LABOUR'S PLAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 269, 13 November 1935, Page 10

LABOUR'S PLAN.

MINISTERS TWITTED.

MR. SAVAGE'S CHALLENGE,

NO NATIONAL INVITATION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) j TIMARU, Tuesday. An audience of 1000 greeted the leader of tlie Labour Party, Mr. M. J. Savage, when he spoke in the Theatre Royal to-night. Mr. Savage said it was a remarkable thing that Ministers of the Crown were so anxious to have even the most minute detail of liow Labour's plan was to be worked and what the consequences were to be, but at the same time they refused to provide statistical data which would allow details of the present system to be understood. Although Parliament was alleged to be in control of the finances of the Dominion, members of Parliament were expected to vote supplies annually and deal intelligently witli bills involving taxation without knowing details of the annual assessable income. Even the incomplete details which had once bfcen supplied had been further reduced in recent years on the pretence of economy, continued 'Mr. Savage. The most intimate details were required of the earnings of relief workers to prevent the unfortunate wage earner and his family getting more than a bare existence, but little or 110 information was available that would assist members in dealing intelligently with the incidence of taxation. Ministers were probably afraid that such information would 'show that the wealthy • were becoming still more wealthy while the multitude languished. • Statistical Reform. Figures showing who really got the benefit of the high rates of exchange would 110 doubt be. illuminating, Mr Savage said. If Labour were returned to power at the coming election the statistical department. would be placed on-i footing. that would enable legislators to understand more of the problems to be dealt with. Mr. Savage challenged the statement that Labour had been, invited to join a National Government arid that he had rejected the invitation. He said a written invitation was sent' to the Leader of the Opposition in 1931, but the .Leader of .the Opposition then was Mr. Coates, arid no invitation was extended to the Labour party, although it had three representatives on the Parliamentary Committee appointed to investigate the economic situation. The three groups represented on the committee were supposed to draw up reports after hearing evidence, but after a long delayan announcement was made that the Coalition had been formed. Mr. Savage challenged anyone to disprove the truth of this statement.