POLITICS OVER THE AIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 225, 23 September 1938, Page 6

POLITICS OVER THE AIR.

The Primp Mini-tor stated on Friday that Tip was giving each political party a share of the broadcasting facilities until the election, adding that lip wa = going to reserve to himself thp right to intervene at any time if there was any suggestion of hitting below the belt. The most striking instance of hitting below thp belt that has so far disgraced the campaign is the series of regular Sunday evening broadcasts. nominally on religious and social topics. hut really political propaganda pure and simple. Furtlipnuorp, Labour claims that increased purchasing power has caused New Zealand industry to awake to life, whereas it is the improvement in the position of the primary industries, in spite of the handicaps imposed by legislation, that has increased the purchasing power, like it has always done. The claim is also made that, "following the election, unemployment fell with startling success." This is simply contrary to all the e\ idenee available. Long before the election employment had increased sufficiently t» enable the previous Government to reduce the emergency unemployment tax from a shilling to tenpence. and a few months later to eightpence. but since Labour came into power ft has not been reduced at all. On the contrary, there is good reason to believe that unemployment is now so bad that even the eightpence 110 longer covers the cost. The taxpayers are apparently also becoming responsible for further Tnillions bein-r spent to relieve unemployment. although these vast expenses will be charged to public works. The cart should no# be put before the horse, nor should misrepresentations be made regarding unemployment bein» solved, when apparently more than jever Is being spent on what is really [unemployment relief work. ELECTOR.