PLANNING THE WAR AND THE PEACE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 307, 22 September 1943, Page 8

PLANNING THE WAR AND THE PEACE

Labour’s Objectives

BEST IN WORLD, SAYS

DIR. NASH

"I do not belong exclusively to the Hutt electorate, or to New Zealand. I belong to the British Commonwealth of Nations and the world, and I propose in my remarks to set out why that is consistent with my membership in Parliament for the Hutt electorate," said Air. XV. Nash, Labour Candidate for Hutt, when' addressing electors in the Petone Labour Hall last night. It was Air. Nash's first speech of the campaign in his owu electorate, and a-packed hall gave him a rousing reception. The deputy-mayor, Mr. 11. Green, presided. Air. Nash spoke for two hours, laying stress on the Government’s provision for returned servicemen and their dependants, and the widows of servicemen and their dependants, war expenditure aud taxation. There were numerous interjections, but the candidate invariably scored. After answering several questions at the, conclusion he was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence accompanied by sustained cheering. Every commitment made by this country had been made by Parliament, and not by the Government, said Air. Nash. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, had challenged that, saying there had never been a vote in Parliament. That was true, but there had never been a vote because there had been no differences of opinion. A voice: Why no referendum on conscription? Air. Nash : I do not know how we coma have a referendum with danger at our shores and the whole future of the country at stake. The world's future was at stake in July, 1940, and the Government decided on an all-in job and it has been an all-in job ever since. (Applause.) Having taken men and women to serve in democracy’s cause, it was the country’s duty to provide adequately for them, said Air. Nash. There were no servicemen in any country better cared for than those in New Zealand, said Air. Nash. The same applied to their dependants. The Government had also recognized its obligation to the widows and dependent children of servicemen, and to the disabled serviceman and his dependants. There was nothing in the history of this country comparable with what had been done for them. . , Dealing with rehabilitation, Air. Nash said the Government had already established six training schools, in which any returned serviceman could learn a trade and receive payment at the rate of five guineas a week. A voice: Lees tax. Its £4/12/6. Air. Nash: "1 have never heard of any other country paying men live guineas a week to learn a trade.” (Applause.) Air. Nash also dealt with the extent to which the Government would help men to get on the land, or into a business. A voice: Provided he can get a licence. One thing he wished to emphasize in connexion with settlement on the land was that there was only one compulsory provision in the Land Sales Act, said Mr. Nash. That was that, after an area of land sufficient to maintain an owner and his family bad been set aside, any surplus could be takeii for the settlement of a returned serviceman. It could not be taken for any other purpose, huither, its value would be determined by an independent committee, and there was the right of appeal from the committees decision to the Supreme Court. “XVe do not intend the mistakes after the last war to be repeated.” (Applause.) lhe Government would ensure that the returned men were placed on economic areas of laud. It would also help them by meeting any difference that might exist in taking over the land and bring it into economic holdings. I rices would also be guaranteed for the product ot the land. Markets Alter XVar. “The guaranteed price procedure must continue to operate if we are to avoid slumps,” said Mr. Nash amid applause. Guaranteed markets were also required. He thought New Zealand would be able to get agreements with Britain and other countries for that purpose. “XX r e have got to win the war. XV e have got to win the peace. XX e have also got to help in building a better world and not go back to the. old order, said Air. Nash, in commenting on Mr. I-loi-iand’s remarks in Hamilton on returning to private enterprise. A voice: XVhy not? “Does anyone remember 19-9-30? asked Mr. Nash. “Mr. Hol and advocates returning to the old order of supply and demand. I say if we do so then slumps such as 1929-35 are inevitable again. The National Party wanted freedom. It wanted to abolish the Internal Marketing Division and wouKl probably abolish the export marketing department. If those two marketing departments were abolished, Tsew Zealand in five years, would be in chaos again. There were no two departments spoken of -more approvingly in other countries than those two, said Mr. Nash. The Opposition was opposed to the payment of subsidies, said Air. Nash, lhe amount spent last year totalled £4,600.000. “I would affirm that had we not paid that money last year, and let nrices go. you would be paying from £10,000,000 to £15,000,000 more. There is not a country in the world where the ' essentials of life are better controlled and stabilized than in New Zealand. A voice: Why stabilize so high. Air. Nash said that if any housewife were to take a budget over the last three months and compare it with the same three months in 1939, exclusive ot unusual purchase, she wotild find that prices had not increased by more than 14 per cent. lu the course of dealtug with war finance. Mr. Nash said he had’seen much talk about debt free money. He asked the exponents of what they billed debt free money to show him any evidence that such existed. He had never heard of it or of the use of debt free money. A voice: Other countries do. Air. Nash: They do no such thing. The control of the credit and currency of this country was entirely in the hands of the Government, the speaker continued. The menace for a long period had been private control of credit and currency. , , , „ A voice: What about the banks. Air Nash: They have no control.