Where Labour Has Failed

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 225, 19 June 1936, Page 13

Where Labour Has Failed

Sir, —As one who helped to put the Labour Government into power, I would like to say how disappointed I am with the results to date. As I know there are others who feel as I do, I would like to explain my reasons for voting Labour. In the first place, I thought that the guaranteed price scheme would help a great many who work very hard with little result to themselves—the farmers. Then I have had a lot to do with the unemployed and hard-up folk, and I could see very little hope for them under the last Government, and lastly, I was tired of the spending of large sums of public money with so little result, and the final straw was the amount of money being spent on trips abroad —Ministers, their wives, with secretaries, etc., in attendance. Now, after seven and a half months, of Labour Government, with the spending of enormous sums of money, much larger than the last Government spent, little has been done for the poor and needy, the sick and old-age pensioners. Relief workers are getting more pay, and those on sustenance are receiving more, but while the Government has given with one hand, it has fallen away with the other. Already the cost of living has gone up, and it must go up further with higher wages and the 40-hour -week. So that those who have had wage increases have not benefited, and those who have not are much worse off. Meat, milk, butter, eggs and bread-all essentials of life —are dearer, and will be dearer yet. Of course, anyone who criticises is told to wait, that the Government cannot improve thiqgs for everyone all at once. Quite true, but in the face of the enormous amount of legislation passed so far—a record for New Zealand —it is a pity that the poorest people have to wait until the middle of the winter before anything is done for them. The legislation enforcing higher wages and the 40-hour week could have waited until other sections of the community were catered for; and those already in jobs could have been helped after those not in jobs, especially as this legislation will cause the cost of living to go higher and create further unemployment. It is all very well for Mr. Armstrong to use threats and tell employers that.they must not dismiss any employees, but it is well known that many have been employeo at low wages in ord§r to give them some work, and business will not stand paying higher wages where the class of work doesn't warrant it.

Then,' the guaranteed price system which-was such a big catch before the election is now being partially dropped. Mr. Savage now says that it is only to be applied to dairy produce, as prices for other produce are all right. That means to say that dairy produce is to be helped at the people’s expense. If the scheme was such a good one before the election why not now?

The “tourist” trips of Government members have already started, and promise to continue at a greater rate than under the late Government. If it is really nrtessary for the Samoans to be addressed by the Labour Government, why not send one Minister and one secretary? Why a party of them, plus wives, is necessary, I fail 'to understand, especially as I suppose the people foot the bill. Here we are in the middle of winter, and the papers are appealing for food and clothing for the poor, and unemployment lias, iff some districts anyway, increased. If tlie people of New Zealand could have foreseen this state of affairs after seven and a half months of Labour rule, I wonder how the election would have gone ! —I am, etc., DISGUSTED. Hastings, June 17.