POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1922, Page 7

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

THE PATEA ELECTORATE. MR. G. V. PEARCE AT WHAKAMARA. Mr. G. V. Pearce, the Independent Reform candidate for the Patea electorate, addressed a meeting of electors in the I Whakamara Hall on Wednesday night, when there was an attendance of over ; 30 electors. Mr. Ivo Honeyfield presid- ; ed, and the candidate, who was in good ; form, was given a most attentive hear- • ing, his remarks being frequently apj plauded. ' He prefaced his remarks by stating ; that he was no stranger to the district, he and his brother being the first two white men to take up land on- the | Whakamara block. He briefly replied to statements made regarding the requisition that had been presented to him on the same lines as already reported, pointing out that Messrs. W. Peat (St. John's Hill), T. Currie | (Brunswick), C. Connor (River Bank), G. F. Moore (Bushy Park), J. Potts (Kai Iwi), lan Johnson (Waitotara), J. Walker, W. Weybpurne (Waverley) and J. R. Taylor (Manutahi), who took a prominent part, were staunch Reformers, and the audience could judge whether they were likely to be paid or not. He also explained Iris reasons for standing and what had led to it. He had promised 1100 electors that he would contest the seat; he intended going to the poll and would not stand down for anyone in New Zealand. (Applause.)

He outlined his connection with the Massey party from the time he was returned in 1908, when Mr. Massey went to the polls with only 8 members supporting him, but was returned with 26. He had fought for Massey all those years and had done as much as any man on the coast for the party. Mr. Dixon had not become a Masseyite until that leader had a big majority, but had previously voted against him; in fact, he had nominated Mr. Morrison. Mr. Pearce made it clear that he was standing as an Independent Reformer, and would support Mr. Massey in all but his present taxation proposals, which he considered were ruining many of the best farmers in the country, and in this respect he considered many of the country members had not done their duty. THE LICENSING LAWS. Regarding Prohibition, he had always (been a temperance man, but not a Prohibitionist. He had voted on many measures for the improvement of the drink traffic, including the six o’clock closing, and had received a letter from I the secretary of the alliance expressing appreciation. .If . Prohibition was not carried on the 7th inst.. no doubt they would have fresh legislation on the subject. He agreed with Mr. Massey that the high tariff and bad accommodation the public had to put up with I was largely due to the licensing laws. At present it cost £250.000 every three /years to. fight the. issue, and moreove- : ppnnle would not invest money in hotels except at a high rate of interest, with ( the chance of having it wiped out i*i [■three years. He therefore favored licen sing polls' every six years, which would enable proper accommodation to be provided. He did not favor State control of hotels, but he considered that the Government might consider the control 'of the wholesale supply of spirits to hotels. This should not be difficult, as they already collected heavy duty on the spirits. It would also do awav with merchants’ profits and also provide the public with pure spirits. By buying at the breweries and establishing breweries in Auckland. Wellington and Dunedin, the State would make the profit (now made by the Jews in most cases) and would bp able to use it to reduce taxation. This would do away with all tied houses.

He considered that finance and taxation were affecting this countrv more than anything else and were likely io do so for years. Mr. Massey said that they were now round the corner, but he believed they had yet to face a. difficult time, as the moratorium only put off the evil day, as some concerns would not be able to meet their engagements. He agreed that strict economy and increased production was necessary, but he did not consider the Government was working on the right lines. Recently the Government had floated a loan of | £5,000,000 in London, none of which was used for increasing production. One million pounds were, to be used for electrifying the Otira tunnel, a wild cat scheme, which-it was estimated would cost £300,000. but would finally cost £2 300,000 anil would not pay interest on cost of construction in the next 20 years. The other £4.000.000 was to be spent on public works—on railways which were not now paying interest and would not pay for years. Instead of reducing taxation, this loan would mean that another' £2,850,000 would have to he found.

CAPITAL FOR FARMERS

He suggested that the Government should borrow £5,000.000 at 5 ppr cent, and lend to farmers on stock and land at say, per cent. This would stimulate production, which was suffering owing to many farmers being unable to in- ' crease their stock for want of capital. | He knew of cases where farmers in difficulties had had to sell their sheep and now could not get money to re- | stock their farms, which were going I back to fern and rubbish. The number of sheep in New Zealand bad been reduced by 4.000,000. which meant a los« of probably £2.000.000 in income per annum. He considered that the income tax was largely responsible for this shortage of money to farmers. Interest on mortgage, if exceeding £7OOO, paid 8s 9d per £ income tax; whilst if the money were invested in local body debentures it onlv paid 2«s fid in the .£, and in some other debentures 3s in the £. Thus even if the farmer had the best of security hp could not obtain the money. He pointed out that one of the largest financial institutions in Australasia j in 1915 had an accumulated fund for investment of £34,000.000. of which £13.000 000 was out on mortgages and £13.000.000 -in debenture*. In 1921 ite funds had increased to £46.000.000. of which only £lO.OO 000 was out. on mortaagp and £24.000.000 nn debentures. Probably after the moratorium expired, a good deal of that £lO 000.000 could he invested elsewhere than in mortgages. He felt that unless there was some alteration in the incidence of this taxation before 1924, when the mora- ' torium expired, they would see a bigger | slump in land than ever, because farmers would be unable to get money to | renew their mortgages. I Monev lent, to local bodies did not I in mi# ea=rs increase nroduet/nn. Tt. * wjis ns«d to heaut’fv c : t>«—a vc”v nice ibinsz if they could afford it. He aiso

showed how the towns benefited by the fact that municipal gas works, electric light concerns, milk supplies, etc., escaped taxation, which similar private concerns paid. They wanted men in Parliament to represent country districts who were able to prevent this, otherwise the country people Would be crushed by taxation. He considered they were on the verge of this now, as there were arrears of income tax of £600,000 and land tax £300.000. About onc- ' seventh of the whole had not been paid and many would be forced into bankruptcy if forced to pay—proof that taxation was getting heavier than could be< borne. He pointed out that 98 per cent, of the exports were primary products, which had to pay the whole tax.

He considered it was unfair the way that taxation was levied. 1 If a farmer owned land worth £BOOO, on which he had a mortgage of £7OOO, he had to pay land tax on the whole £BOOO. whilst mortgage tax was also collected i off the £7OOO. Regarding labor and wages, he believed in a good standard of wages, a good standard of living and also a good standard of work. He believed that the difficulty at present was not the high wages, but that it took three men to do two men’s work. It was better for nil to have good wages, but they must give a reasonable return for their wages, and not expect a 36 hours’ week. The dairy farmer did not work 36 hours, but worked very long hours and was practically carrying the country on his back at present. RAILWAYS CRITICISED. He criticisAl the railway management, pointing out that most of the departmental heads had grown up with the service when there wae no opposition. and people either had to use the railways or do without. Now they were up against strong opposition in the shape of motor lorries and motor cars, and must cater for the wishes of the public if they wished the railways to pay. .Some of them had been so long in the one groove that they could not get out of it, and he thought thev should be replaced by younger men with newer ideas. Ho instanced the lack of efficiency at the time of the breakdown of the "Wlienuakura bridge, pointing out that a pontoon bridge could have been erected in a very short time and trains run to each side of the bridge. Instead of that, the Government let people get from Patea to Waverley as best they could. This not only cost the public £2OO per day, but cut the roads up. I Moreover, some people, instead of join:ng the train again at Waverley, went to Wanganui, and the cars had continued th* l service ever since, in opposition to the trains. He was opposed to proportional renresentation, which was dangerous, and had many objectionable features, it would do away with the country quote, and would lend to give the cities greater power than at present. HIGHWAYS BILL OPPOSED. He considered that the Main Highways Rill was another instance where the cities were using their influence to penalise the country districts. He, as a member of the Industries Parb'amentarv Commission that toured New Zeain 1918. reported against the *Bill, which provided for the collection of a. tyre tax', of which £74.900 had alreadv been collected in eight months, and also for a direct tax on motors estimated to produce £400.009. The skeleton Bill provided for arterial roads between Auckland. Wellington and Dunedin, and money would be collected from all over New Zealand to make these roads. Taranaki, which had a greater proportion of cars than any other part of Npw Zealand, and had made its own roads, would be taxed for these arterial roads, which they would not use once in six months. As a member of the counties’ executive he had advocated that the tax should be handed to loonl bodies to spend on maintraffie roads and leave mom rates for expenditure on byroads.

I There had been a lot nf talk about • the Government paying too dearly for •land for soldiers and also putting men I on had blocks. Tie considered that the Government had done no more in their •land .deals than private people had. It i would have been a grave mistake to keep the soldiers in the cities till the price of land fell. If the land was too dear the Government must reduce it, providing the men were triers. If only 60 per cent, of the men were successful. the policy was justified. He strongly advocated the freehold, which was best for everyone in the long run. and conduced to more production. He would never have gone into politics but to fight for the freehold asrainst McKenzie and McNah’s leasehold proposals. Mr. Dixon at that time voted with the men who opposed the freehold. There had been a good deal of talk about re-aggregation, but the Year Book showed that, during 1921. the individual holdings had increased to 84.076. as compared with 81.592 the previous rear. Ho thought that, owing to the taxation, anyone with lare-e areas of land would be pleased to sell. Mr. Corrigan suggested that two adults should he employed on everr 100 acres. Tn this way. bv employing sharomilkors. a man could own the whole province. AGAINST THE “BOOKIES.” ' He was dead against bookmakers. | preferring the totalisator, which only permitted cash betting, and did not canvas boys or anyone else, and from I which the Government collected taxaI tion. He did not see any necessity for increasing racing permits, but thought there should be a redistribution of the existing ones, pointing out that Taranaki. with a 55.925 population, onlv had* 11 days, wh’le. Hawke’s Bay. with a 54.263 population, had 26 days’ permits. Tn concluding, he said that he had put. the matter to them from the farmers’ point, rf view, hut as ; t was impo*sihln for the towns to ho prosperous without the country being prosperous, it, was the towns’ point of view also. ’ He d'd not think anv party could beat, i the Reform Partv at the election, hut there was the danger that Liberal-Labor I and the “Red Feds” would combine. Tf | they did combine and get into power, it would be a. bad day. QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Tn renlv to ouo.st. : ons, Mr. Pearce sa>d that he thought that more monev would he available for mortgages if tlie tax wns decreased from 8s 9J to ss. and .’•fl'ised on debentures from 2s ’d to ss. If monev were not. available, (hero was a danger 'that land would decrease to below its true value. As one who took a nrominent part in the Meat Control B'll. ho considered the whole success of th*' Dairy Control i P'll woukl depend on the personnel of ' the hoard. If men ’of highest 'ntegri'/Y ' end good business ability w°re elected. ■ ( n-r.nld bn .q, success: it pould not nn«s- -‘ r'hjv bn T]lO eftemnt WOllld » btfttffoless without the eompulsorv clause,

because otherwise, at the least dissatisfaction, companies would drop out. The scheme would fall to the ground like a pack of cards. They had not had to enforce the provision on the Meat Control Bill. An advisory board in London on the right lines would be of distinct advantage to the producer, as at present the advice regarding markets, etc., cabled out was more often than not interested advice. Even the High Commissioner had to rely on someone in the business. The advisory board should consist of three men-—one used to the business in London and two from New Zealand, one a commercial man and the other a producer. Combination meant strength, especially in regard to the arranging of freights, and. if properly handled, he was convinced the Control Board would be a success. In reply to Mr. Davies, aa to whether his standing would not split the vote, lie Said that he did not think Mr. Dixon could win in a straight-out contest. A voice: If Mr. Morrison had stood, he’d have walked in. Tn reply to a further question, he strongly affirmed his intention of voting with the Government on a? no-con-fidence motion. ' VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. Mr. P. E. Bucknell moved that Mr. Pearce be accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, and that he is the right man to represent the district. This was seconded by Mr. F. Milhan, and declared carried on a show of hands. An amendment by Mr. Herbert, seconded by Mr. Davies, of thanks only, was defeated. THE STRATFORD SEAT MR. HINE AT DOUGLAS. Forty electors attended Mr. Hine’s political address at Douglas, on Wednesday evening. Mr. Alfred Needham presided. He received a vote of thanks and confidence. MR. HINE AT TE WERA. (Contributed.) Mr. Hine met about forty electors in the Te Wera Hall on Wednesday night. Mr. Seymour was voted to the chair. The meeting was apparently very satiefad with Mr. Hine’s statement regarding Mr. Masters’ assertions in connection with Sir Duncan Elliot’s engagement as inspecting engineer for the New Zealand Government in England. This firm, said Mr. Hine, had been appointed inspecting engineers long before the Reform Party came into office, and no doubt had performed their duties ably and well all those years. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Hine was passed on the motion of Mr. O’Neill. MR. MASTERS AT NGAERE. (Contributed.) . There was a fair attendance at the Ngaere Hall on Wednesday night, to hear the Liberal-Labor candidate give an account of his stewardship. Mr. H. C. Taylor presided. Mr. J. Seed moved: “That a hearty vote of thanks he accorded to Mr. Masters for his able address, and that this meeting records ite renewed confidence in him as its representative in Parliament.” The motion was seconded by Mr. E. Magna, and carried. MR. L. D. ASTBURY AT RAHOTU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ‘ The hall was well packed last night when Mr. Aatbury addressed the electors. He spoke for an hour and' a half, and criticised the administration of the Government. He also dealt with the Dairy Produce Bill, clearly showing the danger of such a measure. Several questions were asked, and Mr. Astbury answered them in a satisfactory and pleasing manner. The meeting concluded with rounds of applause. A hearty vote of thanks, was proposed by Mr. Green, and seconded by Mr C.. Field and carried. THE TARANAKI SEAT. MR. S. & SMITH’S CAMPAIGN. (Contributed.) Mr. 8. G. Smith, M.P., held a well attended meeting at Tataraimaka on Thursday evening, there being between 69 and 70 electors present. Mr. W. Young presided. The candidate spoke on the lines of his previous addresses, being accorded an attentive hearing. Afterwards he answered a few questions and Mr. W. Honpyfield, on behalf of the suppliers of the Patua Dairy Company, took the opportunity of thanking Mr. Smith for his efforts in obtaining a nostporpTnmß nf Giq Da J rv Produce Control Bill until the producers had time to consider it thoroughly. A vote of thanks to and confidence in Mr. Smith was carried by acclamation, on the motion of Mr. P. Kniffht, seconded by Mr. McConnell.—Contributed. Despite the very unfavorable weather, there has been splendid attendances at Mr. S. G. Smith’s meetings at Burford Road. Huirangi and Upper Mangorei. The trenchant criticism of the waste and extravagance that is going on in the Dominion, ami Mr. Smith’s lucid explanation on matterß of special interest to the dairy producers, was dealt with and the position of affairs was made clear. At each centre the customary vote was carried without any dissentient voice. At Koru on Tnesdav evening. Mr. Smith addressed a meeting of some 30 electors, the chair being taken by Captain G. Grey. Mr. Smith dealt exhaus. lively with the dairv nool and other matters of interest to the farmers, his remarks being fequently punctuated with applause. Hp received a most attentive hearing, and at the conclusion of what proved to -be a moat interesting meeting, he was Recorded a hearty vote of thanks for his able address'. This was on the motion of Mr. Hinckley, seconded by Mr. Revell, the proposer remarking that the question of confidence would be expressed at the ballot box.