THE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1919, Page VII

THE ELECTIONS.

PATEA SEAT. LABOR IN THE FIELD. A LIVELY MEETING. Mr. Fitzherbert, the official Labor candidate for the Patea seat, addressed a full house at the Grand Theatre, Hawera, on Friday evening. Mr. P. O'Dea presided. I The chairman said that the people of New Zealand were dissatisfied with fie old reactionary Liberalism, which had lost its dash, and had outlived its usefulness. What had already happened in Australia was going to come to pass here. The old Liberal Party would go, and the Lab-1 or Party would take its place. Referring to the religious question, which-was entering into politics, he said.he hoped that, whenever the hydra-headed monster raised its head, they would strike it with the biggest mallet they could find. It was only out to divide the ranks of Labor. Sir Joseph Ward's policy had been filched from the Labor Party. He did not mean to carry it out, else why had he not done so during the past 20 years? The first past the post was a rotten system of election, but Sir Joseph Ward was only prepared to apply preferential representation to the cities, because he knew that as matters stood the Liberals had little chance of winning seats there. What could they think of the Liberal Party when Mr. Russell, one of its awn-members, said it did not matter to him whether Ward or Massey was returned to power so long as Labor was kept out? The position of the Liberal Party, as represented by that statement, had not been repudiated by Sir Joseph Ward. The Reform and Liberal parties stood together.

THE PRESS CRITICISED. Mr. Fitzherbert opened by criticising the press. They had three newspapers in Taranaki, and they may have something to say about himself that would be news to him. They could not believe anything the Inewspapers said. "Dont believe anything they say about the Labor Party, which stands for New Zealand and the people." The Labor programme was the only programme subscribed to by a definite party. Every man who joined the Labor Party took an oath to subscribe to its platform, and no man could stand in the Labor interests without the unanimous vote of Labor behind him. . LABOR'S PROGRAMME.

The Labor Party had been blamed for many things done by unions not affiliated with it. They did not subscribe to strikes or lock-outs, but did not deny the right to strike when labor was oppressed. His party believed very firmly in proportional representation, which had lately been fully explained to them by Mr. T. M. Wilford, and under which no section of the community would be without representation. The next question dealt "with was the Legislative Council. "I will put it to the meeting," said Mr. Fitsherbert, "should the Legislative Council be abolished?" (Voices: Aye and No.) "The ayes have it." The Labor Party recognised woman's absolute equality with man, and stood for the fullest civil rights of all civil servants. II vas a shame that a Government should make promises and not keep them. There had been a solemn promise to pay the men in the Post and Telegraph Department a bonus, and they had been let down badly. The men had done their duty in a time of trouble, and it was up to the Government to put the matter right. (Applause.) NO AMBITIONS. Proceeding, Mr. Fitzherbert said he had ambitions, but he had no ambition to be in Parliament. Someone had to have ideals and make sacrifices, and he was game to come forward, but he did not want to be in Parliament unless he had the "push" of the people behind him. The Labor Party originated in the cities, and only of late had it turned its attention towards the land. It seemed to him most unfair that a man who had to carve a home out of the bush, erect fences, and !do other pioneer work, should have to pay I for roads to his land.

TAXING M0T0i.... His suggestion was that a tax of from £5 to £lO be !>>-f)sed on all motor ears. They had, tie estimated, about 8000 ears in Taranaki, and a tax of £5 in each case would yield £40,000 a year With this tax to pay interest, they could borrow a million, and they could do a lot with a million. Sir Joseph Ward could not, but he could. DEFENCE. A remark by someone in the audience turned the speaker's attention to defence. "Don't you," said Mr. Fitzherbert, "go in for any of this belligerent business." CUTTING UP BIG ESTATES. j The Labor Party was absolutely solid in the cutting up of all big estates. They were "a darned sight" keener on this than Mr. Massey, whose chief supporters were big landowners. "Who do you think," he asked, "has the biggest pull over Mr. Massey—the man with a small farm, or the man with a big farm!" It was a fair deduction that Mr. Massey stood for the big man. The speaker was a lawyer, and knew that big estates were accumulating in the district.

A STATE BANK. Mr. Fitzherbert went on to say that the Labor Party would start a State Bank, and the people's money was going to go into that bank even if it was necessary to send lecturers through the country to explain its advantages. It was the object of Ward and Massey 5 to make a failure of State concerns. A voice: No! The speaker: Well, they are a failure, anyway. A voice: "Did they not pull down the fire insurance premium rate?" , Mr Fitzherbert: They pulled down a lot of things, and can't put them up again. The voice: "Answer a straight question!"

The speaker: "Of course they did, and every State enterprise would bring down the Co3t to the people. That is what we are telling you about." If ti-re was one thing they hated it was the man who could not say what he meant. THE LIQUOR QUESTION. "A lot of men will not give a straight answer on the liquor question, but you are going to get one from me. As long §l l fcav« lived I have yetid against pre-

hibition, and I am going to vote against it till I die. (Applause.) "It was beer and beef that hrtd built up England, and they were going to make this a better country. i Several small boys in a front seat i heartily joined in the applause, and one remarked: "You should make it cheaper." When a man came into this country it was not to make himself miserable. They wanted healthy young men and women, and should give them that which would make them happy. He would uphold all he could sports and horse-rac-ing. The people in this country wanted horse-racing, and they were going to have it. If they wanted to bet, all the wowsers in the country would not stop them. He believed in horse-racing, but it was a great pity that Mr. Massey's men owned all the horses. He did not approve of the two paddocks on a racecourse, or two grandstands. They wore all brothers and sisters, and children of the nation. There should be no discrimination. They should show a little Christianity towards each other. "Don't," he added, "let us run each other down. You have not heard me say anything against Massey. (Derisive laughter.) I only said it against his party." The old chap (Mr. Massey) had not done badly in a way, but his way is not the way of the people. A voice: "What about the baronetcy." Mr. Fitzherbert said Sir Joseph had goosed his charice when he accepted a baronetcy. His job now was with dukes and princes, and he would not cut much of a figure there. (Laughter;. "If there is one thing," he proceeded, "that I hate more than another, it's the other. (Laughter from small boys.)

EDUCATION. He believed in education. It was because they did not get a chance that men became criminals. "Let no man," he said, with dramatic gesture, "withhold his purse strings when education is under consideration. Teachers are miserably paid, and their residential accommodation is not suitable. Technical education should commence earlier, and while the child's mind is retentive."

The Labor Party were going to have more money spent on education. They were going to have bigger schools and education free to the University for all. What was the use of educating the man with brains? He would get there anyhow- It was the fool that wanted the education. (Laughter). That was the only way to get efficiency. He did not mean efficiency as Massey did—more work for the worker. That was no s;ood to him. (Laughter). WORK, WORK, WORK! Why should life he so drab and men have to work, work, work. In savage countries a man started with a home, but here he sometimes had to woric all his life for a home, and then stood a chance of losing it to the mortgagor. (Laughter). A man' 9 farm or his house should be his own, and he should stay there. The present law allowed an owner by trickery to get a man out ot his home. The Labor Party was going to give a man (he right to live in and own the very place he was living in now, and there would be no second mortgage. The Government would provide the whole of the money. Labor did not stand for percentages. They were going to do the same thing for farmers and Share milkers.

RIGHT TO FARMS. The man'who was share-milking had a right to the farm he was working, and he was going to have it. It would not be stolen from its present owner, and the Government would pay for it. NO NEED FOR CAPITALISTS. They could do without the capitalist, and they were going to drop him. What would be done with land could be. none with factories. Why should a dividend be drawn out of labor? It was the unfairness of things that made the people dissatisfied. There had been no satisfaction since Dick Seddon died. ,; Hc was a great man, and I'stand by him." (Applause). He was the inspiration of New Zealand. Sir Joseph Ward had ruined things when he made a barorist of himself. "I," continued Mr. Pits«stiffe, "will never take o. baronetcy," and added, amidst laughter, "will never be offered one" He did not want one. His wife did not want to be called "Lady Fitzherbert." (Applause and laughter).

TAXATION. Dealing with taxation, he said he believed in a vigorous graduated land tax', and leaving the small farmer free. They lived on the small farmer. "vVhat am f doing—nothing, and a lot more would say the same thing if they told the truth." He had had enough of it, and wanted to do something that would enable him to die happy. PROVISION FOR WORKERS. Speaking of the provision made by the State for widows, he said they wanted to make it possible for a widow, the day after her husband's death to draw from the Post Office a sufficient sum of money for her own and her children's Deeds. RETURNED SOLDIERS Speaking of returned soldiers, he asked what Mr. Massey had done lor them. He had given them eighteen pence, the price of two packets of cigarettes, a day. A voice: Did Holland or Paddy Webb get that? Mr Fitzherbert: I don't know, hut the soldiers will get more if we get to power.

A voice: What did Labor do for the soldiers?

Mr. Fitzherbert: The British Navy won the war, and who made the navy? (Applause). The Labor Party stood for free maternity homes, and free hospital find dental treatment for children. It had been said freely in the past that the Labor Party was not loyal. It was as loyal as any man in the country. A voice: Who do you represent—Holland? Mr. Fitzlierbert: I don't know Holland, Semple, or Webb. If Holland was loyal to the country I would stand by him. A voice: How about Paddy Webb? QUESTIONS. At the conclusion of the address, a number of questions were asked. Would the Labor Pavty, asked one elector, be in favor • of starting big drapery establishments? —Tt would depend entirely on the profits made. A returned soldier asked what the Labor Party had done while the war was on. Holland had said that he would not send any man to help the boys.—lf he said that I don't stand by it, but I don't believe he did say it A voice: What about Holland at Murchison? If Holland had had his way aot » man would have gone from New

Zealand to help the boys. (Long applause). The chairman: What is the question? A returned soldier: If Holland and Semple had had their way we might have all been under the sod. Mr. Fitzherbert: Yoii can say what you like about Holland and Semple. The boys did go, and no one can attack my loyalty. You are a labor man yourself. The returned sojdier: Not one of your labor men. Question: Why did not you stand for Kgmont, where there are only two candidates?—Ho might have done so if it had not been a question of time. He could not stand against Mr, Smith in New Plymouth as he had given a promise not to do so. A voice: You broke your -word to Mr. Wilford.—lt's a lie. I gave no promise to him. I know Wilford. Don't you believe anything he tells you. Question: If returned could you, Smith, and Holland, be in the same Party?— Mr. Smith belongs to no party. Ward would eventually go over to Massey. (A voice: "Rot!") "It will come true."

A voice: Mr. Smith said he would havo nothing to do with the Wellington Labor Party, and Mr. Veitch has turned them down too. Mr. Fitzherbert: I would tmis down Smith, Holland, or any man if he was not loyal to his country. Question: Who is the executive of the New Zealand Labor Party?—He could not name them, but he knew Mr. Nash, of New Plymouth, and anyone who called him disloyal had better take care. "Holland, Semple, and Fraser are not here to defend themselves. Tackle me." Are you in favor of reducing lawyers' fees'.'—Yes- I don't need to be conscripted there. What are youi; fees?—l'll post the scale. (Laughter). Not a single re-

turned soldier could say that he had ever charged him anything. A returned soldier: If wc elect Labor are we to have men like Webb? —Certainly not. 9 The returned soldier: O'Brien will oust Holland this time, and then we will have sane Labor. A man rose as a question was about to be asked, to move a resolution, and was cried down with "Question! Question!" _ ', One of the audience said that either Mr. Fitriierbert or Mr. Morrison should stand down. They did not want the two. Mr. Fitzherbort said it should be left to the people to decide between them. A man again rose to move a resolution, and was howled down. An elector asked whether in the event of a no-confidence motion being carried at the meeting, Mr. Fitzherbert would stand down in favor of Mr. Morrison ? "I don't know. Let Mr. Morrison get the whole of his supporters together, and I will get mine, and then if a motion is carried against me I will pull out."

An elector: I beg to move a motion of thanks to the candidate and confidence in the Labor Party. (Cries of dissent and applause). The motion was seconded, and on being put to the meeting there was a chorus of ayes and noes from all over the building. The chairman declared the motion carried. i Someone wanted to move an amendment, and the chairman said he had declared the motion cjarried, and that finished it. Mr. Fitzherbert: If he wants to move an amendment let him do it. If they don't want me to stand I am not going to stand. A voice: We don't! Mr. Fitzherbert! You are a land agent, not a worker. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting-