REAL HARDSHIP.

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

REAL HARDSHIP.

IN MIDST OF PLENTY.

MR. PARRY OPENS CAMPAIGN.

CROWD FILLS TRADES HALL.

The Trades Hall was crowded last night, and dozens of people stood round the walls and at the entrance, to hear the opening address of Mr. W. E. Parry, Labour candidate for Auckland Central. There were no interruptions throughout his long, forceful speecli, and at the close a unanimous vote of confidence in Mr. Parry and tlie Labour party was carried on a show of hands. The deputy-Mayor, Mr. B. Martin, presided. Mr. Parry said that statistical evidence proved that there was real hardship in New Zealand. "There is more suffering and destitution in the Dominion than ever before," lie declared. "Peoplo are living in a state of poverty in the midst of plenty. The Government excuses itself by saying that the position is world-wide. No country has control of affairs outside its own territory, but it can control its internal affairs, and the best contribution that New Zealand can make towards solving the world's problems is to solve her own problems. That is what the Labour party on being returned to power -proposes to do." (Applause.) Mr. Parry said that the Government had allowed the people of New Zealand to be dragged down to the level o£ the living standards of other countries. It based its policy on the national income being determined by the fluctuating prices for goods exported overseas. The result had been that the Government had reduced the people's incomes to the level of prices ruling abroad. The policy had resulted in the national income falling from £170,000,000 to less than £100,000,000, and it had destroyed private equities in properties and small businesses throughout the Dominion. High Exchange Criticised. Criticising the Government's exchange policy, Mr. Parry said the' Government had established a blanket tax on the whole of New Zealand to enable the farmers to pay mortgages on their farms. The stock and station agents were in a good financial position, but the farmers were in an even worse? plight than before. "The'- productivity of New Zealand has almost doubled ill the last 15 years," continued Mr. Parry, "and yet the people are no better off than they were. There is something wrong in the State of Denmark." Mr. Parry also strongly criticised the creation of the Reserve Bank. "It was created to take over the accumulation of securities that had accrued, as the result of the 25 per cent ,exchange. Within three days of the opening of the bank, which had a capital of £500,000, a cheque for, £23,000,000 was "written." The policy of the Labour party was the control of the public credit, with guaranteed prices for the farmers' products. Minimum wages would be fixed upon the guaranteed price. Public works, particularly railway works that had been begun and left to rust after tlie expenditure of millions of the public's money, would be completed. This would give employment to thousands and would develop the country. A national system of superannuation to operate at o*o years of age would give workers security for their old age. After the vote of confidence had been carried, three cheers were given for the Labour party.