LABOUR'S CRITICISM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 248, 19 October 1928, Page 9

LABOUR'S CRITICISM.

MR. M. i. SAVAGE HITS OUT.

REFORM'S FINANCIAL

HUDDLES.

THE FIGHT FOR AUCKLAND WEST.

There was standing room only in the Britannia Theatre last evening, when Mr. M. J. Savage, Deputy-Leader of the Parliamentary Labour party opened his campaign for Auckland West. At the outset Mr. Savage said that although the election would be fought fair and square, he expected to receive some hard ln»<w»ir» and give them as well. It was his opinion that, despite the advent of a third party, the real battle would be between the Labour party and the Government. The latter had failed to live up to its 1025 election pledges.

The speaker went on to criticise Reform's finances. Instead of having kept the burden of debt down, the Coates Government, he said, had materially increased it. When the Government assumed office the national debt was £84,000,000. To-day it was £251,000,000. If the £81,000,000 borrowed for war purposes were deducted there was still an increase in the public debt of £86,000,000, or an average of £5,250,000 during the 16 years of Reform Govern* ment. Since the 1925 election the Coates Government had put £23,500,000 on to the public debt, or an average of about £8,000,000 a year. Sir Joseph Ward, the newly elected leader of the United party, had announced his policy, the principal item of which was to borrow £70,000,000 in eight to ten years. That was just what the Coates Government was doing all the time, so where was the difference! asked Mr. Savage. Taxation and Other Matters. Touching on taxation, Mr. Savage the Government had claimed to have reduced it. Such was not the caw, for figures went to show that for the seven years ending 1927, the aggregate taxation had increased from £16,250,000 to £17,500,000. The interest bill on loans outside New Zealand for the period 1921 to 1927 had amounted to £43,000,000, and for seven years, as far as credit was concerned, the Dominion was £25,000,000 to the bad.

Claiming that the Government had not fulfilled its promises, Mr. Savage said the payment of interest on post office savingß bank deposits of over £2000 had been stopped by the Minister of Finance. The result was that during the last financial year, the withdrawals had exceeded the deposits by £3,000,000. Yet during the same period the deposits had increased in private banks by some £5,000,000. There was no doubt about it, the Government of to-day represented the big financial institutions and interests, and it was simply on account of that fact that the State Advances Department could never become a serious competitor with private banking institutions. Generally speaking, it had been the Government's policy to play into the hands of financial people. Immigration and Labour's Policy.

Mr. Savage criticised the Government's immigration policy. He said it was unjust and unfair to send overseas prettily worded pamphlets which contained misleading and wrong information. Some of the conditions in the country beggared description. As a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board he knew what unemployment was causing in this city, aiid yet the Government told people overseas that the average working man with a family of three and an income of £7 10/ per week paid no income tax. It was also asserted that the immigration officials would see that the new arrivals were suitably housed and found employment. Such statements would be laughable if there was not the tragedy behind it all. It was the Labour party's policy to develop the primary and secondary industries, and thus endeavour to solve the unemployed problem. The land should be made available for those who wanted it, and should be more closely settled. It was not the intention of the Labour party to disturb the freehold, but if individuals monopolised the land then it was the Government's job to step in and procure it .or the people. His party proposed to extend the activities of the State Advances Act and the Public Trust, which latter was one of the finest institutions in the land. Labour's aim was to populate the country with people able to earn a living. Mr. Savage answered numerous questions and after speaking for nearlv three hours he was accorded a vote of thanks and renewed confidence.

INVERCARGILL.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S OPPONENT

(My Telegraph.—Press Association.)

TNVERCARGILL, Thursdav.

Mr. S. M. Macalister agreed, at th<-re<|He-t of a deputation to-day, to cor test the Tnvercargill seat at the forthcoming election. He will stand as »n Independent Reform candidate.

Mr. Robert Howell, who had ir, nounced himself as a candidate for thr Wallace seat in the Labour interests, has definitely retired from the contest.

DUNEDIN NORTH.

(By Telegraph—Tress Association.)

DLXEDIN, Thursdav.

Mr. Charles Robert Smith, deputechairman of the Co-operative Dairv Company of Otago, has been selected ag the United party's official candidate for Dunedin North.

KAIPARA.

(By Telegraph. -«»wn correspondent.» DARGAVILLE, this day. Mr. J. G. Barclay, Labour candidate for Kaipara, has returned from a tour which embraced the Tutamoe district. He addressed meetings at Kaihu, Donnelly's Crossing, and Waimatenui, and also the workers on the Waipoua forest road.

WAITOMO.

ißy Telegraph.—own Correspondent.)

TE KUITI, this day.

The United party's candidate for Waitomo, Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, has addressed meetings at Kopaki, Mangapeehi, Puke* mako, Poro-o-tarao, and Tapuwae. He received votes of confidence.

Mr. J. C. Rolleston, M.P., the Beform candidate, has spoken at Te Anga, Kinokahu, Taumatatotara, Stubbs' Junction, and Waitomo Caves, and various places in the Mokau district. He has been well received.