Labour And The Slump

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 305, 20 September 1943, Page 4

Labour And The Slump

Sir, —Listening, in to Mr. Semple tonight I heard the old story of Labour pulling Ibis country out. of the slump—stated with the real technique of raising the voice and thumping the table. But in the quiet calm of my fireside I was able to examine the facts and had the following table of importations of motorcars before me: 1931. motor-ears imported, ,3388; 1932, motor-ears imported, 3044; 1933, motor-curs imported, 2933,; 1934. motor-cars imported. 11,747; 1935. motor-ears imported, 17,844. You will see, Sir, that in the three zero years, of the slump only 9365 cars could be imported, but in 1934 and 1935 the position had so improved that 29,591 motor-cars were required to meet the demaud. Did not this indicate that the slump was well passing away before the Government got into power, for they did not assume office till the end of 1935 and therefore could not have inHueneed those conditions? I also remembered that shopkeepers definitely stated that tile Christmas trade of 1934 showed much improvement, and we all know that unemployment was less in 1934 and 1935 than in the years 1931 to 1933. ■ Let us be critical if we will, but let us be so with judgment, and not led away by mob oratory or statements that are only half-truths. To say the Labour Government got us out of the slump is folly, but it is true they came into power on the wave of prosperity and exploited it for all it was worth. With the exploitation came in a period of inflation. which continues, and which every housewife knows to her cost. —1 am, etc., NOT BAMBOOZLED. ■Wellington, September 18.