POLITICAL CONTEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1938, Page 7

POLITICAL CONTEST

MR J. H. IRVING’S ADDRESS LAST EVENING OPERA HOUSE CROWDED OUT. CANDIDATE ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED. A wave of enthusiasm swept through the Opera House last night when Mr J. H. Irving, National Party candidate for the Masterton seat, concluded his maiden political address to a Masterton audience. About 900 people were packed into the hall, while many others were unable to gain admittance. Mr Irving was given a splendid hearing. He was in a fighting mood and dealt aptly with interjections that came fairly frequently from a handful of people scattered in the main body of the hall. At the conclusion of the meeting, a motion thanking him for his address and expressing confidence in him and in the National Party was moved and seconded. Before the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, who presided, could put the motion, however, the crowd gave Mr Irving a great ovation and then stood and sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” This was followed by three rousing cheers. It was a remarkable demonstration of enthusiasm. ’Mrs Irving, who was on the stage, was presented with a beautiful bouquet. Mr Jordan urged that in the election fight there should be sting on either side. The contest should be carried out with .restraint and moderation. The Labour candidate, Mr J. Robertson, had told him that as far as he was concerned the contest between himself and Mr Irving would be fought in a spirit of fair play. (Applause). Mr Irving had served his country in the past and now he came before the electorate offering to serve it in another field. Mr Irving, who was greeted with applause, referred to the very keen interest being taken in the election and said it was mainly due to the many changes that had taken place in our political life and outlook during the past three, .years.- -There were many on his side who criticised Labour right dr wrong, "but personally he believed in giving Labour credit where credit was due. The Labour group inside the House, however, was dominated all the way by the group outside of Parliament. The National Party group outside the House would assist the section inside very , considerably, but it believed.that,,the political group should rule. The National; Party organisation . was truly demo.cfajj'e and was representative of all walks of life. They did not want any sectional groups but one group representing the whole of. the people*. Labour criticised the Opposition and said it was not national' but sectional, but he 1- would say that it was much less sectional than the Labour Partv. • ' *

LEADER GAINING GROUND. The Hon. Adam Hamilton, Leader of the National Party, was not understood by many people who did not know him. Mr Hamilton was gaining ground every day. (Applause). All people supporting the National Party inside ; and outside of the House were perfectt ly satisfied when Mr Hamilton had 5 been appointed leader of the Party. > The best form of government came ; when there were two parties of about i equal strength. Parties in power with ■ a large majority rarely legislated well. ■ The National Party believed that on 1 October 15 New Zealand would have two parties of about equal numerical 1 strength. ’ A voice: “With Labour winning.” r Mr Irving: “Perhaps.” He believed in a' certain amount of . preference being given to one section i of the people—those who produced the real wealth of the country for export ■ overseas. They should receive first . consideration if anyone did. That. ■ however, was not the position in New . Zealand today. The people today who [ were receiving the benefits were the ■ trade unions. He favoured unionism. ; but not compulsory unionism. He ' would say that many of the great trade unions in New Zealand were not out ; for the good of the country. (Ap- ' plause). The government of a country ' was a most important matter and in the past many of them had not taken sufficient interest in either national or local politics. More men and more women were needed to take their share in the building up of this young country. The Young Farmers’ Club was a movement that would be a tremendous power for good in the district and right throughout the country. GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS. After being applauded for stating that New Zealand wanted to be governed by New Zealanders, Mr Irving went on to deal with appointments made by the Labour Government. Some of those made during the past three years were a disgrace and were unfair to the Government, the Labou l " organisation and the people of the country. Mistakes might have hemmade in the past, but no one coul" 1 nm'nt a finger at any man he could think of and say he was inefficient. I* might he said that his pension was to" large or his salary too big, but not that he vma inefficient. Mr Irving criticised two of the Governments anpointments to the directornf Reserve Bank and said that neither of them had any suitable trammg for the job. All Government noshould be publiclv advertised. That had been the case when Professo r Shellv became Director of the National Broadcasting Service, but when it cam? to the post of Director of Commercial Broadcasting, the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, a close friend of Mr Savage’s had got the job. He fully appreciated the work of Mr Scrimgeour and believed there was room in New Zealand for such a man and his work. “When ffie election is over and we are in pow- ' er.” Mr .Irving remarked. 1-u* the r" ' mainder of his sentence was lost in a round of ironical cheers' from a smal 1 section of the audience. “We do not want foreigners runnin" our country,” he added, “and we do no* want immigrants either. We want New Zealanders.” (Applause). LABOUR AND INSULATION. Insulation was something that th' Government talked about but told them nothing about. Labour’ could not oxplain insulation because there wa c no such thing. Some Labour members practised insulation during the war years and were dragged from tlr bosom of their families and thrown into gaol. A section of the audience objected to the latter remark and when Mr Irving proceeded to read a Press ■ clipping he was told to read something • out of the “Standard,” the Labour paper. He told the interjector: “The National Party will w*i the election or . the stuff printed in.the ‘Standard.’” If New Zealand was to insulate itself against any future depression the first thing to do was to reduce the country’s liabilities, spend on the assets. of productive works and not entertain any further long-dated commitments. The Government had no plan and its insulation scheme existed only in the imagination of Labour members. No effort had been made by the Government to reduce its liabilities. It was spending as it had never spent before. All State money came out of the pockets of the people of the country. In two years taxation revenue had increased by £ll millions. BROKEN PROMISES. Having dealt with social security and guaranteed prices as reported in an- i other column. Mr Irving went on to declare that Labour had broken its promises. The present state of the country had been brought about by more prosperous times and not as the result of any action by Labour. The National Party viewed with concern the declining birth-rate and the young people would have to get behind the National Party for their own protection. The young had to be taught that they owed something to the State and not that the State owed something toj them. Mr Irving concluded his address by referring to points in the policy of the National Party and stating that he stood for liberty and freedom. He was applauded for nearly two minutes when he sat down. He answered a number of questions and said he was opposed to compulsory military training. The Nationalists objected to the principle of the people being taxed for something that they could not receive any benefit from. Up to the time Labour came into office, as much was done for the. returned soldiers as had been done in any country in the world. During Labour’s term there had been a greater recognition of the services of the soldiers. What Labour had done the Nationalists would carry on. The National Party was not opposed to unions but to compulsory unionism. The Nationalists would not cut pensions. would not reduce the salaries of Civil Servants and would leave the wages of workers to a free and unobstructed Arbitration Court. If they found they could not keep the promises they made they would go to the country for a fresh election. In cases where oil or minerals were found on private property or Native lands, the National Party would give to the owner of the land half of what the Crown received. Young New Zealanders would be encouraged to own their own homes.