ELECTION YEAR PROMISES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28268, 4 May 1957, Page 4

ELECTION YEAR PROMISES

Mr Eyre Critical Of Labour

A Labour . government could . offer electors nothing the electors J did not have at present, the s Minister of Housing (Mr D.' J. Eyre) told a public meeting in ( Fendalton. More than 40 persons , attended. “Whatever specious promises j are made by the Opposition, re- ; member they are promising with j your money. They are betting on winning office and doing things with your dough and not their own,” he said. Mr Eyre said that the Labour , Party had to decide whether it would go left “to the Big Shop in Moscow” or right to the National Party. If it was to swing right “there was no need to change.” Although building costs had . risen considerably people were earning more in proportion, Mr Eyre said. Between April, 1949, and February, 1957, the cost of building had risen in Auckland by 45 per cent., in Wellington by 3/ per cent., in Christchurch by 58 per cent., and in Dunedin by 64 per cent. During the same time wages had risen 75 per cent. “That shows that wages have kept ahead of building costs,” he said. From what Opposition speakers ■ said one would think that houses • were not being purchased. “I think the proof of the pudt ding is in the eating. After the . Christchurch Parade of Homes it j was reported that a capital outt lay of £84,000 had brought . £350,000 of new business,” he said. » The average age of persons buy- • ing houses in parades of homes in r Christchurch and Auckland was r 29 and the average income of t buyers was more than £l6 a f week.

Mr Eyre advocated an effort in the South Island to increase population. “There should be greater interest in increase in population in this part of the world to stop the unbalance that is taking place in New Zealand, he said. “In years to come, if this continues, the problem will not be mine but it will be a worry for future generations. Population In South “The South Island should do something and get some more people and industry here.” Very little interest in the political tours being made by both Government and Opposition was an indication that people generally were happy with their lot, Mr Eyre said. “But one should issue a hint, or warning,” he said. “Countries get the Government they deserve by not voting. It behoves everyone to vote if he wants to keep the happy situation.”

Remits to be considered by the annual conference of the Labour Party were indicative of what people could expect if Labour resumed office. Among other things, remits were aimed at insurance companies and the legal profession. The insurance remit provided for the channelling of investments for national production.

“Most of the investments are already channelled that way,” Mr Eyre said. “As a great number of the insurance companies are mutual, the policyholders get the profits.” The only useful remit, as far as he could see, was one seeking the introduction of decimal coinage. “I agree with that,” he said. Family Benefit

Replying to a question, Mr Eyre said he did not favour a sugestion that the 10s a week per child family benefit should be remitted to fresh air homes and Karitane hospitals when children were in them. The allowance was paid to the parent and it was up to the parent to make it available to an institution if he wished. Anyway, the Government supplied the institutions with money and the 10s a week would hardly be necessary. “Definitely, yes,” was his reply to a questioner seeking Mr Eyre’s views on whether the British H-bomb tests Christmas Island should go on/“If we want to protect our way of life we cannot see another country go ahead and stop our own tests. Prepare for war and you will not have it,” he Mr Eyre was accompanied by the member of Parliament for Raglan (Mr H. Johnstone).