LABOUR’S AIM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 270, 27 August 1946, Page 4

LABOUR’S AIM

FIVE-YEAR DEVELOPMENT

ADDRESS BY REV. CLYDE CARR Nearly 300 residents attended at St. Andrew’s Hall last evening when the Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P., for Timaru, delivered an address on Labour’s five-year plan for postwar national development. The Mayor (Mr E. C. Bathurst) presided and* introduced the speakeK

■ Mr Carr pointed out that Labour’s aims were, inter alia, to raise the general standard of living and secure a more equitable distribution of wealth. It was not considered that some sections of the community should benefit at the expense of others, as occurred under capitalism, and it was held there should be equal opportunity for all. Labour would not adopt “hit or miss” methods, but were planning well ahead. Those with great wealth would have to pay much back by way of taxation, and the money so secured would be used for the general good by improved social services, pensions and so on. Depression could only be avoided by putting economic control into the Government’s hands. “It is no good going too far,” he added, “for we must not kill the goose which lays the golden egg.” Mr Carr stated that Labour’s plan embraced even such faraway places as the Cook Islands and Samoa. New Zealand’s great performances during the war indicated the possibilities in peace. If they could do it in war, they should still be able to do it in peacetime, when the need was even greater. “We fight to-day for construction and not destruction —it is difficult, but we go forward with confidence,” he stated. “Some Restrictions Inevitable” Mr Carr stated that, under such a plan, restrictions on some were inevitable, but these limitations were for the good of the majority. “It is a peoples’ plan like the great plans in Russia,” he stated. There was criticism because, of shortages in. certain goods, but those position was directly due to the war. Enough import, permits were available to bring in everything reqqufred, but the goods simply could not be obtained abroad. Other comments by Mr Carr included the following: “There are more houses in New Zealand per head of population to-day than before the war.” * “Building for war purposes would have provided IV towns the size of Ashburton.” “Private enterprise was never better off in New Zealand than it is torday.” . , “To protect our industries, import selection and control is the best method of all.” . “A new factory for making iullyfashioned stockings, costing £75,000, is being started at Auckland. Let s hope they aue not all pinched on their way south.” “Doctors and lawyers employed by Insurance companies are nothing more or less than harpies in many instß.llC6S. 5 7 1 “We would rather give the employer a vested interest in socialism than the worker a vested interest in capitalism.”

Questions Answered

Questions were invited at the close of the address.

“Is there any truth in the talk of an Inheritance Bill to prevent us passing on family property?” was the first asked. “Certainly not,” replied Mr Carr. “It is just a rotten dirty lie cooked up by the Opposition to mislead you.” Asked whether he had heard anything of a suggestion to start a State Advances branch in Ashburton, Mr Carr stated that it was the Government’s -policy to decentralise where possible. Ashburton was on the list, but how high up he could not say from memory.

Regarding the Invercargill Licensing Trust, Mr Carr said that he understood the schemfe was working very well, in spite of serious difficulties.in providing suitable buildings. If the system is to be extended to other parts, this would be . one of the recommendations by the Licensing Commission. “I am right against private control of liquor,” lie added. “Is there any provision in Labour’s plan for community centres?” was another question. Mr Carr, in reply, contended that such a project should be essentially a community effort, evolved and developed by the- actual people concerned. The Government, of course, would give till possible assistance, and had in view the establishment of such centres as war memorials.

On the motion of Mr lan Scott, seconded by Mr T. Casey, a vote of thanks to Mr Carr and of confidence in the Government in connection with its 10-year plan, was carried unanimously.