THE LABOUR LEADER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 120, 17 November 1931, Page 10

THE LABOUR LEADER

COALITION MANIFESTO

FIGURES CRITICISED

; (By Telegrapli.r-Prefls Association,).

CHBISTCHUBOH, 16th November.

Mr. 11. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, addressed a crowded meeting in the Civic Theatre to-night.

In reference to the manifesto issued by the Eight Hon. G. W. Forbes and the Eight.Hon. J. G. Coates, Mr. Holland said that those gentlemen were following along the line taken by Mr. Forbes on his return from1 Britain, when he endeavoured to place New Zealand's economic. position in the worst possible light. The statement that "the price realised for our exports alone has 'decreased from £56,000,000 two years ago to £36,000,000 this year" was a case in point, said Mr. Holland. The position was certainly bad enough, but for their purposes of comparison they had taken the peak year of export records (1928) —instead of an average year. It had to be remembered'that the total value of the Dominion's exports for the last threo years (1929-31), inclusive, was only £12,000,000 less than in the previous three years (1926-28), which, as he had said, included the peak year for exports. This represented an average drop of £4,000,000 a year for the last three years, and did not constitute an insurmountable obstacle, especially in view of the fact that Yew Zealand was capable of making rapid recoveries.

The Government's .internal policy would constitute the real handicap to tbe rehabilitation processes. It was extremely unfortunate that the methods of false economy imposed upon the statistical department made it impossible for them to know what the total production of the Dominion amounted to. It was certainly not less than £150,000,000 a year, and might possibly, amount to a much greater-sum. to the coming contest, Mr. Holland declared that some of the evidence to the Special Economic Committee showed a decided preference for the method of industrial conflict'as against the Arbitration Court, and said he had no doubt that strenuous endeavouTS would be made by certain elements among Labour's opponents to precipitate an industrial upheaval before polling day. He urged that the organisations of Labour should not allow themselves to be caught in any not spread for them by their opponents. • Mr. Holland was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. s