POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1922, Page 5

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

REPLY TO CRITICISMS. BY HON. D. H. GUTHRIE. By Telegraph.—Press AssociationFeilding, Last Night. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, the sitting member and Reform candidate for Orona, had a very large meeting tonight, and he was accorded a cordial hearing. He dealt with the general activities of the Government during the past three years. Replying to criticisms, be claimed that the Government was not under the influence of vested interests. On the contrary it had driven a very hard bargain with the Sugar Company, thereby saving four and a half millions through the handling of supplies. The Board of Trade had succeeded in keeping down the cost of living, particularly in regard to home necessities. In soldier settlement, the Minister showed that out of 20 millions advanced on the rural and town homes, the loss to March 31 was only £43,000, or £2 2s per man repatriated.

Dealing with unemployment, and replying to the Opposition statement that there was no unemployment under the Liberal regime, the Minister said that in 1909 the Liberal Government found it necessary to dismiss a number of civil servants, as there was at that time considerable unemployment. A deputation of working-men, in June of that year, -waited on the Premier (Sir Joseph Ward), and Mr. D. McLaren, the then secretary of the warersidera, said the position of the men on the wharves had never been so bad for 15 years. The union secretaries computed the unemployed in Wellington at 2009. Ar that time there was no war aftermath to cause a dislocation.

On land questions, the Minister always favored the freehold, and he that a settler with the prospect of freeholding, got the best out of the land. At the same time good leasehold tenures were available for those who required them. Sneaking on aggregation, the Minister held that the days of ranching had passed. He declared that the policy of the Government, as indicated by the legislation passed in recent years, was to encourage closer settlement. On the dairy pool, the Minister strongly supported the Bill, and suggested its consideration during the recess, and passing it into law by the new Parliament. He effectively dealt with the criticism on the Reporoa and Motutara settlements, and after answering questions, was accorded an enthusiastic vote of thanks, and confidence* in Mr. Massey’s party. DUNEDIN NORTH SEAT. Dunedin, Last Night. Mr. J. W. Munro (Labor member for Dunedin North) opened his campaign at North East Valley to-night, receiviug a good hearing. A vote of confidence was unanimously passed. AWARUA SEAT. Invercargill, Last Night. Mr. J. R. Hamilton, M.P. for Awarua, addressed a well-attended meeting at Woodlands last night, making a general defence of the Government against Opposition criticism. He received a vote pf thanks and confidence. Mr. Stewart Mclntyre, the Co-opera-tive candidate for Awarua, opened his campaign at Bluff. He declared a Progressive, standing independently of any party. He criticised all parties. He received a vote of thanks. CHRISTCHURCH NORTH. Christchurch, Last Night. The Rev. J. K. Archer (Labor candidate for Christchurch North) opened his campaign to-night, when he addressed a large attendance of electors. He was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.