MR. H. E. HOLLAND

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 221, 19 June 1928, Page 10

MR. H. E. HOLLAND

SPEECH AT TAUMARUNUI TO REPLY TO PRIME MINISTER AT AUCKLAND (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Taumarunui, June 18. Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, addressed a largely-attended meeting at' the Theatre Royal to-night. Mr. Holland dealt at some length with the position of the timber industry, which he claimed was detrimentally affected by huge importations of foreign timber. Throughout New Zealand numerous mills were now idle or working short time, and’many hundreds of timber workers were unemployed because c this fact. It was recognised that there were certain classes of timber, notably hardwood, which must be obtained abroad, but, on the other hand, immense quantities of timber, the equivalent of which New Zealand could produce, were being brought in every year. This was especially true of soft woods, importations of which amounted to round about forty million feet annually, representing the output of forty ordinary mills. In 1914 the value of timber imports was only £400,000; in 1925 it rose to £1.115,000; and in 1927 it stood at £768,462. New Zealand Umber was further handicapped even on the local market by the manner in which railway freights were loaded up against it. Within the past few years timber freights on the railways had been increased by some forty per cent., and timber cargoes were now coming from the United States, Canada and Sweden at lower rates than from the timber-producing areas of the King Country to the principal waterfronts. The Labour Party would take steps to ensure that the industry was not crippled by the dumping methods of the American lumber people or the . competition of cheap labour countries. They would institute a most searching investigation of the whole position with a view of determining the kinds of timber which could not be economically produced locally and also for the purpose of safeguarding the industry in relation to New Zealand timbers that could be so produced. They would also make provision for the protection of the public against monopoly prices—a proposal already agreed to by sawmill’ owners. They would insist on the use of New Zealand coal and take steps to end the coal importations. Referring to workers’ compensation, Mr.' Holland said tlie Labour Party proposed to make accident insurance a State monopoly and compulsory. They would amend the Workers’ Compensation Act to provide for the payment of full wages during a period of incapacity. This could be done without in any way increasing the premiums paid by the employers. The latest statistics showed that only 49.32 per cent, of the premium income was paid out in claims, while 38.45 per cent went, to meet expenses of management. This was due to the fact that the upkeep of the unnecessary multiplicity of offices had to be: paid for, and nationalisation of this form of insurance would leave an immensely larger proportion of premium income available for payment of compensation. The amending legislation would ' also make provision for full medical attention and payment for. all medical services rendered to an injured worker; Attacking the Government’s relief work scale of wages, Mr. Holland ; said in principle this constituted an attack on the labour clauses of the Peace Treaty, which laid down a general principle that payment should be made to employed of a wage adequate to maintain a reasonable standard of. life as this was understood in their time and country. . , At Auckland on Wednesday night Mr. Holland said he would make a somewhat comprehensive criticism of Mr. Coates's Wellington speech and would deal more fully with the question of unemployment and relief work wages. The land question was dealt with. on lines similar to his Tapawera speech. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Holland.