GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1922, Page 7

GENERAL ELECTION.

MESSRS VEITCH AND FORBES AT ELTHAM, (From Our Own Correspondent.) At the Eltham Town Hall on Monday evening Messrs. Veitch and Forbes, M.P.’s, delivered addresses in the interests of the Liberal-Labor Party. There was a favorable attendance, despite the boisterous night, and an enthusiastic meeting resulted. The Mayor (Mr. G. W. Tayler), prior to introducing the speakers, announced that, at a meeting held j-n the afternoon, Mr. D. L. A;. Astbury, who contested the seat at the last election, had been elected to represent the party at the forthcoming elections for the Egmont electorate. Mr. Astbury, in explaining the reason for his coming out, stated that although the Liberals had been beaten time and time again in this electorate, the fire of Liberalism still burnt fiercely, and those who considered it down and out would be- mistaken. They had got quite close to success at the last polls, and he felt certain they would get nearer this time. Mr. Foribes, who was warmly greeted, congratulated the electors on their selection of a candidate to contest the seat. He had. known Mr. Astbury for a- good number of years, and knew him to be a worthy and most competent man to represent the electorate. Liberalism, he said, was overwhelming the Dominion at the present time, and he. felt sure that Mr. Astbury would carry the banner to success.

Touching on land settlement, Mr. Forbes said that had it not (been for the Liberal Party he would not be a farmer and in the position he was today- The Tories would not give a working man a chance, but when the Liberal Party came into power they cut up,.thousands of acres of land, and thus gave every man the opportunity to gain a livelihood. He believed that there was a wave of dissatisfaction with the present Government all over the Dominion, and that, although the Liberal Party had gone into the House gregtly reduced in numbers after the last election, the scene would change again at this election. No man in the Liberal Party would regret Mr. Wilford’s leadership. He had had a very difficult position to fill, but had carried it through very creditably. They had decided to join up with those members of the Labor Party who followed the same ideals as their own, and would not tolerate ffie extreme Labor members, who, he said, were a menace to the industrial peace of the Dominion. A glance at the figures from the last election would show that the Reform Party was not wanted, and he considered that a change of government at the present time was absolutely imperative. Proportional representation was needed tobring about a- ehange in conditions, and a more democratic Government into power, but under the present regime they would neyer get proportional representation. SOLDIER SETTLEMENT. He quoted figures relative to departmental expenditure, which had increased by £8,300,000 since 1914. We have riot increased our, production at the same rate as expenditure, and we would have to retrench or bring about a more liberal land settlement. There were 4/500,000 acres of Crown land earning jiothing, and also great areas of native lands which could be brought into production, and they must do this if they fished to reduce the expenses of the country. From 1906 to 1916 the towns’ population had increased by 4 per cent, ’But tne farming community showed very little increase, despite the fact that 8000 soldiers had been settled on the land, i Aggregation had taken place over the whole Dominion, and the Reform Government was responsible for not checking it. The high price for land was one of the causes for the depression now existing. The Government was giving soldiers a chance as regards interest arid rent, but they would never be a hle to exist on the high priced land, and the system of doles to soldiers was only sapping their moral fibre. Mr. Massey had said in 1920 that the Government could sell all the land purchased for soldier settlement at a profit -of £20.000,000, but what was the position to-day? The Government must realise the gigantic blunder it had made in regard to soldier settlement. Mr. Veitch said that one of the strongest reasons for a change in government was that the present Government was not likely to admit any of its blunders, and until this was done, and the price of land reduced to its productive value, the returned soldier could not realise z a stable position. The idea of Liberal and Labor uniting was to strengthen\ the Opposition, and show a more organised force against the increasing blunders of the present party in power. The linking up was a strong, sane combination. It did not mean that it would become a revolutionary party. The extreme Labor Party could not be included. By the repeal of the second ballot Mr. Massey was able to occupy his present position, and in order to prevent three-cornered contests sane Labor had linked up with the Liberals. The real ally of Mr. Holland was Mr. Massey, whose object was to obliterate the Liberal Party. The fundamental principles of any country were based on fair and square representation, but by the repeal nf the second ballot the country was not properly represented in Parliament. TAXATION BURDEN.

He believed that the Reform Party had broken their pledge by violating the underlying principles of our great constitution. The great need of /New Zealand in the future would be to reduce the burden of taxation dn the people. Talking optimism and extravagance would not get us out of the mire. The war had been responsible to a great extent for increased expenditure, and they must settle down to a more economic legislation. State enterprise had been carried far enough and they should look for and encourage more private enterprise. Further, he wanted to know who were the workers of the country. Were they the great land monopolists, banking institutions, hide and skin merchants, etc.? Mr. Massey was down on the selling of vaseline at 2d too much per pqt, but what about the banks w “° were sweating the lives out of the struggling farmers and workers? In England the bank rate was down to 3 ner cent, is now 3A per cent, but in New Zealand they had to pay 74 P er I ce " t ’ How was the Bank of New Zealand able □to pay the Government £500,000 annually? Where did- it come from? A voice: “The poor cookie.” Ministers were not controlling their departments as they should be doing, and this was the cause of departmental expenses increasing by double the amount during the last ten Economy had been exercised in soldier* .pensions during the Governments economy campaign during the year endwi March 31. 1921. He considered this deplorable, as very deserving cases were still numerous throughout the oountry,

and they had earned every penny that they could get. Although they had accused the Government of extravagance they had not been extravagant in the matter of soldiers’ pensions. it tne same amount of economy could be shown in other departments the country would soon become financially better. There had been no business control since the war, and the result was reckless spending of the people’s money. In conclusion, Mr. Veitch appealed to the electors to stand by Mr. Astbury and put him in. It was most reassuring to find that the right class of man was coming forward in all parts of the Dominion to represent the Liberal Party at the next election. He believed that some day New Zealand would be a manufacturing as well as a farming country, and he wanted to see a Government placed in power which would encourage developments in all directions. 4 H. Guy moved a hearty vote of*thanks to both speakers, which was carried by acclamation.