MEASURES BY LABOUR

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29363, 16 November 1960, Page 9

MEASURES BY LABOUR

As Labour candidate for the Ashburton electorate for 1957 and again in 1960, I support the measures taken in the second Labour Government's term of office and the measures proposed in the policy put forward at the present time.

The National Party continues to bring up the old bogy of socialisation. In these days of an enlightened people names don’t mean very much. It is the legislation put on the Statute Book that counts—it is either good or bad. In eight years of Government, the National Party did not repeal any so-called socialistic legislation passed by their predecessors in office.

In his opening address, Mr Holyoake did not have the courage to say he would repeal the legislation introduced by the second Labour Government. He would not tell the electors that the family benefit or pensions should be reduced or that the family benefit home scheme should be abolished, yet his party opposed every move to introduce them. Nor can I imagine any National Party speaker advocating the abolition of the free textbook or promising higher power charges for electricity. In this Ashburton electorate, the people have much to thank the first Labour Government for, in spite of the faet that only for three years out of 25 has a Labour candidate represented some of the area in Parliament. Irrigation

We have the development of irrigation, the expansion of the Department of Agriculture and Irrigation Research, the establishment of D.S.I.R. station in Ashburton in 1946. the productive and prosperous farms established under the rehabilitation scheme, the building of bridges, schools and hospitals.

From the second Labour Government this electorate has benefited by the increase in the price of wheat, a measure which I advocated in 1957 from every platform from which I spoke. What will the National Party do about this if returned to power? Is this socialistic? This electorate has also gained through the establishment of a diagnostic station in the South Island, a thing that was talked about for years by the National Government. There are also the measures taken to counteract the dumping of dairy produce on the British market and the expansion of further markets for our growing production of meat and wool. The increase in family benefits and pensions, the introduction of family benefit homes and free textbooks have also helped the family man on the lower income. Improvements

Industry has been encouraged and given the assurance needed for further expansion. In a growing town such as Ashburton, the Government has a part to play which is of great importance. If elected to represent this electorate, I would certainly press for the immediate erection of a new Post Office in Ashburton, the opening of offices in the town by the Inland Revenue and State Advances Departments. The Police Station, too, could be more centrally situated. I also feel that improvements to the railway yards in Ashburton and stocktrucking facilities at Tinwald are an urgent necessity.

I would expedite in any possible way improvements so necessary to the traffic bridge on the main highway at Ashburton. Further assistance is needed with flood protection from the north branch of the Ashburton river. In the Geraldine county I feel that something should be done to improve or replace the existing upper Orari bridge and a definite decision made on the expansion of hospital facilities in that area. I would also advocate further Government assistance in the installation of sewerage and drainage srtiemes in the smaller boroughs. The Labour policy of 1960 is once again prudent, practical and progressive and I feel sure that the Labour Party, if returned to power, will legislate for all in the courageous and commonsense way it has in the past.