GOVERNMENT’S WORK DEFENDED

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24395, 23 October 1944, Page 6

GOVERNMENT’S WORK DEFENDED

. MR FRASER SPEAKS AT WINTON (P.A.) INVERCARGILL. October 22. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), in a speech at Winton on behalf of the Labour candidate for, the Awarua by-election (Mr L. S. O’Sullivan). defended the record of the Labour Government, both in the four years of its tenure before the war and during the war. Apart from some interjections in the early part of his speech, Mr Fraser was given an attentive hearing’, and his remarks were frequently applauded. . Mr Fraser said that the war had interfered with the Government’s programme of social progress, but the Government’s achievements in the four years before the war had been copied by other countries. The socfal security programme of. New Zealand had attracted the attention of Uie whole world. It was the foundation of the Beveridge Plan in Britain. The war had. shopped the Government’s housebuilding programme, because military requirements had come first, but the Government was now getting back into its stride in house-building. The excellent record of the country in the production field was also outstanding. continued Mr Frsser. This had been achieved under the Labour Government, assisted by the War Cabinet. which contained stout members of the Opposition, who had stood by the country loyally. Legislation providing for a minimum family income and a minimum wage that would, in sickness and health, in employment or in unemployment, be adequate to keep a family on a good standard of living, would be achieved before the present Parliament finished, Mr Fraser added.