ACHIEVEMENTS OF LABOUR

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

ACHIEVEMENTS OF LABOUR

CAMPAIGN SPEECH BY MR MCLAGAN INCREASED WAGES FOR WORKERS To an audience of about 100 supporters in the Addington School last evening the Minister of Labour (Mr A. McLagan), who is standing again for the Riccarton explained the achievements of the Labour Government in the last 14 years. He said that the National Party wished to disclaim association with the previous Government, but “though they may be another litter they are the same sized pigs.”

“They are trying to disguise themselves in some of Labour’s old politic .1 clothes,’ he said. . “Nobody but a political simpleton would think of changing a good Government for a Government which has nothing to recommend it on past performances.” Wage and salary earners were now getting three and a half times as much money as they did before the Labour Government took office, Mr McLagan said. Farm workers were receiving five times as much as they did before the present Government came ipto power, and dairy farm workers six times as much. The previous Government had done nothing for them, but Labour nad given them a minimum wage.

Much bad been said recently about militant unions obtaining what they wanted because of their threats to the Government. Farm workers, however, had never made an attempt to intimidate the Government, and they had obtained the greatest increase of any body of workers.

“Some of the leaders of unions have tried to intimidate the Government, but the Government has always stood up to the threats, and will always do so,” continued Mr McLagan. “Where the demands have been unreasonable they have been refused and will always be refused. The Labour Government will never be intimidated in that way.

“We have never said that—it Is a typical Holland twist.” Mr McLagan said, after saying that the National Party had said that it had been claimed that Labour had made the people five times as well off as they were before the Labour Government. “It would be silly to say so.” he added. Since 1935 the nroduction for every head of population had increased by 10 per cent., and the goods available for use had also increased. Mr McLagan claimed.

Cost of Living The cost of living had not been doubled as the Nationalists claimed, but wages had gone up by nearly three and a half times. It was idle for the National Party to state that the people were not as well off as they were under the previous Government. Mr McLagan then quoted the savings of people in New Zealand. In 1935 there had been £60.709.600 in savings. he said, and at the beginning of this year there was £244,800,000. “While saving ?hat record amount of money the people have been living better than ever before,” he said:

Discussing social security benefits, Mr McLagan said: “The facts are that Labour is first and the Nationalist are nowhere.” The National Party had said it would not reduce the social security benefits, but Labour did not have to give such an assurance. The people of New Zealand knew Labour’s scheme and knew that it was a success, and no party which attacked the scheme had any chance of success in an election. That was why the National Party had changed its attitude. The National Party had complained .once that the rents of State houses were too high, but later they said they were too low. The average lent was 26s a week, but according to the Chamber of Commerce it should be 46s a week.

On the National Party’s proposal for tenants being allowed to purchase State houses, Mr McLagan said: “It would take the tenants 77 years to become the owners under the Nationalist scheme of the last election. This time you will find that they are offering you a scheme under which a young tenant can look forward to his grandson owning the house when the grandson is about 60, and about to draw social security. They are trying to sell you a pup. not a house, in this matter.” Control of Prices The National Party had talked of releasing control on prices, but what had happened when price control on vegetables, fruit and meat had been lifted? asked Mr McLagan. There had been no decrease, but an increase. There had also been talk of lifting rent controls, but everyone knew that rents would rise if the controls were lifted. Labour had never intended that rent control should be permanent, but it would be lifted as soon as possible. which was what the National Party had promised.

The Government had reduced taxation. Mr McLagan continued. In making an overall reduction of £lO on income tax it had showed discrimination. He claimed that the National Party, if it had made a reduction of 8 per cent, in income tax. which was what the £lO reduction amounted to. would have applied the 8 per cent, reduction so that small wage and salary earners would have obtained little benefit, and big businesses would have obtained large savings.

“That is about the limit of mendacity.” said Mr McLagan. referring to a claim that Labour had failed to house the people. The Labour Party had taken office when building materia] was plentiful and when carpenters were unemployed, but when there was not sufficient housing for the people. It had set to work to remedy the position, and although the war years had meant that the housing programme was held* up it had lived up to its promises to build houses. At the last election it had promised to build 12.000 houses a year, if that was at .ill possible. In 1947, 12.734 houses had been built, and last year 16.136 had been built. For the next three years his party had undertaken to have 50.000 homes built. There was a greater degree -of home ownership in New Zealand to-day than ever before. Mr McLagan continued. “There is more private ownership to-day of the good things of life than ever there was before in the country’s history.”

The meeting, at which there were no interjections, adopted a motion of full confidence in Mr McLagan and the Labour Party.