THE GENERAL ELECTION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22519, 29 September 1938, Page 12

THE GENERAL ELECTION

“FIRST FIGHT ON PRINCIPLES”

Mr Grigg Opposes

Socialism

TWO HUNDRED ATTEND

MEETING AT HORORATA

A critical survey of the legislation of the Labour Government, which he charged with heading towards Socialism, was made by Mr A, N. Grigg, the National candidate for Mid-Canter-bury, at Hororata last night. Nearly 200 electors gave Mr Grigg a cordial reception when he began his address, which was uninterrupted except for three interjections.

“This election will be fought on principles,” said Mr Grigg. “It is probably the first to be fought on that ground. In the, past they fought on slight differences in policies or the errors and omissions of the Government.”

Explaining his late decision to contest the seat, Mr Grigg said he entered the political arena because he feared that tne country was going to be socialised. He would not have been a candidate if the Government was a genuine Labour Party. It was a Socialist Party and he thought New Zealand did not want Socialism, not yet at any rate. It was obvious that if the Labour Party remained in power New Zealand would be socialised and become like any one of the three countries he had in mind—Russia, Germany or Italy. The word “Socialism” had not been used in its correct sense during the last 12 months, before which the Hon. P. C. Webb, the Hon. H. T, Armstrong, and the Hon. R. Semple made statements avowing that they were Socialists. Mr J- A. Lee’# Book Then Mr J, A. Lee had written a book, “Socialism in New Zealand, which he had not expected to reach the Dominion until after the election. However, advance copies had reached the Dominion. Mr Lee wrote: New Zealand, during the next lew years, should tell to what extent the State can speed towards Socialism, along the Democratic road, for speed to Socialism we will.” Further on, he wrote. “It is a matter of interest to see whether or not Socialism can be established by Democratic methods, because if it cannot be established by Democratic methods, it will be established from above.” Mr Lee meant, in other Words, by dictatorial methods. The Labour Party contained a great many Communists, some of which were.holding leading positions. The chairman of the Federation of Labour was and is a Communist. It was not much good Labour saying it would have nothing to do with Communists. Social service and Socialism should not be confused. All the white-washing could not hide the Socialism of the Labour P “You have to pay for everything you get in a socialised state, ’ said Mr Grigg. Mr Savage pretended that he could give all sorts of things; but he said the other day that money could not be got out of the atmosphere Mr Grigg suggested that the Prime Minister should get the money from the atmosphere in preference to using the printing machine and causing inflation, a danger for any country. Ministerial Authority Labour had taken control of the money system, as the first and most important step in the beginning of socialisation. and the Minister for Fmance was given power to instruct the directors on policy. What chance had the country of getting a stable money system when the bank was controlled by one man? Having obtained control of money, Labour next passed the Transport Licensing Act, and so obtained a hold on industry. Extensive powers were given the Minister for Transport. Justice could not be expected when it was in the hands of one man. In the ordinary course of affairs, the British people had always had the right of appeal to a court of justice, but the Transport Licensing Act, the Industrial Efficiency Act, and the Internal Marketing Act gave the Minister the supreme and final authority. A case of ministerial dictatorship was the taking over by the Hon. R. Semple of a transport business started by a young man in Auckland and valued at between £BOOO and £IO,OOO. He was first offered £llOO for it, and was compelled to sell for £I9OO. That had happened in hundreds of cases. Another “instance of justice” was the allocation by the Prime Minister of broadcasting facilities for the election Labour had 10 broadcasts, and National six. In effect, it means that a man who was beaten in a race had to give a start to the winner in the next race. That was the sort of treatment they were going to get. A man: Why don’t you quote facts. Mr Grigg? “What about the newspapers?” asked another. The candidate; That is a fact.

“Juggling with Figures”

The failure of the Minister for Marketing to accept the report of the committee on guaranteed prices, after expressing confidence in its ability, was criticised by Mr Grigg. If Mr Nash had accepted the committee’s recommendation, he would have had' to admit that the Government’s legislation had caused a rise in costs; he had raised the basis of butter-fat production from 2401 b a cow to 2501 b and juggled with other figures. Housing became a problem during the depression, but when Labour entered office the building Industry was improving as the result Of one piece of Coalition legislation, the building subsidy. Costs and taxation had risen so high that many of the sawmills had closed down and house building was checked. The Government’s announcement of houses to cost £6OO gave the industry another cheek.’However, the cost of the rents of the State houses had almost doubled. If a man of 25 occupied a State house and rented it till he retired on superannuation at the age of 65, he would pay £3320 and yet not have one penny equity in the property. In 1927, 7000 building permits were issued in New Zealand, while the best that Labour could show was 4800; and, under Labour, each flat in a building required a permit. He felt he was safe in saying that the housing scheme of the socialistic Government had not been, a success and had not stood up to the same test given private enterprise in the past and as it would have • been If it had been encouraged. Sections Antagonised The Social Security Bill was the best indication of the incompetence of the Labour Government. The act would not .attract the votes Labour hoped. The principle was excellent, taut a scheme which Was feasible was wanted. No reasonable person could expect the income of the country to advance in the next 40 years as it had in the past. The bill compelled contributions from persons who would never benefit. Every decent firm in New Zealand had some superannuation scheme, and all were good; while those persons who belonged to lodges or had insured themselves were being forced to contribute. The scheme would sound the death knell of the friendly societies. , The Government had antagonised the doctors, the friendly socieities, and the men working for firms

MB BODKIN AT DUNEDIN

INTERRUPTERS EJECTED

BY POLICE

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN

NATIONAL PARTY

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

DUNEDIN, September 28. Mr W A. Bodkin, the National candidate for Central Otago, addressed an audience of about 2000 in the Town Hall this evening, and won a noisy duel with organised opposition of several hundred. Police intervention was necessary frequently and numerous interrupters were ejected. About halfway through the meeting about 200 left in a body, leaving the speaker to claim that one man had routed the forces of Socialism. , Mr Bodkin attacked Mr Savage and the Cabinet for their sudden. retreat from Socialism for election purposes, quoting Ministerial utterances to emphasise the quondam abandonment or unabashed Socialism. He dealt seriatim with the principal National objections and amendments to the social security legislation, and outlined the National Party’s policy of progressive land settlement as a means to the absorption of 60,000 men now on public works, whose employment by industry had been rendered impossible by Socialist legislation. . In spite of organised opposition, a vote of confidence in the National Party was carried with a deafening majority.

MR SAVAGE AT DUNEDIN

CROWD GATHERS AT

STATION

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION

(raicss isaociETiox ima»iß.)

DUNEDIN, September 28. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M J Savage) arrived at Dunedin by express this afternoon, accompanied by the Minister for Mines (the Hon. C. Webb). As the tram drew in there was a crowd of several hundreds on the station, and Mr Savage and Mr Webb alighted from, the Ministerial car to the accompaniment of loud cheers, and the strains of jhe Bluebells of Scotland, played by the Forbury School band, which m its kilted uniform gave the Ministers a characteristic welcome to the Scottish city of New Zealand. The Prime Minister and Mi Webb were welcomed by the Deputy-Mayor (Cr. Cameron) and by members of the civic committee of the City Council, as well as local members of Parliament and local officials of the Labour movement. . Cr. Cameron apologised foi the unavoidable absence of the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), and called for three cheers for the Prime Minister and Mr Webb, which were given with enthusiasm. After a liberal round of handshakes the Ministerial cars moved off behind the band, which led the procession with a vigorous rendering of the wartime song, “Keep the Home Fires Burning.” and all the way to the Grand Hotel a crowd of ardent supporters surrounded Mr Savage’s car. At the Grand Hotel, another crowd gathered, and as Mr Savage and Mr Webb stepped out of their car amidst cheers and cries of “Good old Mick,’ there was such a press as almost to prevent them from reaching the door “Ladies and gentlemen,” said Mr Savage, pausing on the steps, “I thank vou sincerely for the reception you have given me. and I want to assure you again, if assurance is necessary that you have not backed the wrong horse.” Mr Savage and Mr Webb were guests of honour at a Labour Party social tonight in the Pioneer Hall, which was presided over by the chairman of the Otago Labour Representation Committee. Mr P. G. Connolly. The Ministers were given an enthusiastic reception. address to women HON. D. G. SULLIVAN SPEAKS AT NORTH BEACH More than 120 women attended a meeting in the Memorial Hall, North Beach, yesterday afternoon, to hear an address by the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Labour candidate for Avon. Mrs R. J. Potter was in the chair, and introduced the candidate. The Mayor of New Brighton (Mr E. L. Smith), paid a tribute to the ever-ready willingness of Mr Sullivan to assist the borough at any time, although as a Minister he was not able to visit it as frequently as in the past. A vote of thanks and confidence was moved by Mrs Potter, seconded by Mrs S. E. Dwight, and carried unanimously. The committee and Mr and Mrs Sullivan were entertained to afternoon tea by Mr and Mrs R. M. B. Brownrjgg.

which had superannuation funds, and the scheme deserved to be rejected by the electors. (Applause.)’ Taxation increases were criticised by Mr Grigg. Within two years taxation increased by £6 15s 6d a bead of population. Labour claimed that it was following Seddon. Under Seddon taxation increased by Is 8d a head per annum; under Savage the increase was £3 7s 9d. Costs had also risen. A man; And so have wages. Mr Grigg; And the cost of living has increased to such an extent that it wiped out - the wage increase. “You’re telling me,” commented a man. Mr Grigg said he could give his own experience. He had taken to. an Ashburton shop a list of goods which had cost 11s 2d in 1936. The cost today was 15s 4d, representing a rise of 37 per cent. Need for Defence Excepting the air arm. the Government had done nothing to defend the country. . High Officers in the last war assured him he would be horified if he knew the state of New Zealand’s defences. The reorganisation of the abandoned regiments would be undertaken by the National Party, which would mob»iise all the resources in the event of war. That would do away with war profiteers. A voice; Why didn't you do that last time?

Mr Grigg said that .while he was advocating decreased State expenditure, spending on defence was another thing. Australia planned to spend £43,000.000 over a period of years to strengthen its defences, and New Zealand. on the same basis, should spend £8,000,000. However, the Estimates contained a paltry £1.000.000. and it was doubtful if that sum would be spent. The country needed a Government which would deal adequately with defence.

The policy of the National Party was explained fully by Mr Grigg, who was applauded at the conclusion of his address. A number of questions were answered. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. Mr W. Oliver was the chairman.

(Extended report, published by arrangement.)

LABOUR PARTY’S POLICY

COMMENT BY MR R. M.

ALGIE

“ END OF REPRESENTATIVE

GOVERNMENT ”

The immediate effect of Socialism in every modern State which had adopted it was the abolition of representative democratic government, said Mr R. M. Algie, organiser of the Auckland Provincial Freedom Association, during an address in the Riccarton Town Hail yesterday afternoon. Mr Algie quoted the experience of Russia, Germany, and Italy, and declared that the statements of members of the New Zealand Government, both written and spoken, indicated clearly that Socialism was the objective of the Labour Party. Mr Algie was given an enthusiastic reception by an audience of more than 250. So large an attendance at an afternoon meeting, he said, indicated the exceptionally keen and sane interest the people were now taking in politics. ~ , Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., presided, and his resolution conveying a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker was carried with warm acclamation. Mr Algie said that since he began to speak on the broad principle of freedom, he had covered a great deal of New Zealand, and he found that everyone was seriously attempting to get down to fundamentals. The issue at the coming election was fundamental, as it was nothing more or less than the issue of freedom. “Ministers of the Crown keep telling us that this is not the issue,” said Mr Algie. “They insist that New Zealand is freer to-day than it has ever been before, and that nothing the Government has done has tended to take away freedom. If that were true, there would be no need for me to be talking of freedom, and you would not consider it necessary to come to hear me. ' „

“I have never known of any Government in office to be so completely on the run. The whole Ministry is id obviously in a state of frenzy. If this Government has done as much as it says it has, why_ is it necessary to devote so much time to the criticism of its predecessors? If it had done any good, that good would cry out aloud. Have you ever heard of so many Min-, isters dashing about to all parts of the country? In Waimqte, for instance, they have had every Minister of the Crown there except Mr Nash, and he js coming next week. I would put this down to absolute frenzy and panic.’' Social Security Booklet The Social Security booklet, which had been recently issued, said Mr Algie, had been Issued bearing the Royal Arms and the imprint of the Government Printer. It was therefore published at the public expense, but it was nothing more than a piece of propaganda for the Labour Party. That was not right politically, and neither was the use of the State broadcasting services for propaganda. It was quite incorrect for the Government to claim that the issue at the coming election was not Socialism. Ministers and other members of .the party had consistently said it was, and consistently described themselves as Socialists. Mr J. A. Lee, in a book he recently published, had set out the Socialistic objective of the party in a way which by comparison made the utterances of the Prime Minister on the subject simply a weighty cloud of obscurity. Mr Lee must be admired for his directness when he stated in his book that he believed that there was no alternative to Socialism in New Zealand. New' Zealand was now on the high road to Socialism, Mr Lee said, and unless the country continued to build Socialism, it would lie in ruins. “The opinion of Mr Lee counts-for the very simple reason that, he just missed Cabinet rank, and in fagt controls a department as powerful and influential as if it were a Ministry of its own,” said Mr Algie. “We know that he is the leader of the left wing of the Labour Party, and that if necessary, the mantle of leadership of the whole party might fall on his shoulders. Mr Lee says plainly that there is no alternative to Socialism, yet the Prime Minister goes about saying that the issue is the guaranteed jprice and social security. The issue is dominantly what you will be asked to pay for the benefits being offered you. The price is the forfeiture of democracy and the establishment of the complete Socialistic State.”

After quoting figures to show the rise of taxation in recent years, Mr Algie said that it was certain * that there would be further increases next year to pay for the expanded expenditure on public works and the social security scheme. The Labour Party claimed that there had been no increase in taxation, but in the first Budget presented by Mr Nash, there had been provision for the increase of income and land tax to provide for another £ 1,800,000. Anyone who paid income tax or land tax would know that the claim that taxes had not been increased was untrue. Taxes came from the earnings of companies, and from the wages and salaries- of private individuals. Under a Socialistic State, where private industries were crushed out of existence, taxes would have to come from the profits of State undertakings, and from salaries and wages. But as State undertakings were not necessarily required to make profits, the weight of taxation would fall on salaries and wages. A New Philosophy “Mr Lee realises that the point is terribly serious,” Said Mr Algip. “In his book, he gives a piece of tabloid medicine that the trade unionists will not swallow. He says that the trade unionists must adopt a new philosophy in the Socialist State. Obstruction was all right when it was used against a capitalist employer, but when the State was the employer, a new- point of view would be required from the trade unions, and they would have to realise that they were responsible through their unions to the State for the increase of production. “That is simply the Soviet system,” said Mr Algie. “The reaction of unionists is not what Mr Lee hopes it will be. I know many trade unionists who rightly regard their union as simply more or less a guild through which they can bargain collectively. They realise that once their union becomes an instrument to speed up production for the Government, it becomes nothing less than Communistic, and an instrument of the Goverment.” The Prime Minister and members of

HON. D- G. SULLIVAN SPEAK* AT RICHMOND The Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) addressed s well-attended meeting in the Assembly Hall at Richmond last night. Mr j. Cox presided and Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., was also on the platform. After comparing the depression conditions with the present day prosperity, Mr Sullivan claimed that the policy of the previous Government proved an insane economic theory that plunged New Zealand into the depths of despair, and as a consequence New Zealand suffered more than any other, country. Labour’s policy had : increased purchasing powei by placing it in the hands of the masses, the only way to stimulate industry and trade. The suggestion that prices had increased more than the increase in wages was held to be absurd. A motion of confidence in Mr Sullivan as member for Avon, and of thanks to the Government was passed with acclamation. MR T. H. M’COMBS’S * . MEETING About 100 electors attended a meeting in the Opawa Methodist Schoolroom last evening, at which Mr T. H. McCombs, Labour candidate for Lyttelton, gave an address. Mr C. E. Baldwin presided. After he had answered some questions, Mr McCombs was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and of continued confidence. MR H. S. S. KYLE AT GREENPARK Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., addressed a largely-attended meeting at Greenpark on Tuesday evening, and was given an enthusiastic bearing. The chairman was Mr G. Lassen, and a vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation, was moved by Mr H. Kimber and seconded by Mr J. Stalker. the Ministry had said many times that there was no intentioh of taking over the control of the banking system, but here, again, Mr Lee in his book mads the issue plain. He said that it was necessary to socialise the whole banking system, or the country would be Socialist in name only. Actually, the Reserve Bank Amendment Act, the first act passed by the Labour Government, gave the Minister for Finance control of the -Reserve Bank, and any extension of banking control must therefore extend to the private banks. The Socialist Party in Britain - had recently published its ideas oh, what should be done to establish the Socialist State. The first point was the control of banking, which had already come in New Zealand; the second was to socialise industries, a step that was in New Zealand already provided for iji the industrial efficiency legislation; and third, so to change the basis of Parliamentary power as to shift that power from Parliament to the Cabinet. Sir Stafford Cripps. a brilliant lawyer and ■ a Socialist by conviction, added a fourth proviso, and that was the passing of an Emergency Powers Act that would ensure that anything done by the Cabinet could not be reviewed by the law courts. (Other General Election news imprinted on page 15.)