LABOUR MEASURES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 11, 8 October 1936, Page 10

LABOUR MEASURES

“Socialist Dictatorship. Set Up”

NATIONAL PARTY MEETING

Dominion Special Service.

Carterton, October 7.

An assertion that since the Labour Government had taken office it had set up a kind of Socialist dictatorship was made by Colonel J. Hargest, M.P., when speaking at a meeting of Wairarapa supporters of the New Zealand National Party in Carterton last night. The attendance was large and representative of the whole of the Wairarapa electorate, many having travelled long distances. Mr. H. F. Thompson, Greytown, presided.

The present position in Parliament was detailed by Colonel Hargest, who explained the principal measures passed by the Government and the steps taken to socialise the industries—-rural and urban —of the Dominion. He described the policy as a complete negation of democracy, of which the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) and his party had for so long professed to be followers.

Since taking office Mr. Savage and his Ministers bad subtlely set up a kind of Socialist dictatorship, and Ministers in charge of such departments as Finance, Transport, and Industries and Commerce had been given powers hitherto undreamed of in New Zealand and not contemplated anywhere else in the British Empire. Mr. S. T. Dibble (Dominion secretary of the National Party) described the organisation of the party, and those present evinced lively enthusiasm, freely expressing the opinion that the Wairarapa seat would be won by the Nationalists at the next election.

Mr. J. H. Irving (chairman of the Masterton committee of the National Party) spoke of the enthusiasm being displayed and the success attending the enrolment of members of the party at Masterton. It was decided to convene a meeting of all branches in the Wairarapa electorate to form an electorate committee at an early date, which will appoint a representative to the Wellington divisional committee, which will meet in Wellington before the end of the present session of Parliament.