed Dy r.ne Government (£SSO) and that of the lowest tender ( £'lo-23). nni9t be done to settle the problem of housing the workers- Proposals had beei made in all the policies which had he#n put before. the people, but that which Would settle the difficulty in the simplest and most expeditious way would receive his support. TREATMENT OF SOLDIERS. The speaker then dealt with many of the anomalies in regard to the treatment of soldiers and their dependents, and also with respect to the settlement of returned soldiers on the land or in businesses. Soldiers' gratuities and war expenditure were also brought under discussion. EDUCATION MATTERS. Mr. Smith then spent some time in dealing with, matters of education, which he said suil'ered because the man in charge of the department- was out of touch with public opinion, and also being a member of the Upper House lie was out of touch with and out of the practical reach of the people's representatives. He contended the Minister of such an important department should be a member of the House of Representatives. An education policy had been promised by the Prime Minister in the Budget, but that document contained only a few general statements. In Taranaki, the Board was prepared for a progressive policy both with regard to new schools and the re-builcHng of old and out-of-date schools. After brief references to the need for the further taxation of the wealthy people of tlie country, the proposals for the development of the fishing industry t and the supply of cheap fish for the people, also to the control and administration of Samoa, Mr. Smith spent some time in referring to the Parliamentary Industries Committee, whose report was one of the most valuable ever presented to Parliament. He noped the Government might issue it in pamphlet form so that it would be available to the whole of the people of the Dominion. The development of the oil and ironBands industries were amongst the things which should be encouraged by the Government, and the speaker said he had been doing his best to persuade the Government to give temporary assistance to the local companies operating here-

SUPPORTER OF THE LIBERALS. In conclusion, Mr- Smith referred to the three party policies which were before the people. If he was returned to the House and the matter of a motion of want of confidence in the Massey party was raised, he would be bound to support the Liberal Party. He had not allied himself to any party and did not intend to do so. For preference he would like to see a Labor Party in power, but not the present New Zealand Labor Party, whom lie believed were wrongly led by men who thought the only road to progress lay along the way pf international revolutionary socialism. He was not of that opinion. If the Liberals got back into power he would give general support to their progressive measures. What he wanted was something that would be for the advancement of the interests of the people of the country. Mr. Smith then thanked the audience ,for the patient and attentive hearing that had been accorded him, and said he was prepared to answer any reasonable question on political matters. Me resumed his seat amidst the heartiest applause. A question was handed up asking What would be the cost to New Zealand of jts. share in the Nauru Island phosphates, and Mr. Smith said he had not the figures in his possession, but would give an answer by letter. In reply to a further question, Mr. Smith said he was in faver of free medical and dental treatment for all children.. A lady questioner in the gallery took some exception in regard to the housing schemes to homes being called "workers homes," and asked if Mr. Smith would have 1 litem called "homes for the people."—ln reply the candidate said he was not much concerned with what they were called so long as they got the houses. To another questioner, Mr. Smith said lie would as readily expose the names of "financial shirkers," as those of conscientious objectors-. At the conclusion of the meaning tlie following motion, moved by Mr. R. Cock and seconded by Mr. J. Gvdc, was carried with enthusiasm: That this meeting accords Mr. Smith a vote of thanks for his able and interesting address, and also expresses confidence in him as the Taranaki representative in Parliament. A vote of thanks to the Mayor for U» maetjaa.