THE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1919, Page 5

THE ELECTIONS.

TARANAKI SEAT. MR, BUCKERIDGE AT OAKURA. THE DEFENCE QUESTION." Mr. G. H. Buckeridge, the Reform candidate for tiie Taranaki seat, addressed a meeting of electors at Oakura last night, and received a splendid hearing, about 50 being present. Mr. C. Mace presided, and, in introducing Mr. Buckeridge, said that (they had heard that he was a stranger, but that was quite wrong, as Mr. Buckeridge was known right throughout Taranaki.

Mr. Buckeridge, who was greeted with applause, said that ho had visited the district many years ago, and had probably addressed more meetings in the Oakura Hall than Mr. Smith had. Hff explained .that the. reason why he had come into the race was not for the purpose of fighting Mr. Smith, with whom he had been good friends for a long time, but because he differed from Mr. Smith in politics.

When asked by Mr. Wilkinson to contest the Beat, he was told that he had an outside chance of winning, but no odds wero too much for a Britisher. He Wanted the fight fought on clean lines. ft would be, as far as he was concerned, and he wished his supporters would do m likewise. While not wishing to Epeak about himself, he considered that his work among the small farmers for the past thirty years on the Farmers' Union had done something towards uplifting the farmer from the conditions in which he found them. He went on to contrast the leaders of the two parties. He also criticised at length the policy of the Liberal Party, particularly" in regard to the settlement of land without making any roading provision, instancing numerous cases of isolation for years, and specified a case where the settlers were told by the Prime Minister of the day that if they wanted grants they must send to Parliament men of the right color. They should not allow such a thing to occur again. They might be given an opportunity this time. He did not eay they would, because he did not know where Mr. Smith stood. In fact, Mr- Smith did not know himself. Mr. Smith, said, he would not vote for Mr! Massey on a no-confidence motion . He also said he would not vote for Ward. He must either vote for Mjassey or R 7 ard or the embryo Labor Party. A voice: What about yourself? The speaker said that he had told them that he would vote for Mr Maaeey.

After a brief interruption, which the speaker dealt with effectively, Mr. Buckeridge pointed out the danger of Mr. Smith allying himself with the Labor Party, a plank of whose platform he read, relative to the sale, ew., or land This was a danger they wanted to provide against. The effect of the policy of the extreme Labor Party was felt in the cost of living, which was Roaring higher and higher, and no woniler when they were paying four times as much for labor as they had any risht to do, and not getting anything ike value. He had sympathy with labor, but their lead was all wrong, and it would be hard work to *et it put right, but it had to be tackled. Referring to defence, he said that he had been asked if he thought they should go in for military training. He considered military training was necesBary to be prepared to meet any danger that might arise, but he was 'not prepared to subscribe to a policy of four months' camp, Before he would allow bis boy to be taken from him for four months he would go to gaol. These were strong words.

Beferring to the soldiers' gratuity he considered that the soldiers who had returned were deserving of all that they could give them, and whatever they gave would be too little, but in the gift they had got to consider what tbev could afford to give. It was no good'promising what they knew they could not give, as this was no good to' the soldierg or to the people who made the promise. Ho was not asking the countrv to do more than he had done himself He was not prepared to subscribe to any policy that would spoon-feed the soldier, as this was no good to the men or" to the country. The soldier must be taught to be self-reliant, and be helped to true citizenship. They must be easeful what were doing iii regard to the soldiers, because some of them were coming back in a condition that they were not able to look after themselves. These must be helped on the road, not kicked, and it was not always wise to give them all they asked for. Regarding education, he believed thai in this country they had got to ectucate their children so that they could,take their place with the- best that could be got outside. Other nations were equipping their children well, and we must equip our even better to take their place in the battle of life. He believed in giving every advantage of education to every child that desired it, and to make education free and compulsory. He would carry it right through free to the University. The most important branch of the civil service was the teaching profession, and in .that profession they had the lowest paid of any civil servants, and that was an absolute disgrace to New Zealand. We ought to pay to those who educate our youth the best salary, such as would attract the best brains.

He touched on the need for increased production, which required money and .men, and in this connection he advocated agricultural co-operative banks, and a system of immigration. Means for increasing fertility were necessary, and In this he paid a tribute to Mr. Massey for securing a share of phqsphates from Nauru Island, and he advocated steps being taken to place this on the New Zealand market'at a reasonable rate. Tho railways also should be completed, eo as to enable farmers in this district to take advantage of the concessions given on lime. The need for the establishment of colleges for dairying instruction was also stressed. Improved shipping facilities, and the necessity of advertising were also touched on.

Taxation in the future was poing to be a difficult problem, so as to place the burden equally on the shoulders of those most able to bear it. At the conclusion of the address, the candidate was greeted with applause. A number of questions were asked and satisfactorily answered, and on the motion of Mr. W. J. Honeyfield, seconded by Mr. 0. Penwarden, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Buckeridge for his; interesting address, and also a rote of renewed confidence in the Massey Government. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting. ',' fPub'Uhed by Arrangement.)