LABOUR POLICY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 189, 7 May 1937, Page 7

LABOUR POLICY

Opposed to Pre-election Promises ADDRESS BY MR. BODKIN Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, May 6 The opinion that the policy of the Labour Government was definitely opposed to the promises made by the party prior to the last election was expressed by Mr. W. A. Bodkin. M.P. for Central Otago, in an address to-night. Saying the Labour Party gained office by the grossest misrepresentation, Mr. Bodkin stated that the ideal of the Government now was to abolish private enterprise and substitute a system of production for use. Legislative power had already been passed to enable it to carry out its programme, which might bring injustice and hardship to owners of capital and property. Mr. Bodkin suggested the electors would want more than one grain of salt before accepting any statement at all which might emanate from the Labour Ministers if they compared the Labour Party's promises before the last election with the policy put iuto operation. The Government had got its seats by a policy of support for private industry, but a few weeks after the election had abandoned it for one of Socialism, a fact which it nevertheless was reluctant to admit. Proposals that the guaranteed price to be alternative to the high exchange, that the monetary system be based on goods and services and that its schemes would be carried out without an increase in taxattu won for the party the support of the Douglas credit movement and currency reformers, whose ideas had been capitalised. At the Labour conference last year the Hon. W. Nash made the statement that the Labour remedy was production for use, co-operative production for individual use, which was the ultimate goal of the party. When the change came about, interest would be eliminated altogether. In addition to providing for the control of credit and currency, the Reserve Bank Amendment Bill provided machinery for the social control of production, distribution and exchange, suggesting that the Government would become the sole importers of goods and the sole distributors of commodities. In debates in the House the Opposition bad. never been able to get a definite statement concerning the payment of interest, which proved the Government did not intend to pay interest at all. The Government could make it impossible for industries to carry on by a policy of taxation and industrial legislation. Accumulated savings, such as life insurance policies and savings bank accounts, were available to the Government through taxation, and when it was setting out to become a huge trading concern it would regard the savings of the people as’ uncalled capital which would be called upon time after time to make up losses. . Although the country was experiencing a record boom, there were 34,000 men being supported by the Employment Fund and 21,000 on public works.' The reason for this could only be laid at the door of the Labour Party, whose legislation made condition in industry such that firms could not employ labour and make a profit. What sort of prospect was this f r the worker or for the children who were growing up? The Labour Government had taken more money out of the pockets of the working man in taxation than any other Government in history. At the invitation of Mr. J. Morrison, who presided, several questions were answered by Mr. Bodkin, who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.