APPEAL TO ELECTORS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 237, 4 July 1938, Page 3

APPEAL TO ELECTORS

“Listen To All Arguments During Campaign” LABOUR POLICY DEFENDED Dominion Special Service. Havelock North, July 3. An appeal to all electors, especially young people, to listen to all arguments during -the coming election campaign and . give heed to those policies calculated to benefit the community rather than tile individual was made by Mr. B. Roberts, Government member of Parliament for Walrarapa, in an address at Havelock North last night. The Havelock North Town Hall was crowded in every part and the attendance was well over 200. The chairman of the Havelock North Town Board, Mr. H. R. Von Dadelszen, presided. What he described as the reluctance of the Opposition since 1914 to face up to its responsibilities in bringing about an adequate measure of social security was criticised by Mr. Roberts, who went on to explain at some length the Government’s superannuation and national health scheme. He denied that Labour was against private enterprise, and contended that the principle of State ownership was well established by previous Governments by reserving to the State such enterprises as the railways and the post and telegraph service. While the policy of the Government was not antagonistic to private enterprise, the party did hold that the progress of New Zealand was of far greater importance than private profits or private enterprise. Guaranteed Price Defended. The Government's guaranteed price and marketing scheme for the New Zealand dairy industry was defended by Mr. Roberts, who said the New Zealand dairy indiistr- was now so efficient that it was causing alarm to tlie British Government. Hereon tended that members of the Opposition ami others were out of touch with the views of the dairy-farmer. The Farmers' Union had asked for the. appointment of a tribunal to fix the guaranteed price; the Prime Minister had offered to appoint such a tribunal, but rhe National Dairy Conference, which wtts in closer touch with dairymen than the Farmers’ Union, favoured the Government fixing the price as hitherto. The Government, said Mr. Roberts, would not shirk its responsibility in that respect.

"The complex age in which we are living made it necessary to bring about a change iu the social system by giving increased purchasing power to the people to meet conditions brought alaiui by machine-itge production," snld Mr. Roberts.

The public works [Kilicy of Mr. Semple, under which the machine was relieving mail of laborious tasks, was praised by Mr. Roberts. How savings were effected under Mr. Semple’s policy was illustrated by Hie levelling job carried out at the exhibition site til Rongotai, Wellington, which resulted in a saving of more than £5090 on one job alone, said Mr. Rolierts. At the conclusion of the address the chairman said Mr. Roberts was prepared to answer any questions, but none were forthcoming. The meeting concluded with the passing of a vote of thanks to Mr. Rolierts. and a vote of confidence in the Government, as well as a vote of thanks to Mr. lon Dmlelszen for presiding.