PROUD RECORD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1938, Page 13

PROUD RECORD.

FIRST THREE YEARS.

LABOUR MANIFESTO.

EVERY PLEDGE KEPT."

PROSPERITY IN DOMINION.

' I lie issue is essentially one of prin- . .|.I. •—•whether the future policy of the I •■■minion is to promote the welfare «r." li|r " r "!'• interests „f the few," m'>- 'lie Goverlllllolll in its election M.niiic>to. "For the first time the dec|..i- h.-i \.■ .in opportunity of judging tile i. ii \ merits of the two opp.KMiis on the hu*i* of thcil record is •' I'om1 'om i iiincnt. I lie Labour partv i■on !ii I i'ii t (lull mi overwhelming ma jorny ..I the people desire to see the policy •iln-li they ciulorsed at the la-t eleclion I'oiitinued and developed rather linn: face the po-*ibilitv of a reversion to the disastrous conditions that prev.rlcil during the administration ( if the ( .i i lit ion i iovernment. "'•lectoirt should not be misled into licliev ing that the present National party i< .i new party with new principles and new ideaw. It is tor all practical purpuscs the same party composed of the smmo men with the' same leaders and tin' same outlook a* the party which Has responsible for the Government of the Dominion during the years l»31-3o. I heir present policy contains no ■icstion that their social conception has undergone any significant change, or that they would act in the future, if fared again with similar circumstances, any differently from the way they have acted in the past. Since 19.15 the people li.ne had an opportunity of assessing, in terms of practical results, the alterative policy which Labour offers them. Achievement* are a better test than promises. "Kvery pledge which the < !oveminent made to the electors in its lust election manifesto has been fulfilled in its entirety. Its record in this respect is one of which it may feel justly proud. The immense improvement in the standard of living of the people, and the general prosperity now prevailing, due allowance being made for the recovery in export prices, is the best testimony of the soundness of the Government's policy and the efficiency of its admiuisl ration. Wagea, Incomes, Profits. ' Real wages have risen lO.li per cent. Aggregate annual wages and salary payments have increased from £65,700/X)0 in 1934-5 to over £100,000,000. Income other than salary and wages increased during the first 12 months of Labour's administration by no less than £13,000,000. "Fanners' Incomes Tiave shown a similar remarkable improvement. Gross farm income in June, 1035, was £46,000,000. Two years later it had risen to £72,000,000. The improvement was csjiecially marked in the case of the small farmer wliose income rose front an average of £102 in 1935 to £295 in 1037." This increased purchasing power, combined with tho (Jovernment's policy of ensuring a decent standard of living, is stated to have increased the value of factory production by 20.2 per cent since 1935. The number of factory employees rose from 94.000 for the year ending March, 1935. to 124,000 in 1938. Increased protits earned during 1930 and 11»37 by 50 leading New Zealand companies' representative of all types of business enterprise, amounted to £1.500,000 —an increase of 30 per cent of the total profits earned by them in 1935. During the same period reserves increased by over £1,000,000. Tho number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank increased between 1935 and 1038 by 103,000. The total amount to the credit of depositors has increased by £14,000,000. The average amount |>er depositor has risen from £00 9/ to £08 12/. Homes and Marriages. "In no sphere has the Gove'rnment's policy hud a greater and more beneficial influence than in the home," continues tho manifesto. "For the first time for many years tho possibility of a home instead of u room became a reality to many people. The marriage rate in 1937 was, with the exception of 1920, Uie highest yet recorded. The birth rate has also gone up. Decent wages, more marriages, more births inevitably meaii mure business. The Government's policy has therefore been directed towards stimulating building activity with a view to providing houses as quickly a« tho available labour will permit. The number of building permits (including houses erected under the State housing scheme) has risen from 4911 for 1935-0 to 0789 for 1937-8. The value of all building operations for 1937-8 comes to over £10,000,000 —an increase of 182 per cent, on the 1934-5 figure. I'nder the State housing scheme, land has been procured in over 100 towns; tenders have been called for 5025 houses; 1430 of these have been actually completed; more than 5100 men are engaged on housing schemes.

"Homes are not possible without houses. The Government will continue to do nil that it can to enable mothers and father* to make homes and enjoy that measure of freedom and security which is now their*.''