POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1922, Page 6

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

THE TARANAKI SEAT. MR. C. E. BELLRINGER SPEAKS. A CORDIAL RECEPTION. Mr. C. E. Bellringer (the official Reform candidate for the Taranaki seat) commenced his public campaign at the Empire Theatre, New Plymouth, last night, before a large audience, who gave him a very cordial reception. The chair was occupied by the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson). Mr. Bellringer said that in coming before the electors that night, as the official Reform candidate for the Taranaki seat, he had first of all a few personal remarks to make as to why he was supporting that party. Eleven years ago he had contested the seat in support of the Liberal Party, and he had been called a renegade; but he was unconscious of the fact that he had surrendered any Liberal principle. During the past few years new questions had arisen which had affected the whole world. The Reform Party was not the party of 11 years ago, and he felt that the principles enunciated by Mr. Massey and Sir John Findlay were truly Liberal. He eulogised the work of the Reform Party since it had come into office, and he thought he was not violatng any Liberal principle in supporting them. When Sir Joseph Ward 11 years ago accepted a hereditary title, it was a direct violation of the spirit of democracy, to which he objected. He did not think it right that they should perpetuate the class distinctions of the Old Country by the bestowal of hereditary titles.

THE OLD LIBERAL PARTY. In 1919, the old Liberal Party was dealt a violent blow, and it had withered away, till now it did not form any effective opposition nor did it have a grasp of the affairs of the country. The battle now was between the Reform Government and Labor, and the question at issue was whether Mr. Massey or Mr. Holland shook’ hold the reins of office. Would the}’ have the Liberal principles of Mr. Massey, or jhe revolutionary aims of the Labor Party 9 He stood for evolution. He thought the revolutionary process was one they should avoid, as it would bring about ruin and loss to all. They had the platforms of the Labor and Liberal parties, and the manifesto of Mr. Massey as to the purpose of the party he led. Looking at them, there was little difference between the policy of Mr. Wilford and Mr. Massey. The d fferences were only trifling. He felt no hes-ra-tion in supporting Mr, Massey, although he had opposed him when the Reform Party had opposed humanitarian legislation. (Applause.) Mr. Massey had the strength to take the humanitarian principles and broaden them, and he had no hesitation in accepting him as a leader. Mr. Bellringer said that he was not. surrendering any Liberal principle, and if he were returned be would support Mr. Massey might and main.

A CRITICAL PERIOD. Mr. Massey had gone through a critical time, and he considered that Sir Joseph Ward should have stuck to the ship till better times were reached. Sir Joseph’s apologists said that the Coalition was not working and was too difficult, but what would they have said if their soldiers had come back and said that their job was too dirty to carry on ? He considered it was the duty of every servant of the State to support it through thick and thin. They were not out of the wood yet, and they needed a strong man to carry them through. This was not the time for changing horses, and he was satisfied that the Government would go back wtih a good working majority. Some people considered they should have a strong opposition, but he thought that all those who thought Mr. Massey the right man for the position should show their appreciation by recording their votes in his favor. He contended that the Government’s policy had been the best for the public weal and had been eminently successful. He intended to fight the battle with all his efforts, but he hoped to keep away from all personal attacks, and he trusted that he would stand fair and square and do nothing that was not justified by the political acts of h.s opponent. Mr. Holland had denied that he was a revolutionist, Mr. Bellringer went on, but said he was a revolutionary socialist, and explained by that that he meant one who endeavored to effect changes by constitutional methods. The Labor Party contended that they had no sympathy with direct action, but that they wanted to bring their changes about by constitutional methods. Tt was strange, however, that they said this just before an election. He had a copy of the Maoriland Worker of two years ago, and he quoted an article which he contended advocated revolution out and out. and behind it the contention that a minority could overcome the majority by n revolution. He also said that the article admitted that the Labor Party realised the Britons love of constitutional methods could not be overcome by revolution on Russian lines. The Labor Party, the speaker said, had come out with a milder policy, but during the past two years they had brought forward schemes for direct action which would have isolated parts of the community had they been put into effect.

LIBERALS AND REFORMERS. Dealing with Mr. Wilford’s platform, Mr. Bellringer said the Reform Party also stood for loyalty and constitutional methods, and there was no difference between the two parties in that respect. There was also no difference between the two finance platforms, and lie contended that, the Government had exercised economy and had reduced expenditure. During the boom years money had been spent by all people very freely on what could only be termed wasteful luxuries, but now there was a determined effprt on all sides to reduce expenditure. Be knew of no one who had put in such hard work as Mr. Massey in that direction, and there were very few men who would have faced the position. as he had faced it. just before an election. The Government had exercised great economies. A voice: By reducing public servantwages. Mr. Bellringer said that was only taking away bonuses which had been given to meet. tJid cost of living, which had since fallen. He did not deny that there had been waste in the country s expenditure, but Mr. Massey had put. tne break on, and had told them to o 11 a

ELECTORAL REFORM. \ Dealing with proportional representation, Mr. Bellringer said it had been tried. They wanted some system to ensure majority rule. He did not want to go into Parliament on a minority vote. The New South Wales proportional scheme was too cumbersome, and he objected to theelaborate system which obtained in that State. The electors did not know for whom they were voting. He was ready to support any scheme that would give majority rule; he did not mind if the minorities were represented, although some people objected to that. He did not. object to any sane labor legislation, and he yielded to none as a worker. He believed in everything that, tended to lift the worker to a higher state. The worker had a right to the best the country could give him. and he had always endeavored to take an interest in the men he employed. (Applause.) He knew, as a business man, that the prosperity of the country depended on giving the workers the best they could give them. Mr. Wilford’s and Mr. Massey’s platforms were the same in this respect.

EDUCATION. There was nothing new in Mr. Wilford’s education platform, Mr. Bellringer continued. Education was one of the things which must he kept in the forefront of the Dominion, and he stood for the most perfect education system that could be devised. The education system in New Zealand to-day was doing the best it could for the children, but there was always, and always would be, trouble iii teaching in the backblocks. The stronger teachers gravitated towards the cities, but a great deal had been done during the past few years to improve the teaching in the backblocks by means of strong supervising teachers. He realised that a tremendous amount of influence was wielded by the teachers, and said they should endeavor to get the best men and women for these positions. Mr. Wilford said that the children were being taught too many subjects and being taught them imperfectly, but that was a matter for experts. The Reform Party stood for education in its best and highest-form. LAND POLICY. Mr. Wilford advocated a land policy which the Reform Party was carrying out. He defended the Government’s policy, and • considered that it had dealt wisely in all its actions in connection with'land. The country had demanded that the soldiers bo given land, and he considered it wonderful how successful the Government’s policy in connection with soldier settlement bad been. Here and there men had been placed on the land and had not. made a success of it. but the vast majority had succeeded, and they endorsed the Government’s policy. (Cries of “No, No!’) ..here were' more, failures among civilians who had gone on the land than among the soldier settlers. He had every sympathy with the soldiers, and had tried to do his best for them.

The foremost plank in the Reform platform was reduction of the national expenditure, and Mr. Bellringer said that they’ all realised that the country could not carrv on with the heavy expenditure of the past. The burden of taxation had been so great that had it gone on it would have brought about stagnation. It had been absolutely essential that there should be a reduction in taxation, and with it a reduction m expenditure. There had, also, to bo increased production. They’ should have the whole of the natural resources of the country harnessed for the use of the people, and he defended the Government’s policy in connection with hydroelectric works. The consummation of that policy would mean the introduction of new industries, which would be able to operate owing to the cheap power which would be available.

PUBLIC WORKS CONCENTRATION.

He also supported the Government s policy of railway construction with concentration on definite lines, and not spreading their energies all over the country. Ho considered, however, that the Stratford-Okahukura line should be considered of first, instead of secondary importance, because it. would mean n ’lot more trade for the port of New Plymouth. That line should be developed’. and if he were elected, he would not advocate the construction of public, ’buildings in Now Plymouth while money ‘ was not being spent on that line. The . line should bo pushed on as fast as ; possible, because it would open up a jlot of country. The Awakino-Te Kuiti I road should also bo pushed on so that i Taranaki and Auckland, two of the oldl est provinces of the Dominion, could bo connected. After that he would advoI cate railwav connection between the two provinces. 'With these works pushed on l they had the opportunity of making the i port second to none in the Dominion. . ! He also stood for an energetic public i works policy, and he had always stood , for' humanitarian legislation. He had | always advocated the granting of full i privileges to women, and had been a I keen advocate of granting the franchise ito women, al] of whom, he considered, I had exercised it wisely. Ho considered ! that women should have all the privileges in regard to Parliament and other I offices in the country, and he was disappointed that the Legislative Council had thrown out the Bill for making women justices of the peace. Tn conclusion. Dlr. Bellringer said that, the days in which they ad I lived were pregnant with possibility. They’ had gone through some awful years of war, and. because of those years of i stress, they’ would eventually come out [the better men and women. They might i differ in principles, hut they were all striving towards the *amc goal. Ho ap- | pealed to them to cast their votes with la full consciousness of what they were doing, and. if they did that, he did net mind which way they voted. Ho hoPov- '■ ed that the policy of the Government I was the one which would produce the ibest. results.

j REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In replv to questions, Mr. Bellringer stated: If a country was worth bving in' it was worth fighting for. Personally, he did not believe in conscription: but if a fellow was not prepared to fight for h.s country, then i he ought, to be conscripted. Regarding the j referendum, he was in favor of it on cerI tain questions. I He did not favor a State-controlled mercantile marine. There were very great 'difficulties in the way, including the qtiesI tion of capital. As a young man he had advocated State control, but as an older

the State takes hold of a concern it does not run it as well as a private company does. A Voice: State-controlled shipping has been successful in Australia. Mr. Bellringer doubted if this were so. A Voice: Mr. Masters, at Stratford, said it had. Mr. Bellringer: Mr. Masters is an expert politician, who could put a case nicely. Continuing, he said that he thought the financial conditions at present would not warrant them in starting a State-controlled mercantile marine. He recognised that the producer must secure some reduction from the high freights, but thought this could be done more effectively by uniting to combat. the present combines. If not, they must face the question of providing their own fleets. However, this was a big question and would require to be dealt with by men who had wide business experience. If a man had paid off the mortgage owing to the State on his house, he should be at. liberty to deal with it by sale*or any other way entirely as he pleased. A Voice: He can’t under the present Administration. Mr. Bellringer: Well, I’ll have to alter that! He intended to touch on the dairy pool, but as that had been postponed he had not done so. He would assure them that as far as possible he would do his best to secure for Jhe farmer the fullest and best return for his labor. The prosperity of the country demanded that those who produced must receive the best return for their produce. He favored a vigorous immigration policy. They would always have a certain amount of unemployment, in the country, but they should not fail to avail themselves of the opportunity of getting British people to the country. On the motion of Mr. R. H. Quilliam, seconded by Mr. A. E. Washer, a hearty vote of thanks to and confidence in Mr. Bellringer was carried unanimously.