THE EGMONT SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1922, Page 8

THE EGMONT SEAT.

MR. ASTBURY AT ELTHAM. BIG MEETING IN TO\yN HALL. With the approach of the date fixed for the Parliamentary general election interest in matters political is running high and there was a large attendance at the Eltham Town Hall on Monday night, when Mr. D. L. A. Astbury, the Liberal-Labour candidate, addressed the electors. The number present was esti. mated at between 600 and 700 ana although there were many interjections they were all good humoured, and created a lot of amusement.

The Mayor (Mr. G. W. Tayler) occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate.

In opening his address Mr. Astbury read a telegram from Mr. T. M. Wilford, leader of the Liberal-Labour Party, as follows: “Best wishes for Thursday; Party’s prospects bright.” (Applause.) He also read a telegram from Mr. R. Masters, of Stratford, as follows: “A rumour is in circulation here that I have expressed the wish that Mr. Hawken may be returned for Egmont. The statement is as untrue as it is absurd. While I Hold Mr. Hawken in very high regard, I hold Air. Astbury equally as high, and I trust sincerely that he will bp returned at. the top of tfie poll on Thursday next.” /Applause.) These canards and false statements, said the speaker, were part of the game, 'but a dirty part, and he did not wish to touch them. If, hov.’ever, any of the electors heard statements made concerning any man’s character he hoped they would give that man an opportunity to refute them. THE LIBERAL-LABOUR PARTY. Proceeding, the candidate said he had been asked in some parts of the elector, ate way the Liberal Party had added the word Labour to its name. He did not look upon the word Labour in the narrow sense applied to it 'by the Reform Press and politicians. He Wished to associate himself with the term Labour ! in its fullest and widest significance, viz., ; the mental and physical effort of individuals and the nation as a whole, so

long that effort was exercised legitimately?" Liberal and Labour, used in this sense, were synonymous, for the basic foundation of Liberalism undoubtedly had for its object the welfare of ail classes and the prevention of trusts and other interests that strived to gain advantage over the many by unfair meth, ods. He firmly believed that the Vast bulk of the people stood behind the united Liberal-Lalunir Party. (Applause.)

EDUCATION. Speaking at Normanby Mr. Hawken had declared that he (Mr. Astbury} had accused the Government of spending too little on education. His (the speaker’s) actual complaint was that 100 much had been spent on secondary education and not enough on primary education. He was in full accord wit 1 secondary education, but money should not be spent on this at the expense of primary education. Mr. Hawken taking this up as a charge against his party had proudly pointed to the new schools at Normanby and Okaiawa. But he had apparently overlooked the fact that these were pro. vided for by the National Ministry, of which Sir Joseph Ward was Minister of Finance, and Air. Hanan Aiinister of Education. In contra-distinction to the statement that the Reform Party had done more for education than its predecessors, Mr. Astbury pointed out that the total sum spent on education had increased, yet in proportion to the revenue received the amount spent on education in 1/921 was the lowest average in any \car since 1904. A STATE BANK. Mr. Astbury then dealt at some length with the banking qurst’on. He detailed some of the special privileges of Australia, stressing the fact that although started only ten veal's ago with a loan of £lO,OOO from the Federal Government it had proved a huge success. In proof of this he quoted from letters and figures from Sir Denison Miller, Governor of the bank. The bank to-day possessed assets totalling

£140,000,000, and had set aside over £4,000,000, half of which went to the reserve fund to strengthen the hank, and the other half to a redemption account, which would be devoted to the extinction of the national debt. Further, 6 per cent, had been the maximum interest charged, as compared with 7 per cent, charged by the Bank oT New Zealand, and other institutions. It had been stated that the Bank of New Zealand, contributed to the New Zealand Government by way of taxation, but as every student of political economy was well aware this was passed on. In fact they had Mr. Massey’s word for it. (Laughter and applause.) Hence this argument “cut no ice.” TAXATION. Continuing* Mr. Astbury said his opponent had declared that the Massey administration had taxed the 'big man, but the taxation referred to was war taxation, the control of which had been in the hands of Sir Joseph Ward. Finance Afinister in the National Government. When with his colleagues he had left the National Government. Sir Joseph had declared that this taxation should bo adjusted and reduced, after allowing si.x months to elapse. The Reform Government, however, allowed nearly three years to go iby, and qn the eve of a general election made some reductions—because they were compelled to. But they had made no attempt to adjust, the incidence of that taxation. He ventured to prophesy that Mr. Massey would be faced with a heavy deficit on 31st March next, due to bad statesmanship. (Hear, hear, and applause.) 'SHIPPING. Referring to shipping, the candidate said Mr. Hawken had made the extraordinary statement that the Commonwealth Line of steamships had actually kept up freights! This was be.•ause they could not compete with the big combines. Mr. Astbury road a report sent him by the acting manager of the line at Sydney which showed that freights on wheat and wool had been lowered, and that the operations of the ‘Commonwealth Line had prevented increases in other directions. At the same time it had .paid handsomely. There was also ample evidence that the conference .linos were prepared to go to al- ■ xaost any length to get rid of the oom-

petition of the Commonwealth Line, (Applause).

RAILWAYS. The failure of the railways to pay their way had been ascribed by Air. Hawken to high wages, but he (the speaker) was of opinion that it was due to the gentleman at the head of affairs. He had been it schoolmaster, a flaxmiller, and a farfiier, and when he finally went into the House, Air. Alas'sey had. placed him in charge of the railways. (Mr. J. Walsh: “O-o-oh.” Another voice: “Hello, John!”, and- , laughter). As indications of the in- ! efficiency displayed Air. Astbury ini stanced the complaints made by the . New Plymouth Harbor Board, by local I tradesmen, and also ridiculed the i regulation iby which in order to allow i passengers to book from Normanby ■to Hawera by the mail train would- ■ 'be travellers were compelled to club I together and purchase a ticket for ! Patea. (A voice: “Something must ■ ■be done!” and laughter). Until he i had heard of this he did not realise that the railways Wort run in such an assinine manner. The railways had run 386,127 miles less than last year but the expenditure had increased by £801,128. Where did Mr. Massey’s vaunted economy and thrift come in ? There had been an increase in the passengers carried, in the season tickets issued, and in the quantity of goods handled in 1922, . as compared with 1920, yet the extraordinary result was that the percentage of profit to capital invested was reduced from 4.35 in 1920 to 1.07 in 1922. The paralysis of the Railway Department was difficult to understand. (Laughter and applause). SOLDIER SETTLEMENT. On this matter the candidate informed his audience that he had recently ridden around the Parihaka settlement in company with a soldier settler, and had made himself fully acquainted with the position there. He maintained that the prices paid j for the land were much in excess of its value, and the soldiers com- | plained that in no instance had they ’ met a Native who had received a price from the Government anywhere near what the soldier was paying interest on. None of the Alaoris received more than half these values, and the settlers were ’ wondering how the prices had been doubled. Air, Astbury also contended that the advance of £750 was ■ inadequate, and without further assistance the men would be unable to run their farms. The share of the milk cheques they received was barely sufficient for the maintenance of their households. In his opinion immediate relief was necessary, and he had advised the settlers to prepare statements ,of their requirements, and the moment the election was over to .place them in the hands of the Taranaki members —whoever were returned—with a request that they be put before the

Commissioner of Crown Lands. The advance would have to be increased to about £l2OO ter enable these men to carry on. The conditions at present were direct evidence that the soldier settlement scheme of the Massey administration had failed. At the time of the purchase of this block it had been described by those who knew the land as a scandal —(hear, hear) —and it had been suggested that the soldiers should have been given it free for a few years. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. Referring to this question the candidate said Air. Hawken had made a statement concerning it, and had been supported by that dear old. paper the Eltham Argus. (Laughter). This was to the effect .that .it would be detrimental to the country interests. This was without foundation inasmuch as the country ■ would, get its proper and full proportion of representation. The division of the House into parties was a necessary corollary of the system, as it had for its aim the representation of all forms of thought, and economic writers agreed that Parliament should be a reflex of the public thought in proportion to that thought. Under it they could not be subjected to minority rule as under the present system. Air. Massey had at present a majority of members in the House, but was in a minority of 117,400 of the voters of the Dominion. He was returned to power on a minority vote. A voice: “Yes, and will be again!” Mr. Astbury: “Never, sir never! The Liberal party intends to see that he goes out!” (Applause). The same applied to the recent British elections. There the Conservative party had a large majority although only 5,000,000 votes were cast in its favor and 8,000,000 against. Air. Massey had on one occasion expressed the hope that proportional, representation would be introduced. A voice: “Yes, hut that was before he was in power!" and laughter.

Air. Astbury: “And if he was sincere ho would retain those views after getting into power.’ Air. H. Marchant: “Tie is in and out, like a concertina!” OTHER MATTERS. The candidate touchou briefly upon ; many other questions, including waste I in connection with the Tourist Departj ment, and stores, and rhe huge increase in the national expenditure. This was £11,825.000 in 1912, and I had increased to £28.000.000 in 1920 ; and £27.938.000 in 1921. This in spite |o: Mr. Afassey’s talk of economy! The i Extension of Mortgages Bill had : been smashed iby the Statutes Revision I Committee and the housing I scheme had proved a sham. In regard to all that was said in regard to the danger of the Liberal Party linking up with Labor the candidate stressed the fact that the Reformers had done so on more than one occasion, quoting facts and figures to prove his contention. Through the activities of the cement trust it was cheaper to purchase cement and ship it from England than buy in Now Zealand. The Civil Service Commissioners were in charge of 7000 out of 51.000 civil servants; and these commissioners were costing the country £BOOO per annum. They were declared to be necessary on account of 'the corrupt, practices of the Liberal i Governments, but if the board had • proved a success- why was it not in charge--of all- the . service.? The earn- ' c-st manner in which the Reform Press ■ was endeavoring to prove that the Reformers were Liberals was really astonishing. The Reform Party had apparently no compunction in breaking pledges, and Sir William Herries when jeered at in the House had boasted that tho promises “did the trick,”

In regard to the Dairy Produce Control Bill he was convinced that if the delegates sent to Wellington were in favor of combining then they were at liberty to obtain the necessary legislation, but he was opposed to coercive measures being applied to the movement. One peculiar feature of the bill drafted was that every cooperative and proprietary company in the Dominion was included—with the exception of the two well-known firms of McEwen’s and Nathan’s. The candidate referred at some length to what he described as “Mr. Massey’s loyalty stunt,” pointing out that Mr. Massey had recently declared—in effect—that every one who opposed the Reform Party politically was disloyal.

Tn conclusion, Mr. Astbury said he was pledged to oppose any reduction in expenditure on education, but favored more being spent on primary education; ho was in favor of the League of Nations; he would support an agricultural system of banking, and a producer’s shipping line; he was opposed to compulsory co-opera-tive marketing, and was in favor of a contribution to naval defence; ho had not considered the motherhood endowment scheme; he favored increasing the life of Parliament to four years; the prohibition question was one for .the electors to deal with as they wished at the ballot; if the Labor Party supported the Liberal Party cn a no-confidence motion and thus placed Liberals in power he could not help it, but he, would not support a Labor Government to keep Air. .Massey out. THANKS AND CONFIDENCE. After numerous questions had been asked and answered, a vote of thanks to the candidate and confidence in him and the Liberal Party was proposed by Mr. G. Fitz Gerald, seconded by Mr. W. Hunter, and carried by acclamation. The meeting concluded with the usual vote of thanks to the chairman. (Published by arrangement).