UNDER LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 228, 27 September 1938, Page 13

UNDER LABOUR.

HAPPIER DOMINION.

MR. A. G. OSBORNE'S REVIEW.

"BRIGHT STAR IN HEAVENS."

A picture of a bright, prosperous and happy New Zealand under the Labour regime, contrasted with drabness and sorrow under the Coalition Government, was painted last night by Mr. A. G. Osborne, Labour candidate for Onehunga, when addressing an enthusiastic audience at the Foresters' Hall, Onehunga. It was the commencement of Mr. Osborne's campaign, and the building was packed. Noticeable was the almost complete lack of interjections, and at the conclusion there was a meagre response to the request made by the chairman, Mr. A. Garside, Mayor of Onehunga, for questions.

At the outset Mr. Osl>orne made an earnest appeal for fair treatment for all candidates during the campaign. As far as he was concerned, he said, the contest would be based upon the achievements of the Labour Government, and not upon personal issues. In fact, he hoped it would not be necessary for him to refer to his opponent at all. He appealed for the same courteous and uninterrupted hearing for his opponent as he felt some of the Nationalists would give him. (Applause).

During the time that the National party occupied the Treasury benches there had been four years of sorrow in New Zealand, said Mr. Osborne. In 1935 the Labour Government brought in a legislative programme that contained the ethics of Christianity and he was .proud of the fine record. The legislative programme of the past three years stood out in bright relief compared with the drabness of the four years preceding. Twelve Major Points. The Labour Government's record stood out as a bright star in the heavens compared with the record of past Governments. Twelve major points had been promised, and it was to the credit of the party that every point had been written into the laws of the country. When the social security legislation came into force next year every promise made would have been carried out.

Mr. Osborne indicated criticisms in advertisements in Wellington that the Labour party was Communistic. "It is ridiculous," he said. "We do not admit Communists to the party. But go to the National party office, plank down your half-crown and you are a member; no questions asked! And that is how the Communists get into the National party." (Laughter and applause). Another canard was that Labour was going to "pinch" the farmers' land, said Mr. Osborne. He asserted that to-day the farmers had a greater degree of security of tenure than ever before. Over £4,000,000 had been written off their indebtedness to enable them to carry on through difficult times. It had even been asserted that Labour was going to do away with the right of inheritance. This was, he stated, more ridiculous still, and was the sort of whispering campaign adopted by ladies of the National party in their journeyings round the country. The speaker reminded the audience of assertions that the Labour party would rob the people of their savings. The people were, he stated, more prosperous individually than ever before. The Government had devoted its energies to building thousands of homes for people who had been deprived of their homes during the regime of the Coalition. The promise of the National party to allow the people to own their own homes came badly from a party that had taken those homes away. A Voice: Are you giving any furniture away? (Laughter). Mr. Osbornet I am looking forward to telling you about that later.

Ownership of Homes. In four years the Coalition Government had allowed 703 applications for new homes; in two years the Labour Government had granted 2425 applications, said Mr. Osborne amidst applause. It was possible to borrow up to 95 per cent for building—rented homes were- provided for those who found such homes most convenient. "One hundred pounds for furniture for the newly weds " The reference brought a, ripple of laughter. "Oh no, you're ahead of me," said Mr. Osborne as an interjector rose to mention the "instalment plan." "We have not heard yet what the rate of interest will be, but when a couple says 'I will' they will be in debt for the rest of their lives." The Labour party's policy had brought prosperity and security, said Mr. Osborne. He did not deny that there had been a rise in costs; that was inevitable. But the Government Statistician's figures showed that people were better off by 11 per cent. However, it did not require this figure to prove the extent to which all classes of the people had ' been rehabilitated. Increased spending power had made a most valuable contribution to prosperity. Certainly overseas prices had played their part, but the more equitable method of distributing this wealth had been the paramount feature in the new born prosperity. Yet, he added, in spite of these facts the Leader of the Opposition was going about the country like a prophet of doom.

Quoting official figures, Mr. Osborne said that since 1935 there had been an increase of £10,000,000 in deposits; at Onehunga post office the deposits had increased from £21,166 to £35,000 and the withdrawals were only £1000 higher than in 1935. The speaker went oh to refer to increases in broadcasting licenses, motor car sales, totalisator turnover and number of apprentices and factory hands employed. He claimed that there were to-day only 10,000 unemployed on sustenance and of these 8000 were certified as medically unfit.

Public Work* Costa at length to the public works policy, Mr. Osborne claimed that though conditions were the best in the world, the labour costs Were lower than was the case under the Coalition.

The social security legislation was momentous, said Mr. Osborne. The spectre of poverty was removed; collective security was established. The cost of sickness Was spread more equitably. Like the principle of the friendly societies, by which the contributions of the healthy assisted those less fortunate, the full medical service would be. of a unified nature; there would not be one health scheme for the rieh and one for the poor; what was good enough for the richest ill the land was good enough for the poorest. Mr. Osborne was accorded a vote of thanks. A vote of confidence in himself and thq Labour Government was carried by acclamation.