SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 287, 31 August 1938, Page 6

SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN

“Government’s Fate Depends On It”

“’The fate of the Government depends ou tlie social security legislatiou; on it the Government goes to further heights or down in the rut,” said Mr. J. G. Barclay, M.P. for Marsden, in an address at Upper Hutt last night. "This country can afford it, make no error about that—it cannot afford not to,” said Mr. Barclay. ’The moneylenders of the country were fighting with their backs to the wall to restore the system of lower taxation and greater borrowing, said Mr. Barclay. He could understand a man with a big income voting for tlie National Party because it was hard to get away from environment, but lie could not understand a man who w.orkixl for his living voting Hint way. lie believed in defending one's country, but it was war ex pend it tire which made prosperity iu Great Britain. The Labour Government said that if war expenditure could make prosperity, so could expenditure on housing, reading and so on.

If the Nationalists were returned there would ho no broadcast of Parliamentary debates. That would bo one of tlie privileges now enjoyed which would go under National rule. He had yet to moot an enthusiastic Nationalist who favoured the Parliamentary broadcasts. Power in Reserve Bank.

He saw tremendous power in the Reserve Bank, power to make or break Hie country. So great was Ihe power that it almost frightened him. It was such n tremendous responsibility that it should never have been in private hands. He urged tlie people not to be impatient: all was not so simple as it appeared on the surface. A financial panic would ruin the Labour Party.

The mayor, Mr. P. Robertson, presided. Mr. P>. Roberts. M.P., was also present. There were 120 present. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Barclay on Mr. F. Whiteman's, motion. The mayor said tlie meeting was the start of a series tlie local branch oi the New Zealand Labour Party intended to have during the election campaign.