CRITIC OF LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 10

CRITIC OF LABOUR

Social Security And Unemployment

SPEECH BY MR. KYLE

Stock And Station Agents

Defended

“I believe that before long the right wing of the Labour Party will be coming along to the National Party to ask for help in defending itself from the whips of the left wing,” said Mr. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton) during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives last night. Mr. Kyle launched a general attack on the Government, and provoked a stream of interjection that the Speaker several times had to check.

The Labour Barty was obviously worried, and was obviously not comfortable within its own ranks, said Mr. Kyle. The Christchurch South by-election showed that this was so. “The Labour big guns had to come down to arrange things,” he said, and it was very distressing to a certain lady to find herself after a lifetime of service to the Labour Barty sacrificed at the altar.” Members of the Opposition were constantly being accused of having boxed, the political compass, but the* gentleman who stood against him in Riccarton at the last election had a good record for boxing the compass. He stood as a Liberal in 1922. A voice: He nearly boxed you. .Mr. Kyle: Yes, but if you come to Riccarton you expect thrills. We were backed win and place. I got the win and be got the place. Social Security Scheme. Mr. Kyle criticized the Social Security scheme, and said that in many cases individuals were worse oft than they were under the old system. There was actually more general distress in the towns than for some years, as the reports of charitable organizations .showed. The Minister of Public Works said that there was more unemployment in New South Wales today than in New Zealand during the slump, but no figures were available in New Zealand. In New South Wales it had been possible to reduce taxation for unemployment relief progressively, while taxation here was rising. Wages below £3/10/- a week were not taxed at all in New South Wales. “We still have an unemployment question in this country to deal with.” said Mr. Kyle, “and there must be more taxation yet to meet the position of 35.000 to 40.000 unemployed.” A defence of the stock and station agencies, which he said had been attacked by Government speakers, was made by Mr. Kyle, who said that the firms had done more to build up New Zealand than the Government had. A stock firm bad arranged the first shipment of potatoe to South America, but when the Government tried the same thing, it crashed. “The growers were offered a price in July,” said Mr. Kyle, "but after the election they were notified that their potatoes were stilt in store, and that 19 out of every 03 sacks would be rejected. They might as well h..ve been given £2 a ton to leave the crop rotting on the ground. No doubt if the Government could get rid of the stock and station agencies, it would have the farmers by the wool, and there would be no need to socialize the industry.” Spendthrift Policy. Mr. Kyle sympathized .with the Prime' Minister, who, lie said, must have had an uncomfortable time the last fortnight. "The Government's spendthrift policy,” ho said, "must end in political suicide. The only way the Government can carry on as at present is by the inflation advocated by the member for Grey Lynn.” Mr. Kyle asked when details of the loan transactions in London would be given to the country. Possibly they might come in Hie Budget, for which everyone was waiting. Exchange control, he said, was merely a method of robbing the farmers, who if they were allowed Io sell their exchange as private individuals would, at present rates for the black exchange, be getting up to 15 per cent., or £8,009,990 a year more for their produce. The whole import control system was illegal. "Mr. Nash is like a prodigal now, putting his arms round father's neck and asking him to come to ttu* rescue,” lie said. There would probably be a purge from the Laliour Barty when Mr. Nash returned, said Mr. Kyle. A scapegoat would have to be found, but anyone who attacked Mr. Nash attacked the Government as a whole, because all Mr. Nash’s actions were taken only after they were approved by Cabinet Mr. Carr (Government, Timaru) . And caucus. “I believe he will find a cuckoo in the nest when he comes home," said Mr. Kyle. SALE OF EGGS Accusation By Mr. Kyle

The accusation that the Director of Internal Marketing. Mr. F. R. Picot, had received last year the sum of fs6(f from a linn conneeled with the selling of eggs was made by Mr. Kyle (Oppo-' sition, Riccarton). dliritic the Address-in-Reply debate in Hie House of Representatives hist night. Mr Kyle said that the money bad been received by Mr. Picot as a guarantor of tiie firm, and that another guarantor had been appointed by the Government ns one of its nominees on tiie Poultry Board. “I make tiie charge with a full sense of responsibility.” said Mr. Kyle. “I want the Government to look into it If the gentleman has a Slate position for which he receives £2OOO a year, he should not be making another £566 as a guarantor of a firm Ho lias attended the annual meetings of (lie firm as guarantor Last year Ins name appeared in the annual report as a guarantor. lint this vear It has been loft out and only the amount of the guarantee slated in (he balance-sheet.”

Mr. Kyle said that the guarantor of another firm bad lieen appointed ns a Government nominee of tiie Poultry Board. “There is a very sinister inference here.” said Mr Kyle. "I say that an inquiry should be made into the position.”