TWELVE POINTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 8, 22 October 1935, Page 3

TWELVE POINTS

VIGOROUS LABOUR ATTACK.

THE GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED.

(Pei- Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, October 21. In an address to. a large audience to-night, the leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage) made ‘ a vigorous attack upon the Government, and under the heading of “What the Coalition Government has Done,” summarised his remarks as follows: —

(1) It destroyed the foundation of trade and industry in New Zealand by reducing wages and pensions, the wage reductions commencing with the charwoman who clean out public buildings, and extending to all workers in andi out of the Public Service.

(2) It destroyed the usefulness of the conciliation and arbitration system as a means of settling industrial disputes and safeguarding wages and conditions in industry.

(3) It created an army of unemployed, ranging in number from 51,000 immediately alter the formation of the Coalition Government to more than 79,000 in 1933, the present number being well over 57,000.

(4) 'lt destroyed the Public Works policy of the Dominion, and discharged thousands of standard-rate workers, reemployiing them on relief rates of pay. (5) It destroyed apprenticeship contracts, and turned thousands of partlytrained apprentices into the street. (6) It weakened the education system of the Dominion, and excluded five-year-old children from the schools. (7) It destroyed the State Advances Department and substituted a semiprivately controlled Mortgage Corporation, which was presided over by the managing director of a" competitive private lending company. (8) It introduced a virtual dictatorship in primary industries by the passing of the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Act, and the appointment of the Executive Commission of Agriculture. (9) It instituted the equivalent of a receivership- in cases .of farmers who were in financial difficulties, by passing the Rural Mortgagors Final Adjustment Act, which provides for enforced budgetary conditions in the homes of the producers concerned. (10) 'lt discharged hundreds of men from the public services, and by legislation interfered with the superannuation rights of a large number of those who were dismissed.

(11) It failed to honour its obligations under the Superannuation Act, and postponed consideration of the difficulties arising therefrom until after the General Elections. (12) It extended the life of Parliament from three to four years without consulting the people, thus striking a blow at the foundation of constitutional government. A vote of thanks to Mr Savage and confidence in Mr J. Hodgens, tiie Labour candidate, was carried.