MR NEWMAN OPENS CAMPAIGN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25955, 8 November 1949, Page 6

MR NEWMAN OPENS CAMPAIGN

LABOUR CANDIDATE FOR FENDALTON REVIEW OF PARTY’S ACHIEVEMENTS “You cannot prevent the right of any man to withhold his labour, and if there is a return to a capitalist society, there will be industrial upheavals such as there have never been before.” said Mr R. T. Newman, Labour candidate for Fendalton, when he opened his campaign last evening. There was an attendance of about 60.

“The workers in this country have got used to the Arbitration Court, and tc having disputes aired there, and they will not tolerate the regulations which the National Party hopes to foist on to this country.” he said.

The two issues facing electors wera the continuance of the social emancipation carried out by Labour, or the National policy of a return to the 010 system in evidence before 1935. Mr Newman said. To his mind, the National Party bad only one policy—a change Government. Any other policy it might profess .to have would be taken out of its hands by the capitalist class if it was elected. The National Farty stated that Labour was opposed to private enterprise, but that was not the case. Mr Newman said. Was there a big store in Christchurch which had not multiplied itself? That was private enterprise. The Labour Party wts not opposed to private enterprise, but wanted all the people to get a fair share of the national income.

“Dairy products form the basis of our national economy. Should we leave the manipulation of them in the hands of speculators, or should the Government take an interest in the sale of these goods?” Mr Newman said.

“The National Party speaks about freedom. I wonder if they know the meaning of the word its : -'«ty,” he said. “Which of the two narties is more likely to give you any one of Roosevelt’s four freedoms —freedom of speech, of ass >c?ation, freedom from want, and from fear? The only freedom the National Party can give is the freedom to ex-' 1 -' : t” Labour ”-ftv’s Performance Dealing with the performance of the Labour Government since it came to power, Mr Newman said that in 1935 there Were 283.000 students in New Zealand; in 1948 there were 365,000. Teachers’ wages in 1935 had totalled £2,092.000; in 1949. £5,658,000. In 1935 there had been 640,000 working males in the country, and in 1949 the total was 723,000. Unemployed males in 1935 were 57,000. The registered unemployed now numbered 100. “And this is the country being badly managed by Labour,’’ he said. The gross farming income in 1936 was £59,000,000, and in 1948 £136,000.000, he said. Was that prosperity, or was it not? Dairy farmers who had received s£d a pound for butter-fat in 1935 now got 2s 4|d. During the Labour Party’s term of office dairy workers’ wages had increased from £1 Is 3d a week to £6 6s 6d.

The National Party said it would abolish the Tenancy Act, Mr Newman continued. There were many people who could be summarily evicted if that was carried out in its entirety. Mr Holland had said that the only way to continue social security was to increase production. Mr Newman said. That was a peculiar statement. They were going to encourage people to work longer to delay calling on social security benefits. They planned to stand behind local manufacturers, all seeking to outbid each other to supply customers. Yet they were going to lift all import controls. Before 1935 importing was free, and the country was deluged with rubber shoes from Japan and imports which prevented New Zealanders from working in secondary industries. From 1930 to 1936, when building materials were plentiful, 21,942 houses had been built, Mr Newman said. From 1940 to 1946. a war period, 39,637 had been built. In 13 years the value of production had risen from £79.000.000 to £216,000,000. another Jnstance cf the Government’s “in-capacity-to increase production.” The Labour Government had been accused of inflationary policies, Mr Newman said. If any Gqvernment sought to curtail the funds of a country and money had to be withdrawn from circulation the first thing it did was reduce workers’ wages. If the Labour Government found there was a danger of inflation it would remedy the position differently. It would use stabilisation. .

“Labour will extend occupational training facilities to disabled civilians. and that is one of the greatest things happening in any country. ’ Mr Newman said. “Persons who are disabled will be taught something which will allow them to take a legitimate place ip the community, and feel that they do not need any help.” According to the National Party, people did not work long enough, Mr Newman said. “I differ from them,” he said. “If we can accomplish the work needed in 40 hours a week, why should we work longer to fill some capitalist’s pockets?” The British Government was trying to avoid unemployment, and was trying to see. if there was a depression, that it was borne by * all the people, and not just the workers. The Labour Party would work along the same lines. In the United States there were 3.500,000 to 4,000.000 unemployed, and that was Lie richest country in the world. It was just a matter of the policy carried out.

. Communism “The National Party says all we have to do to become Russians is to drink vodka and learn to sing the ‘Volga Boat Song’,” Mr Newman said. “That is far from the truth. It is my firm belief that Communism would best be brought into this country, or any country, by unbridled capitalism. If we want to prevent Communism becoming widespread," we must ensure that everyone gets a decent standard of living. Electors have to choose between a continuation of the beneficial labour controls, controls which will be lifted as the country’s prosperity increases, and as the effects of war expenditure wear off, and the old competitive system which means prosperity for the few and want for the many.”