LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Independent Groups. Speaking in Masterton on Saturday night, Mrs J. A. Lee, organiser of the Democratic Soldier Labour Party, said that Independent Group candidates were against the party system. What was the difference, she asked, between a group and a party? A voice: “There is no difference.” Mrs Lee said that if a number of Independents were returned there would be bedlam when it came to divisions in the House.

Candidates and Pledges. Addressing the electors at Bideford on Saturday Captain Justin Power, Independent candidate for Masterton, stated that the National candidate had publicly denied having signed a candidate’s pledge. Captain Power said all he could say was that the National Party evidently did not think its candidate had a chance and had not bothered to sign the Masterton candidate up in the same way as it had done in all other electorate's. Rivers in High Flood.

The Buller and Orawaiti Rivers have been in high flood during the past few days as the result of heavy rain and it was thought at one stage that there might be flooding in Westport, but nothing of the kind has happened and it is believed the worst of the storm is over. The railcar did not arrive at Westport from Greymouth yesterday because of a washout near Ikamatua and a subsidence at Rahai, but it is hoped to repair the latter and to have the trains today connecting on the other side of the Ikamatua washout. Shipping is at a standstill pending a reduction of the flood in the Buller River.

Manpower Question. A claim that agricultural and factory production had increased and that more workers were employed on farms and in industries than before the war was made by the Minister of Manpower, Mr McLagan, in an address at Christchurch on Saturday. He said allegations of a manpower muddle were dishonest and misleading. Mr McLagan said factory production had increased from £114,400,000 in the year before the war to £155,500,000 in 1941-42, and the number of workers in factories had increased from 101,535 to 117,214. Agricultural and pastoral production in almost all commodities was above prewar figures and there were more than 8000 more male workers employed on farms than in the year before the war.

Farmers’ Position. Captain Justin Power, Independent candidate for the Masterton seat, when addressing the electors at Bideford on Saturday evening, said that it was almost beyond conception to realise that 95 per cent of New Zealand’s exportable wealth was produced by the farmers, and yet the country was controlled by a section of the community who knew little or nothing about farming, nor had it any conception of the difficulties under which the farmers were working at the present time. The candidate went on to say that the wealth from the land was being used to raise the standard of living of everyone except the farmer himself.

Air Force Concert Party. At an Aix- Force camp in the North Island a concert party has been formed, with Miss Mollie Iveson, of Masterton, as pianist. There are two or three Masterton girls in the party. Meeting at Kcpuaranga. A most enthusiastic meeting was held at Kopuaranga on Saturday night by Mi’ G. H. Mackley, National Party candidate for the Masterton seat. Mr C. C. Jackson presided. On the motion of Mi’ C. J. Knight, seconded by Mr S. J. Clark, the candidate was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks for his address. Townswomen’s Guild. At a recent meeting of the Masterton Townswomen’s Guild reference was made to the splendid work of women in patriotic activities throughout the Dominion, and members of the guild were urged to support the Mayoress, Mrs T. Jordan, in her appeal for funds to make up the district patriotic quota. Miss Elliott gave a report on the work of the International Red Cross. Gaol for Car Conversion. C. L. Whitham and E. T. Lancaster, soldiers, appeared before Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., at the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court to answer a charge of the unlawful conversion of a Morris 8 car valued at £l6O, the property of R. C. Bint, on September 15. After having heard the evidence the Magistrate sentenced Whitham to 12 months’ imprisonment. The case against Lancaster was dismissed. Hutt Dog Show. Several notable successes were gained by Masterton exhibitors at the Hutt Dog Show on Saturday. Mr S. D. 1 Geary .with Stamford’s Stallion, won ’ six firsts, the prizes for the best pointer 1 and the challenge contest, and the best ' in show; Mr H. Stimpson, with Siam- . ford’s Stalwart (pointer), won two firsts, second N.Z.-bred, second open, ‘ third puppy stake; Mr R. Dean, Abe of ( Karamu (cocker spaniel puppy), won < two firsts; Miss M. McEwen, Essex Grand Finale (black cocker spaniel), t first open bitch, best black cocker spaniel and challenge; . Miss M. McEwen, Wainoni of Wychbury, first and second v puppy under 12 months and junior; Mr F R. A. Taylor, Ngaio Nui Dougal (Scot- ’ tish terrier), first ,and Ard Coille Bunty, first and second. c a

Principle of Unionism. “Do you believe in unionism?” was a question put to Aircraftman D. A. Thompson, Democratic Labour candidate for the Masterton seat, at a recent meeting. “Most certainly,” the candidate replied. “Unionism is based on the principle of free assembly, and as such is the inalienable right of the worker. I believe that the principle of unionism should be extended to cover the entire community. Various organisations which would be insulted if you . called them unions are in reality nothing else. That there are abuses, that I union fees are exorbitant, that there is j no justice in one worker having to hold < three or four tickets in order to work 1 for a living is apparent, but surely the : cure is in the hands of the workers s themselves. If unions are based on de- 1 mocratic principles, there should be no I fear of exploitation. My party would 1 see that unions are so constitutionally < constructed as to express the true will I of the members.” I