NOISY MEETING FOR MR NASH

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25970, 25 November 1949, Page 8

NOISY MEETING FOR MR NASH

THE ELECTION

CHEERS GIVEN FOR MR HOLLAND MOST OF AUDIENCE WITH SPEAKER (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 24. A reception so warm at times that he had to appeal to the audience fur an opportunity to be heard was given the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) when he spoke at Mission Bay in support of Mr T. E. Skinner, Labour candidate for Tamaki. The theatre, which has a seating capacity of 710, was more than full. Although most of the audience was strongly with Mr Nash there were seme who gave him little peace. Persistent demands were made on Mr Nash to state his policy. His discussion of Britain’s war-time gallantry, the history of the Labour administration, and what Mr S. G. Holland did or did not say 11 years ago about social security was unwelcome to some of the interjectors. Mr Nash handled the situation well and with good humour. Mr Skinner, who spoke first was given short shrift and was able to get in only a few sentences. After an address of more than two hours and a long period of questions, a motion of thanks and confidence was moved. The chairman (Mr S. J. Gudsell) declared it carried while cheers were bemg given for Mr Holland. Later cheers were given for Labour. Mr Nash had not gone far with his address before somebody called for three cheers for Sid Holland and these* were given with a will. Mr Nash: That does not help at all. Reasonable interjections are desirable but to endeavour to stop a speaker’s being heard is not what is done in democracies. (Applause.) The Minister said people in New Zealand lived to an average age of 68 years, compared with the average life expectation of 24 years in India. New Zealand had the lowest infant mortality rate and the second lowest death rate. A voice: And the highest taxes. Mr Nash: I would sooner have taxes •nd live than have no taxes and die. Goods and Money Mr Nash said Mr Holland had stated that New Zealand had 25 per cent, less goods in 1946 and £166,000,000 more in purchasing power. Mr Holland had not taken into account all the services that had to be paid for, such as those of doctors, shopkeepers, transporters, and teachers, and everyone else except those engaged in actual production. Mr Holland could have given figures from this year's Budget showing that there were 25 per cent, more goods than in 1939. . “You have more goods available m Auckland to-day than there have ever been in any period in history,” Mr Nash said amid applause, “and you have the money to buy them with, too.” . A woman’s voice: And more people. 4 °Mr Holland was fearful of difficulties that he thought he would not overcome if there were a recession overseas, Mr Nash continued. Mr Holland wanted to “pass the buck” by placing the control of credit and currency under an independent board. No Government could run the country if the control of credit and currency was not in the hands of somebody who was himself under Government control. Mr Holland was going to charge inis authority with reconciling purchasing power with the volume of goods. What was Mr Holland going to do to achieve this?. Was he going to bring down the volume Of purchasing power as was done in 1929? This remark was greeted by uproar. When some of the noise died down a man could be heard shouting: “What about increasing production? Be fair. More goods is what we want.” After the noise subsided Mr Nash gaid: “I wonder if some people here could give same courtesy as was Sven to Mr Holland on Monday eveng. Labour supporters in Auckland could have stopped Mr Holland from getting a word in.”