LABOUR CANDIDATES’ ADDRESSES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 181, 29 April 1938, Page 6

LABOUR CANDIDATES’ ADDRESSES

“Civic organisations created to foster civic spirit and carry out definite civic purposes are of great value and should be encouraged. The dauger always exists that such organisations may be captured by those who have selfish interests to serve, who frame a policy ostensibly for civic welfare but really of an anti-social character. The Wellington Citizens’ Committee comes under th:« category. It is au auti-Labour organisation and is against municipal activity in the matter of housing the people," said Mr. C. H. Chapman, the Labour mayoral candidate, when speaking at Ngaio last night. Addresses by Labour candidates were given at Ngaio ami Mornington. Among the main points stressed was that State aud municipal affairs were interwoven and that co-operation between municipalities and the Government was essential in the public interests. It was also contended that there was ample evidence to show that the Citizens’ Committee ticket was as much allied to a political party as the Labour ticket. The Labour Party members held the view that the citizen should be guided in his conduct by the ideal of service to the community, said Mr. Chapman, and that progress to the highest development of the individual and society was an objective ever to be kept in view. The first duty of the citizen was to take au intelligent interest iu everyday affairs. ■ He or she had a duty to assist in carrying out those activities which were necessary for public welfare. The rights of citizenship could not be separated from the duties of citizenship. "We are all dependent on society for everything worth while, and society is justified iu expecting that in return for what it has given us we should render service. The purpose of the Labour movement is to bring into existence a state iu which the highest possible standard of citizenship shall exist.” Opportunity Thought Missed. Mr. J. Read, who is seeking re-election to the city council, speaking on housing, said he had brought forward a scheme iu the depression period which had been endorsed by the Trades and Labour Council, and which would have done a good deal to improve the position had it been adopted. At the time there were hundreds of building operatives out of work, and the Trades Council was naturally anxious for these workers, whose efforts were mainly being frittered away on the No. 4 scheme. The proposal was to utilise city council land and take advantage of the cheap money and building materials then available, but both the mayor and the then councillors were averse to moving to put some life into this industry. Their chief objection appeared to be that it would interfere with private enterprise. Labour believed in using any sort of enterprise that would do the job, and if private enterprise failed, the only alternative was social enterprise of some description. Mr. Read stated that at a recent meeting of the city council he had asked why private enterprise -had uot stepped into the breach then, and all Labour’s opponents had replied, ‘‘the depression.” These people had evidently lost sight of the fact that the depression was one of the major results of private enterprise itself. He considered that a great opportunity had been lost by not going on with the scheme he had propounded. It would have resulted in many people being well housed and the city council having a valuable asset. The Hon. T. Brindle, who is seeking re-election to the city council, said the citizens’ committee candidates were just ‘‘the same old gang,” out to serve; vested interests and not the interests of the people as a whole, for which Labour stood. Labour sought to extend the services provided, to increase the amenities, and make the city one worthy of the citizens. Labour up to the present had never had a majority on the council. It hoped to gain a majority at the coming election and to pursue a progressive policy aimed to improve the conditions of the people. Citizens’ committee candidates held that the need of the day was to support private enterprise. They were mainly business men who sought to run the council as they ran their’businesses. But private business was run for profit. Public businesses, such as local bodies, were run for service and not profit. Council Service. Council service carried with it much responsibility, said Mr. P. M. Butler, ■who is seeking re-election to the city council. Civic affairs came closer to the inhabit tante than did national or parliamentary affairs. Wellington was larger than any municipal electorate in New Zealand. The needs of its population of almost 117,090 required careful and assiduous attention, and the magnitude of civic administration could be gauged by the fact that practically everything of importance affecting the lives of the people was owned by the citizens and controlled by their representatives on the council. The citizens were thus shareholders in a vast and comprehensive undertaking, and it was essential that they should return to the council representatives with progressive ideas, representatives with courage, tempered with caution, who could visualise the future greatness of a city, w’ho were true to the people and to the interests Of democracy,. and who would fearlessly guard the birthrights of the people against vested interests. Such representatives were offered on the Labour ticket. Labour was Labour in municipal as well as national affairs, and the name Labour meant security, service, and efficiency. The Labour Government had assisted the present council and citizens to an enormous extent, but very little was heard of this. Dealing witli the council’s revenue, Mr. Butler pointed out that this did not come entirely from rates. The buoyancy iu the voluntary revenue, such as building permits, petrol tax, and licences was a clear indication of the prosperity of the people under Labour rule. "When I state that the housing situation in Wellington is a disgrace to any civilised community,” said Mr. R. McKeen, M.P., candidate for the city council and the harbour board, ‘‘l am quite conscious of the inadequacy of the terms which I use to describe fully the actual sordid conditions in which our citizens are forced to live.” He advocated cooperating with the Government and making use of the cheap money it offered to solve the problem. Much fuss was made about politics in municipal elections, said Mr. J. Tucker, a candidate for both the city council and the hospital board. Polities meant the art of self-government, or the administration of public affairs. Ratepayers’ associations and other groups were allied to the National Political Party just as much as Labour local bodies were allied to the Labour Party. Mr. M. Luckie hud stated that an attempt was being made by the Socialist Labour Party to make the civic elections a dress rehearsal for the general election, but it could not. be denied that he and others on the citizens’ ticket were acting iu the interests of the National Party. Those who lived in glass houses should not throw stoues. The management of a city like Wellington and tjje management of the State were to some extent interwoven by legislation and it was hard to find where the allegations of Mr. Luekie and others were relevant. Mr. Tucker supported Labour's housing policy. He also favoured municipal banking, saying he had seen a splendid scheme in operation at Birmingham, England. Hospital Improvements. Mr. A. W. Croskery, who is seeking reelection to the hospital board, confined his remarks last, night to improvements effected since Labour had gained control on the board. Quite a number of important reforms had been introduced, which had met with the approval of the general public. Among the most important was the elimination of the means test, to whicn all applicants had had to submit before treatment could be received in the hos-

pital. In addition, inpatients’ fees had been reduced by 25 per cent., and outpatients’ fees in some cases by 50 per cent. Notwithstanding these reductions, the returns a bed were greater than previously. The total amount collected, from all sources -wjas also greater. The outpatients’ department and several other departments had shown very large increases in revenue, all of which indicated that the reductions were wise, that they could be put into effect without loss,, and that they had not only been appreciated by the public, but had also resulted in increased revenue for the board. Mr. Croskery said he proposed to deal with the extension of the dental services and the new building scheme at later meetings.. Mrs. L. Gibson, hospital board condidate, contended that women were well qualified to take their share in. hospital administration. It had been said by its opponents that Labour would lead the country to bankruptcy and ruin, both nationally and in civic affairs, but the prosperity of the country proved that Labour could administer successfully both nationally and in municipal affairs. Although wages had been increased, services extended, and fees reduced, the hospital board's revenue was the highest for years, showing that the hospital services, to which the people were entitled, were appreciated and were more fully sought now than ever. The old cry that Labour would lead the country to ruin could no longer be sustained. Labour had been successful. It’s actions had promoted more wealth, health and happiness among the people. Mr. W. Atkinson, candidate for the hospital board, said he had no fears that Labour could not administer just as capably as any other ejection of the community, and he felt certain the public recognised this fact. Labour had a progressive policy which met the needs of the day. Mr. .1. Tucker, candidate for the hospital board, spoke in support of the new hospital scheme, and also referred to the reductions in hospital fees, which had brought services to which the people were entitled well within their means. That this had been a wise move was shown by the increase in revenue from fee’’