ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1922, Page 5

ELECTION CAMPAIGN

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. LATEST FINANCE RETURNS. THE POSITION IMPROVING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Levin, Last Night. Mr. Massey addressed a crowded audience in Levin to-night. The Prime Minister is making a good recovery from a severe cold contracted during his South Island tour. He spoke on the lines of recent speeches, tracing the progress of the slump and stating that at one time he thought the Dominion would have to make default in the payment of interest and sinking fund, but that possibility had passed. That day he had received the Treasury returns for the eight months of the financial year ending November. Compared with the corresponding eight months last year the net increase in revenue was £571,309, and the net decrease in expenditure <£2,5d1,13fi. That was proof that the Dominion was going to pay its way, and proof that the. Government’s economies were not merely on paper. Mr. Massey stated that the third salarv “cut” would not be taken unless justified by the fall in the cost of living. but the Government would do its duty. He concluded with a warning against the dangers of the three party position, when one party could only hold office at the will of another and on condition it did its bidding. The Prime Minister had an enthusiastic reception, and a vote of thanks and confidence in the Reform Government was carried almost unanimously.

STRATFORD SEAT. MR. J. B. HINE AT TOWN HALL. A ROWDY MEETING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford. Last Night. The Town Hall was crowded to-night when Mr. J. B. Hine delivered his final political address at Stratford. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) presided. Through the main part of his speech the candidate received a good hearing, but there was a great deal of interjection throughout, and rowdy scenes before the meeting closed. Tn the early stages; the chairman ordered the removal of an interjector, and when the police removed a man a section of the audience believed the wrong man had heen removed, and a crowd of about fifty left the hall as a protest. They later returned. A disturbance was caused when Mr. Hine was referring to matters concerning the Labor Part y. TTe said the Maoriland Worker was distributed from Mr. blasters’ shop, or by a man who worked ♦here—Mr. Selby—who was secretary of the local Labor organisation.

Mr. Selby immediately jumped on the platform beside Mr. Hine and heatedly declared that Mr. Hine’s statement was a. deliberate lie. Mr. Selby offered to bet Mr. Hine £lO that he could not prove his statement, the stake to go to charity. Mr. Hine immediately accented.

Mr. Selby continued to speak from the platform, and the chairman ordered his removal. Mr. Selby left shouting: “Police protection to a lie.” At this stage Mr. Hine was counted out by the audience, but he said he would be counted in on Thursday. A voice asked if Mr. Hine knew that a prominent Reformer had given someone a shilling with which to buy a Maoriland Worker from Masters* shop. Mr. Hine said he was hot aware of it.

At question time Mr. Selby, who had returned, asked if Mr. Hine would accept the challenge to prove that the Maoriland Worker was distributed from Masters’ shop. Mr. Hine was attempting to reply when Mr. Selby again jumped on the platform and began to address the audience. The chairman again ordered his removal, ami Mr. Selby left amid a noisy scene.

An appeal was then made to the chairman and to the reporters to state definitely what was actually said by Mr. Hine. The Mayor ruled that it was not fair to ask the reporters.

Mr. Hine said that if he said, <is the interjectors declared, that the Maoriland Worker was distributed from Masters' shop, he was prepared to apologise. At the conclusion Mr. Hine was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence amid cheers.

MR. HINE AT WHANGAMOMONA. (Contributed.) Mr. J. B. Hine, the Reform candidate, was given an enthusiastic reception at Mhangamomona on Monday night, about 140 electors attending. The speaker was in good form, and was given an attentive hearing. MR. MASTERS. (Contributed.) The schoolroom at Pembroke Road was crowded to the doors on Monday night, when the utmost enthusiasm prevailed throughout the proceedings. Mr. Masters showed clearly that whatever sympathy Reform might have had previously to the small farmer it was now’ transferred to the vested interests of the Dominion. He gave instances in support, of this statement. At the conclusion the following resolution was moved by Mr. Newbold, seconded by TUr. Gould, and carried unanimously: “That this meeting extends to ‘Mr. Masters its hearty thanks for his brilliant address and its entire confidence in him as the right person 1o represent this constituency in the next Parliament.” In Mr. Masters, said 'the mover, they had not only a. brilliant speaker, but a man of exceptional ability. MR. MASTERS ACCEPTS F. G. M A G NUSSON’S CH ALLEN GE. (To the Editor.) Sir. —Tn a letter signed by Frank G. Magnusson in your paper this morning, he "states that the statement that i have made that P.P.A. circulars have been distributed to school children is ‘without foundation and absolutely false.” I accept the challenge, and will give £5OO to any charitable institution in Taranaki if I am unable to prove my statement. 1 have in my possession a letter signed by Alice E. Winthrop, head teacher, Lincoln Road school, in which she admits freely that she, in innocence, distributed the circulars referred to to the children in her school, at the request of a prominent Reform

w’orker in that district. I will deal w’ith ’ Mr. Magnusson later, but in the mean- | time leave the public to judge a*> to the < methods of this gentleman and those associated with him. This statement is in accord with a great number of others that have been circulated during this campaign of abuse. Nothing further need be said in the meantime.—l am, etc., R. MASTERS. Stratford, December 5. (Published by Arrangement.) EGMONT SEAT. MR. ASTBURV. (Contributed.) Mr. Astbury, when dealing with banking matters at Okaiawa on Saturday night, spoke of the rate of exchange being charged by the banks on the produce shipped Home. He stated that in July the rate of exchange was 15s per centum, rose about September last to 25s per centum, and in October and at present was 35s per centum. The cost to a factory manufacturing 40,000 crates of cheese in the year, based on an average of £6 per crate value, and totalling £240.000, meant a charge for exchange cf £4200, slightly over one-third of a penny per pound butter-fat, or a tax of 2s on every crate of cheese. Surely, Mr. Astbury said, everything pointed in the direction that the State should enter into competition with these monied interests to enable the people to know what should at least be a fair rate tu charge.

MR. HAWKEN. (Contributed.) Mr. Hawken spoke to a very large audience at Inaha on Monday evening. Mr. S. McKay was in the chair. In reply to a question about, a pamphlet issued by the P.P.A., Mr. Hawken stated that he had not seen the publication referred to and was in no wav identified with it or the P.P.A. He deprecated the attempt by the opposition to injure him with his Catholic friends, as he had many good friends amongst them, as he had amongst Protestants, and he would, if returned, taithfully i epresent all shades of religious opinion. At the conclusion of the meeting an almost unanimous vote of thanks and confidence and three hearty cheers were given for Mr. Hawken. The audience, then joined in singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” PATEA SEAT. MR. G. V. PEARCE. (By Wire—Own Correspondent.) Hawera, Last Night.

Mr. G. V. Pearce addressed his second meeting of electors in the Hawera Opera House to-night. The theatre was quite full, and the large audience greeted Mr. Pearce with much enthusiasm and applause, repeatedly cheering him. There was no interruption of any sort, and the solitary question propounded at the end of the meeting merely hinged on the Press Association telegram of an interview with Mr. Massey, who clearly advised the electors, in the ease of two Reform candidates standing, to sink party and vote for the strongest candidate, which Mr. Pearce stoutlv maintained was himself, and not Mr. Dixon. Mr. Pearce’s interpretation went unchallenged by the audience. The onlv other matter was a request bv Mr. Alex. Hunter that he should be allowed to read to the meeting a telegram just received from Mr. Massev. Mr. Pearce replied that if it merely concerned him he had no objection, but if it concerned Mr. Dixon he (Mr. Hunter) had better await Mr. Dixon’s nex* meeting in Hawera and read it then. A beartv vote of thanks to Mr. Pearce for his able address was proposed by Mr. Alan Good and seconded by Mr. W. R. McLean and carried unanimously.

TARANAKI SEAT. MR. S. G. SMITH’S CAMPAIGN. Mr. S. G. Smith met with an enthusiastic reception when he addressed a crowded audience in the Fitzroy hall last night. Mr. R. Bartley was voted to the chair. At the close a. vote of thanks to and continued confidence in Mr. Smith was carried unanimously. Mr. Smith said he had been attacked on his attitude towards the indentured labor in Samoa. because he had voted with the extreme Laborites against the Bill. Mr. Isitt had Raid in the Hon'se that he did not like the policy of indentured labor, but did not wish to harass the Government by opposing it, especially as he was assured the Bill was only intended to remain in force for a period of twelve months. Mr. Massey had also stated that he did, not like the policy the Bill would introduce. The British and Australian Governments had vetoed the question of indentured, labor. Mr. Smith’s speech followed the lines of other addresses. He decried the attempts made in certain quarters f.o introdnee sectarian questions into the present campaign. He described the comments regarding his attitude towards the Marriage Amendment Act as lies to inflame the minds of the people and to cloud the real issue. He hoped that when the poisonous gas of sectarianism struck the electors, they would deal with it as they would the deadly poisonous gas used b'y the Germans. There, had never been a vote cast for or against the Marriage Amendment Act. in Parliament. The only motion he had voted for was that, of Mr. Isitt’s that the Bill he referred hack to the committee, for further consideration. The meeting closed with cheers for Mr. Smith. WAITOMO SEAT. MR. JENNINGS. (Contributed.) When Mr. Jennings went tnrougn Taumatamaire was in a very bad Condition through heavy rains and the hundreds of cattle passing over during the past few days, horseback being the only way of getting through. Two motors were stuck in the mud. Aftei leaving Mokau Mr. Jennings went through to Te Kuiti, and has spoken at Tapuwac and Honikiwi, receiving thanks and confidence and cheers at the former place, at which there were 60 present. The candidate has now finished his itinerary. THE ISSUE. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Again the elections arc upon us, again we are being called upon to decide whether we are to continue to leave the affairs of this Dominion in the hands of

the Massey Administration or to entrust them to others whose only claim to office seems to be the ability to level criticism (destructive rather than constructive) against the party in power. I do not intend to sound the praises oi the Government; the popular feeling in its favour and the manifest weakness of the parties opposed to it are sufficiently conclusive evidence of its worth, and the result of the election would be a foregone conclusion were the avowed opponents of the Government the only forces arrayed against it. Unfortunately, however, there are other forces at work. There is division in the ranks of the professed friends of the Government, division that threatens to greatly weaken if not to absolutely destroy it. In this (Egmont) electorate, the division centres round the proposed Dairy Pool, and onany electors will tell you that they wish to see the Government remain in power, and yet intend to vote against the Government candidate because they are not pleased with his attitude towards the pool. No doubt they think they are wise, but will they not appear as fools, pitiable fools, in their own eyes and the eyes of their fellows, if they succeed in defeating Mr. Hawken and by so doing put the Government out of office? 1 have heard it said that the defeat of Mr. Hawken would be a great advertisement against the pool. It certainly will be an advertisement, an advertisement of stupendous folly on the part of this electorate if Mr. Hawken is defeated and the Government is dependent upon hi© vote for its existence.

In the Patea electorate the division is, as all Taranaki knows, in connection with the rival Reform candidates. Mr. Pearce may have rendered good service while in Parliament, but surely it is patent to all that he cannot win the seat, and that every vote cast for him weakens the Government’s chance of retaining it. In the Taranaki and Stratford electorates there are probably many electors who would like to see the Government remain in power, and yet in consideration of the undoubted services rendered to their electorates by their respective members, or on -acoount of some feeling against Mr. Bellringer or Mr. Hine personally, intend voting against the Government candidates on Thursday next. But, may I ask, is it “playing the game?” Is it not rather a contemptible thing for us, if we wish to see the Government remain in power, to cast our vote, to “do our little bit” towards bringing about its defeat and to trust to others to save the Government for us, to trust to others to save us from the results of our own folly—or worse ?

In conclusion, if my feeble voice may perchance avail anything. I will' say to the Reformers of the t'aranaki Province; “Play the game, do not weakly allow yourselves to be lead away, like so many children, by minor considerations. Cast your votes on the Ipg issue; quit you like men (and women); be strong.” —I am etc., C. W. FIELD. Rfthotu, December 4. (Published by arrangement). MR. MASTERS AND EXTREME LABOR. (To the Editor.) ; Sir, —At a meeting held in Ngaere by i the sitting member for Stratford this i gentleman seemed to resent very | strongly a suggestion that he was given Jto “camouflage.” It does, however, seem ! strange to me that notwithstanding the : large number of non-residents and ardent supporters who accompanied him, jhe should have refrained from dealing with such questions as proportional rei presentations and a State bank. He also seemed to carefully avoid his general practice of belittling the Premier’s visit to this electorate. I can only surmise that he was wise enough to remember that these matters would carry little weight in such a Reform stronghold as Ngaere. Mr. Masters also challenged a statement that he voted with extreme Labor on a no-condfience motion. From enquiries I have made since I am led to believe that on June 29, 1920, on the introduction of the Impress Supply Bill and the motion, “That the speaker do now leave the chair in order that the House may resolve itself into committee of supply,’ Mr. H. F-- Holland (Labor leader) moved, “That all the words after ‘that’ bo omitted with a view to inserting the following: This House expresses its disapproval of (1) the failure of the Government to make adequate provisions for the full representation of the people by means of a system of proportional representation; (2) the failure of the Government to effectively combat the high and increased cost of living; (3) the failure of the Government to provide houses for the people; (4) the failure of the Government to ensure an adequate coal and other fuel supply; (5) The failure of the Government to proceed with the necessary public works. When* the division was taken, Mr. Masters voted with Mr. Holland, and if Mr. Holland was fortunate enough to carry this resolution. Mr. Wilford would have stepped into Mr. Massey’s place, and Mr. Masters knew that to bo the ease, and yet he says it was not a noconfidence ' motion. So much for that little bit of camouflage. Then, again, on June 30, 1922, a mo. tion dealing with the Impress Supply Bill No. 1 was practically treated as a no-confidenee motion (in fact one sitting member of Parliament told me it I was treated as such), and on that occasion Mr. Masters paired in favor of Mr. Holland’s motion with the member for Egmont (Mr. Hawken). I would also like to ask Mr. Masters if it is a fact that of the 100 divisions in the House be voted 61 times on the same side as Mr. Holland and his party, whilst of 31) divisions in Committee he voted U> times on the same lines. It these are facts, and T have every reason to helicve’they are correct, then of what usi 1 ! is it our member (for the present) trying to lead us to believe that he would not work with the extremists, who, to my mind, are a menace to (lie Dominion’ Actions speak louder than words, and unfortunately for- Mr. Masters, his actions have belied his words.

1 thank von. Sir, for granting me space, but Mr. Masters publicly challenged a statement at a public meeting, and 1 am trying to publicly put the fact before the electors because 1 fail to see the difference between a. 'no-con-fidence motion” and a motion used expressly for the same purpose. Both have the same result, and I have yet to learn if Mr. Masters would again vote for a similar resolution as that mentioned in this letter moved by Mr. Holland, which, if carried, would have given the Liberals the treasury benches by the help of extreme Labor. Political quibble and dust do not blind all electors. —I am, etc., t WONDER. Di’ci'inbor 4. (Published by arrangement.)