POLITICAL POSITION

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 101, 31 May 1930, Page 6

POLITICAL POSITION

*MR W. E. BARNARD AT PAKOWHAI. PRE-SESS1QNAL ADDRESS. / Last niglit at the Pakowhai Hall, Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P. addressed an appreciative audience of electors, Mr Patrick presiding. Tlie speaker explained that this was the first of several pre-sessional addresses he proposed to deliver. Such meetings gave the electors an opportunity of meeting the member and j-eceiving an account of his stewardship. Mr Barnard referred to the peculiar political situation created by tlie last election and tlie attitude of the Labour Party towards saine, and eniphasised his helief in a Ministry which worked as a team rather than under the predominating influence of a Prime Minister. He explained the principal legislative acts of last session, mcluding Summer Time, Solicitors' Fidelity Guarantee. Land and Income Tax, etc. Ile explained the reason for the lastmentioned Act which compelled the big land owners to accept a sliare of national burden wliich_ hitherto, througli tlie elass legislation of Roform, tliey had been able to escape. Tlie Act was somewhat crude and required soine amendnient to make it definite. It was not satisfactory to leave so much i" doubt under the 'diardsliip clause." However, we now heard nothing of the ruin to the country which the Reform press had propliesied at inordinate length. On the subjec-t of additional primage duty, Mr Barnard explained that this had beeu taken off foodstuffs, groceries and fertilisers, as from Marcli 31 last, as a result of pressure from the Labour Party. The speaker expressed some doubt as to the capacity of Mr Forbes, as leader of a minority partv not of one mind, to steer tlie ship of State out of present troublous waters, but commended him for liis frankness in outlining to the country the position as he saw it. Thougli he had uot_ had time to exaniine the Prime Minister' s pronouncenieiit, several statements in it had an omiuous ring. The speaker urged that a great saving could be effected by discontinuing unnecessary railwavs in tlie north of the South Island, and declared strongly against any whittling down of tlie social services of New Zealand, some of which were in urgent need of extension. Specially was this so in regard to Widows' Pensions and Family Allowanctes. The position of the country was sefious and all parties should strive to improve it and not waste any time in mere party manoeuvilng. Tlie efforts of the State over a long series of years to gain an increasing share of social control of credit shotild be supplemented by the establishment of a State Bank which Labour alon6 urged. The importance to New Zealand farmers of a National Iniport Board. as proposed by the British Labour Government, was also explained. This would provide for our primary producers a seeurity and certainty of pi-ice which was wanting to-day. Unemployment legislation_ was forecasted, and the main provisions of the Report of the "Unemployment Committee were explained. The necessity for closer land settlement, especially in Hawke's Bay, was stressed.