LABOUR'S PLEDGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 128, 2 June 1938, Page 18

LABOUR'S PLEDGES.

MINISTER'S REVIEW.

PROGRAMME CARRIED OUT.

ADDRESS AT TAURANGA. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TAURANGA, Wednesday. "Never in the history of this or any other country has a Government carried out its programme to the extent the present Government has done. With the wages bill of the Dominion increased by £40,000,000, with the greater income to the farmers through the guaranteed price, and with the increase in pensions, Labour has given a fairer distribution of the wealth that has come into the country. It has percolated into the homes of the people as a whole."

This was the summing up of the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, when he addressed an audience of over 500 in the Tauranga Town Hall to-night. In the course of a comprehensive address the Minister defended the guaranteed price scheme, and made reference to the compensated price proposals, of the National party. Mr. Fraser also made a comparison of minority votes under which past and present New Zealand Governments had entered office.

Dealing with the compensated price Mr. Fraser said the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, declined to define the term to which he was giving lip service.

Mr. Fraser said it would be foolish to say that the previous Government caused the depression, which had been brought about by the l-g!lapse of world prices. However, by failing to use the resources pf the country they had made conditions worse. Labour claimed that if the same depression was experienced while the present Onverniiipnt was in power suffering would not asrain take place. The fact that prices fell on the London market was no reason why poverty or, starvation phoulrl stalk through the streets of the Dominion.

No Claim and No Blame. It was claimed by the Government that the credit of thi» country could be utilised so that in return for honest labour every family in the country would be provided for. "We ;lo not claim that we are responsible for the high prices in London, any mora than we blame the previous Government for the low rates that previously ruled,' , Mr. Fraser paid.

"Mr. Hamilton, in adresses in Wellington and in the Waikato. has been flirting with the idea of a compensated price, but he has never explained what

he means by the term. Does he mean the same thing as Mr. Furniss and Colonel Closey ? If he does, let him come out four-square with these men instead of seeking refuge behind a term drawn up as an entrenchment. A little while ago in Invercargill Mr. Hamilton warned the farmers of the dangers of a compensated price, but to-day he does lip service to the term and refuses co say what he means."

Labour Achievements. Mr. Fraser referred to a changed education policy since the advent of the Labour Government, and'mentioned the work of replacing old and obsolete schools and of extending the school dental services. The Government believed tbat millions of pounds would be saved by giving attention to the teeth, diet and physical development of the children.

Minority Rule. Referring to the results of elections from 1912 to the present time, Mr. Fraser contended that no Government had been returned on a clear majority vote of the electors.

"We are told by our opponents that the present Government did not gain a majority of the votes polled at the last election," Mr. Fraser said. "That is quite true, but the Labour Government is not singular in that respect. Although the party polled a very substantial majority over its. strongest opponent, it is correct that, taking into consideration the votes given to the National party, the Democrats and the Independents. Labour would have to face a minority of about 50.000 votes."

However, that was nothing to the minorities upon which other Governments had been elected. It was a matter of historical accuracy that the Reform party, which was in power from 1912 to 1928, never had a majority of electors' votes during the whole period, while the United party, when it assumed office, was in a similar position. "Under our present system of election and representation, the Labour Government has the same right to carry on with a minority vote as other Governments did," Mr. Fraser added. "However, lam not going to claim that this is absolutely satisfactory, and Labour will come before the people in the expectation of a large majority in support of its policy of eure progress for the people." At the conclusion of Mr. Eraser's address a resolution of thanks and of confidence in Mr. Fraeer and the Government was carried unanimously.