DEFENCE COSTS AND WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 143, 14 December 1933, Page 8

DEFENCE COSTS AND WORK

Writing of Defence expenditure and work, G. H. Wilkin states:—"One of the most frequently used slogans of the Labour Party is 'the right to work!' Yet Labour M.P.S on Friday night were advocating a change from that slogan to 'social services' which means charitable aid. Mr. Langstone must know that every penny of the Defence Vote will give someone within the British Empire the right to work. ... My contention is that money Bpent on any national work circulates back to the taxpayer either through the export farmer or through the people directly employed in that expenditure in supplying their wants; It is only by spending money on wages that there can be hope of any adequate distribution in this land of plenty. Mr. Langstone speaks of the £100,000 contribution to the Singapore Base as only destroyiug property. My'impression has been that that sum was voted to defend and not to destroy property. His remarks about admirals paying social calls should not pass without comment—once, during the Great Wai1, an admiral went to pay a call at the Falkland Islands with, two battle-cruisers that had been made ready for Sea With incredible speed, and because of that visit the Pacific and New Zealand became a much safer place to live in. Mr. Lee's speech on the same subject was equally full of loose statements. He seems to have a notion that warships are always killing people, whereas they only start operations when someone has to be punished . . • These Labour members would be well advised to study the question whether it. is production or distribution -that is responsible foi4 the distress So prevalent in New Zealand."