LABOUR’S RECORD IN OFFICE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22418, 3 June 1938, Page 7

LABOUR’S RECORD IN OFFICE

ADDRESS BY MINISTER FOR EDUCATION “ DEPRESSION INTENSIFIED BY LAST GOVERNMENT” (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) TAURANGA, June 2.' • The Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) addressed a public meeting at the Town Hall last night. The audience numbered about 500, and a cordial reception was given to the Minister. Mr Fraser dealt .at length with Labour’s promises and what had been accomplished. "It was impossible, in the time available, to do all that was desired, he said, but given an opportunity the Government would implement the whole of the policy. It had been asserted that Labour had a minority vote' of. the electors, said Mr. Fraser. Although that was true, it was also true of the Governments since 1912. Yet all had carried, on. When the- people understood the' issue at the next election, they would rOt hesitate to give Labour a substantial majority. The Minister said that he would not attack the press, as it invariably didwhat he expected—attacked Labour. He did not blame the editors and leader writers, who were paid to do as directed. An examination of the share lists of the larger papers would reveal that the shareholders were interested in other concerns affected by Labour's policy. The violence ofthe leading articles and the use of headlines from now till the election would surprise. even the most hardened. Dealing with the Hon. Adam Hamilton’s assertion that, the Opposition ' would abolish compulsory unionism,the Minister said that this would mean to the workers the loss of their present improved conditions. Sweating, particularly of women and children, would again be rampant.. Source of Money It had to be remembered, said the Minister, that Labour could not wave its arms and bring money down from the clouds. It could only come from the country’s production. Labour had no desire to interfere with legitimate private enterprise. Every industryassisted under the Industrial Efficiency Act had been'at the request of the industry itself. The Minister detailed the social . legislation enacted. He said mat he did not blame the last Government for the depression, but for intensifying it. Labour had given a fairer distribution of the wealth of the country instead of allowing it to remain in a comparatively few hands. Referring particularly to education, the Minister said that the sum of £IBO,OOO had been granted for new buildings, but the demand for improvements was still acute. Replying to a question, he said that a new salary scale for-teachers would require much consideration. It would involve an enormous sum. The Government had to consider whether the money was available and whether a major seals could be adopted this year or whether something less would be done. A vote of thanks and confidence in the Government was carried without dissent.