POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1922, Page 7

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

THE EGMONT SEAT.

MR. HAWKEN AT ELTHAM. Mr. O. J. Hawken, M.P., was given a warm reception by a fairly large audience when he delivered a political address in the Eltham Town Hall on Friday night. The Mayor (Mr. G. W. Taylor) was in the chair. In opening his address, Mr. Hawken said he agreed with the chairman’s suggestion that it would be better if the life of Parliament were given five years instead of three, as at present, and he intended to press this suggestion if he was returned. As it was, a member was no sooner in the House than he had to turn round and fight the elections. Referring to the difficulties the country was passing through, Mr. Hawken said that no one expected such a slump in produce and land values after the war, but New Zealand had met the position with great fortitude, and he thought we were now just about through the worst. He had to sympathise with many who had entered into public companies, and he thought their public spirit should be recognised.

PARTY STRENGTH. Speaking politically, he believed the Reform Party was the ablest party to carry on the Government of the country. The leader had come through the recent hard times a stronger and abler man than he was in 1912. It had been said that the Reform Party was a “one man show,” but it was really one of the strongest parties they had ever had in New Zealand. Within the party there were many young men who would come to the front in the near future. The Liberal Party had fallen on evil days, and was no longer a united party. It was living on its old traditions, and to-day had not the policy to put before the country that the old party had. The Labor Party was a united party of nine members, and Mr. Holland was an enthusiastic and dominating personality. He could not help but admire the party in some respects, and he believed it would be a strong force in years to come, but he hoped it would never get into the Treasury benches. He could not see any large number of the people backing up this party whose idea was to destroy capitalism and confiscate all property. Comparing the recently enunciated policies of Mr. Wilford and Mr. Massey, it was amazing to find the number of points on which they agreed. The Reform legislation against trusts and combines was evidently agreed with because the wording of the policy against these was practically the same in both policies. The Government had been fighting the American Meat Trust, and to-day had it well in hand. Both parties were agreed on a vigorous public works policy. The speaker thought the present policy should be vigorous enough for anyone. Mr. Coates was as good a Minister as they could wish to have. The Otira and North Auckland railway lines were almost completed, and soon would be out of hand. The public works policy was as vigorous as could be desired, as it was necessary to go carefully in view of the financial position. PUBLIC WORKS.

Turning to hydro-electricity, Mr. Hawken said nearly a million pounds was spent last year on electric schemes, and he believed this was good policy. When the tide of prosperity set in we would need more people in the country, and he believed in a strong immigration policy. With the departments the country had it was desirable that more shoulders should bear the burden. The hydro-electric undertakings would provide profitable employment for a great many people by creating more industries. There had been statements made by the Opposition that too much money was being spent in public works, but he did not know of one instance in which the Liberal Party had objected to the raising of i a loan, and they had no right to pose as economists. A charge had been made in the House that the Defence Department had been wasteful with the stores, but a committee set up had reported that there was absolutely no foundation for the charge. No Liberal member got up to challenge the report. Yet this charge was repeated in the Liberal Party’s manifesto.

Speaking of soldier settlements, Mr. Hawken said that some months ago the Government told the House that soldiers’ land would be revalued, and already boards of competent men had been set up for this purpose. The old leasehold idea had practically died out, and it was surprising the number who were in favor of the freehold policy. To-day there was little aggregation of land in New Zealand. Taxation was so severe on large holdings under the Reform Government that very few were looking for more land. He believed that taxation was cutting up many large estates, but the slump in values prevented many from selling up.

Reference was then made to the development of Central Otago, which, the speaker said, contained some of the best land in the world. The results had been phenomenal. REDUCING TAXATION. Both leaders agreed that taxation should be reduced. The Reform Party had reduced taxation several times, which was evidence that it would make reductions as soon as possible. Excessive taxation was causing unemployment, because the big concerns could not pay its employees and taxation as well. Both parties were also agreed upon increasing educational facilities. Educated people had a much better chance in this world than the comparatively uneducated. When the Reform Party took office in 1912 educational expenditure amounted to £1,231,000, and now it amounted to £3,567,000 per annum, despite the fact that the population had not greatly increased. No one bad received an unfair advantage. New schools had been built at Normanby, Manaia, Opunake and Okaiawa, and he hoped they would soon have a new one at Eltham.

Both parties had struck on the same idea of profit-sharing. He believed, however, that the wage-earner would sooner have higher wages than share profits. The common desire was to support primary and secondary industries. The meat control scheme was going to be a great success in the handling of produce, and would redound to the credit of the Reform Party. It was better than State management. The B.A.W.R.A. scheme was one of the greatest feats in bolstering up an industry they had ever seen. In their manifesto the Liberal Party were in favor of the meat control, but in the House they voted against it.

He believd the Dairy Produce Control Bill could have been put through in a fortnight, but when Mr. S. G. Smith proposed 14 amendments they knew an attempt was being made to stonewall it. Each party declared in favor of an extension of the pensions scheme. In 1912 pensions cost £482,000, and to-day they amounted to £1,284,000, or, including sol*

diets’ pensions, £2,794,000. The speaker believed the less deserving pensions should be cut down and the more deserving increased. WAGES AND FINANCE. The average wage of civil servants had gone up from £l4B in 1906 to £245 when the Government found they had gone too far and had to reduce. In 1912 income tax payers who paid £36 were now paying £lBO. The Reform Party had not favored the rich man. The tax in New Zealand was heavier in the higher grades and not nearly so heavy in the lower grade. The Liberal Party was far too lenient with the man who had plenty of money. Referring to housing, Mr. Hawken ridiculed the suggestion that the scheme had been a failure. During the last three years the Government had built 10,110 new houses, and had provided the pioney for 7570 more. They bad spent £11,467,000 on housing. No Government could have done more. Since the two parties were agreed on so many points, said Mr. Hawken, why change ? A voice: You took our policy. Mr. Hawken said State banking was not required in New Zealand, but he believed in agricultural banks. A comparison was drawn between the Commonwealth Bank and the Bank of New Zealand, and extracts were read showing that the Australian bank compared very favorably. He was not in favor of proportional representation, and the system was not wanted in New Zealand. At the last election 50 winning candidates secured actual majorities. OTHER MATTERS. Turning to State shipping, the candidate said that more had been done for shipping by the Meat Control Bill than by any other thing. The loss on the Commonwealth shipping line had been so great that they had been unable to write down their ships, and the line was worth nothing like what it was pretended to be. The Main Roads Bill was a very difficult one, but he believed it was a good Bill and Taranaki under it would get a fair share of additional revenue that would be available. There had been rumors to the effect that country subscriptions to telephones was going to be increased, but the opposite was the case. It was not reasonable that the big business concerns should pay £9 per year, the same as a country subscriber, and the proposal was to reduce country subscriptions and increase the price to the big concerns.

Mr. Hawken emphasised the danger of a combination of the Liberal and Labor Parties, and said he would have nothing to do wtih Labor. Mr. Massey certainly would not. The Reform Government had done so well that there was no need for a change. (Applause.) QUESTIONS ANSWERED. In answer to a question, Mr. Hawken said he was opposed to the Motherhood Endowment Bill. It was better to give the money in some other way and encourage a man to support his own wife and children. To further questions he said an Act had been passed a fortnight ago giving any objector the right to have his land revalued. He would vote against the Liberal Party on a no-confidence motion. He would not be in favor of repealing the law exempting sectarian schools from rates, as many had been built on the understanding that they would be exempted.

Mr. T. B. Crump proposed a motion expressing thanks to Mr. Hawken for his address, and confidence in him as the district’s representative. This was carried with loud applause. Mr. Crump stressed the need of a longer life for each Parliament. MR. MASTERS AT DURHAM ROAD. With the exception of the Stratford meeting, the meeting at Durham Road was the most enthusiastic Mr. Masters has had in his campaign. The schoolroom was well filled, and the audience listened with a very keen interest to the speaker throughout the whole of his address. Mr. Masters’ criticism of railway management was the criticism of a man with a keen business mind who had thoroughly mastered the position. “To lose,” said Mr. Masters, “£1,021,000 on our railways as had been done last year, was a monument to the hopeless inability of the Minister of Railways.” At the conclusion of an interesting address, Mr. Dean, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Masters, and expressing confidence in him as the member for Stratford, stated that he had always been a Reformer, but it had to be admitted and they could not blind their eyes to the fact that Mr. Masters was the best possible representative for the district, and as such he was going to support him. The resolution was carried unanimously, amidst applause.—Contributed. THE PATEA SEAT. At. Hawera on Friday Mr. Pearce said the Patea seat had been held by Liberals for 12 years before he (Mr. Pearce) was elected. 'Then he held the seat for the Reform Party for 11 years. He was the only man who had won the seat for the Reform Party by a majority vote during the last twenty-five years, and therefore he was entitled to contest the seat; he intended to do so, and had every prospect of winning. Mr. Pearce said that he had withdrawn from the last election to save the seat for the Reform Party, but he did not believe that the present member could win this time. Tie certainly thought that luxuries should be taxed, not necessaries. Mr. A. Main, of Mokoia, moved that Mr. Pearce be thanked for his address, and it was considered that in the interests of fair play he should retire from the contest ‘and give the other candidate a straight go. The motion was seconded. Mr. Cowern then moved an amendment that all that parts of the motion except that relating to thanks be eliminated. This was seconded and carried, the motion being declared lost. MR. ASTBURY AT RIVERLEA. A very wet, boisterous night was experienced at Riverlea on the occasion of an address by the Liberal-Labor candidate, Mr. D. L. A. Astbury. Fourteen or fifteen electors put in an appearance, however, and listened to Mr. Astbury with attention. In the course of his address, the candidate spoke of the custom of Ministers introducing a Bill into the House by reading a type-writ ten production, apparently prepared by the departmental officers, for on one occasion after reading, and reading very badly, a printed Bill in his possession, the Minister was asked by the Leader of the Opposition what clauses related to the Bill he was introducing, and then the Minister discovered to his own consternation and the amusement of the House that he was reading a type-written copy of a Bill that was not intended to be introduced at that time. Mr. Astbury received a good hearing. Votes of thanks to the candidate and Mr. Humphries, the chairman, closed the meeting.—Contributed.

TARANAKI SEAT.

THE GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE. Mr. C. E. Bellringer, the Government candidate, held the first of his country meetings at Upper Mangorei on Saturday night. Despite the wet night there was a large attendance, including a number of ladies. Mr. Pearce was voted to the chair. The candidate emphasised his contention that the fight really lay between Mr. Massey and Mr. Holland. Mr. Smith had said at Omata that “it was absurd to suggest that the Government might be dominated by extreme Labor,” and yet the record of Mr. Smith's votes in the House showed that he almost invariably voted with Labor against the Government. Quite recently Mr. Holland had moved a want of confidence motion. For that motion Mr. Smith had voted, and had plainly shown that he preferred Mr. Holland and was prepared to make him Prime Minister. At the close of the address Mr. H. L. Spence moved and Mr. A. Wells seconded a vote of thanks to Mr. Bellringer and confidence in the Government. This was carried unanimously by acclamation. A strong and representative committee is working in Mr. Bellringer’s interests. MR. S. G. SMITH’S CAMPAIGN. Mr. S. G. Smith, the Liberal-Labor candidate for the Taranaki seat, addressed the electors at Carrington Road on Friday night, Mr. Robert Woods being chairman of the meeting. The candidate dealt with the political questions of the day and received a very attentive hearing. At the conclusion of the meeting a vote of thanks to and confidence in Mr. Smith was carried on the motion of Mr. L. Hill, seconded by Mr. Adlam. An amendment of thanks only and no confidence in the LiberalLabor Party moved by Mr. F. Baker and seconded by Mr. Chant was lost, only the proposer and seconder voting for it. A committee of 16 was formed to further Mr. Smith’s candidature. Despite the very unfavorable weather over 20 electors were present at the Korito School on Saturday evening, when Mr. Smith delivered a political address. Mr. C. <E. Seabright presided. The candidate was accorded a most attentive hearing, and, at the conclusion was, on the motion of Mr. E. Herbert, seconded iby Mr. J. Medway, unanimously accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. A committee was set up to work for the candidate. Mr. Smith will speak at Okato tomorrow night and not at New Plymouth. THE WAITOMO CONTEST. The member for Waitomo has had very bad weather experiences. The past week has been unprecedented in the Ohura. Torrential rains, thunder and lightning, hailstorms, heavy winds, with two earthquakes thrown in, was Tuesday’s experience. The unmetalled roads have become mud holes in many places. Mr. Jennings spoke at the Ohura, Tatu, Nihoniho, Otangiwai, Matiere, Tuhua, Mahirakau and Okahukura and was well received at each place, receiving a vote of confidence with three cheers for his success at the poll. The member spoke at Ongarue. and Mangapehi on Saturday. There are ninety-four polling places in Waitomo electorate.