REDUCING COSTS THE WAGE-CUTS INDUSTRIAL LAW EDFCATION PROBLEMS THE FARMER'S TOTE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 116, 12 November 1935, Page 7

REDUCING COSTS

THE WAGE-CUTS

INDUSTRIAL LAW

EDFCATION PROBLEMS

THE FARMER'S TOTE

DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT

GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DARGAVILLE, November 11,

Suggestions made in certain quar-i ters that the Government has been influenced by large financial interests were refuted today by the Minister of I Finance, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, in i the course of election speeches in the) Kaipai-a electorate. He pointed out', that in actual fact the Government's '■ legislative' programme had often been strongly opposed by financial interests. "One of the main objectives of the Government's policy has been to reduce costs," said Mr. Coates, "and spread the burden of the depression as evenly as possible. Since February, 1930, overdraft rates have been reduced from 7 per cent, to 4£ per cent.; a statutory reduction of 20 per cent, in mortgage interest and rents has been made, and a similar reduction of interest on Government and local body securities has been brought about by conversion operations? The Mortgagors and Tenants Relief Act and the Rural Mortgagors Final Adjustment Act have safeguarded the harassed mortgagor against crushing external difficulties. These measures were strongly opposed by important financial interests, so also was the establishment of the Mortgage Corporation, which already is proving a strong competitive force in the field of mortgage finance. Any suggestion that the commercial banks have. unduly influenced the Government's policy is effectively answered when one recalls the active opposition to. the raising of the exchange, the establishment of the Reserve Bank, and the transfer of gold. "The inquiry conducted last year into the affairs of bond-issuing companies and investment trusts is also clear evidence that the Government has not hesitated to take action which may offend strong financial groups when this is deemed to be for the general good. Although the commercial banks and other financial institutions opposed in the first place the measures taken by the Government they have since co-operated loyally in putting them into effect. "There are three financial programmes before the country at present. The Democrat policy would definitely and inevitably lead to dominance by the money ipterests, while ihe Labour Party's plan would bring all financial activities within direct control of the State. The Government has steered a middle course Its policy is to enable finance to play a legitimate part in the promotion of the general welfare while effecting such control as will safeguard the small investor and the public against exploitation-." . HELP FOR FARMERS HIGH EXCHANGE DEFENDED Mr. G. A. Monk, the Government candidate for Otaki, received a splendid reception at . his. meetings .at Ihakara and Reikorangi last weekend. At the Ihakara meeting Mr. S. A. Broadbelt presided. Mr. Monk said that there was one point on which all parties seemed to be agreed upon—that - is, that some assistance had to be rendered primary producers. He subjected • the Democrat's subsidy scheme to a Jose analysis and argued that neither their scheme nor Labour's guaranteed prices had any advantage over the raising of the rate of exchange. Mr. Monk said the electors shoui^. be chary about the Labour Party's claims to be able to grvern the country, and that while individually they might be well meaning men who were theorists and idealists, they certainly lacked, as a party, sufficient men of experience for New Zealand to risk granting them control of national affairs. At the Ihakara meeting a vote of thanks was unanimously carried on the resolution of Mr. Hustler, seconded by Mr. Arthur Cottle. ' At the Reikorangi meeting Mr. F. C. Myer occupied the chair. In this case also a unanimous vote of thanks was carried to the candidate, the mover being.Mr. S. Clifton, sen., seconded by Mr. Frank Best.

GOVERNMENT CRITICISED

At the Taia Hall, Kilbirnie, last evening, Mr. W. Duncan, Democrat Party candidate for Wellington East, addressed a meeting of about 130 people. Mr. A. H. Light was chairman. The candidate criticised the Government's action in waiting until just before the election to restore part of the civil servants' wage-cuts and to talk of investigating the condition of burnt-out returned soldiers. He said it was fortunate for the civil servants that the election was coming on, for, otherwise, they would not have had I part of their wage-cuts restored. I Mr. Duncan asserted that the Government's plan for putting men on to public works was merely scratching the surface of a serious problem. What was wanted was a scheme, such as that of the Democrat Party, to rehabilitate the whole economic life of the Dominion so that all those skilled tradesmen now out of work could be reabsorbed into their own vocations. The objection voiced by Mr. Coates to raising loans was a mere bogey. The Democrat Party would float a loan for £8,000,000 which would be extinguished in a few years by contributing less than one penny of the present unemployment tax. The loan would be a potent factor in stimulating primary and secondary industries, throughout the land, for it would be I used either as loans or guarantees to assist, projects of a sound economic nature.

Mr. Duncan answered a number of questions, and at the conclusion was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

MR. FRASER'S CANDIDATURE

Electors of Wellington Central to tha number of over two hundred gathered in the Council Chamber of the Trades Hall last evening for the purpose of forming themselves into a committee to further the candidature of Mr Peter Fraser for Wellington Central. Mr. J. W. Ransom, president of the Wellington Central branch of the Labour Party, presided. The meeting welcome^ both Mr. and Mrs. Fraser with loud cheers and the singing of "For They are Jolly Good Fellows." Mr. Fraser spoke briefly on several of the more important public questions before the electors. At the conclusion of the address a motion constituting all present an election committee was carried unanimously. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks and three hearty cheers for the candidate and a Labour victory. After the meeting fifty electors from all over the constituency signed Mr. Fraser's nomination, paper.

THE ARBITRATION ACT

The increasing interest in the' General Election in the Wellington South electorate was demonstrated by the large attendance at the meeting addressed by Mr. H. F. Toogood at Berhampore last evening. Mr. Loadsman was in the chair. The candidate dealt with the quesJtion of overseas borrowing, and stated j that a self-reliant policy with respect Ito public borrowing was forced upon j New Zealand by the conditions surj rounding overseas trade. He added that internal borrowing of large sums at the present juncture would hinder rather than stimulate industry. With regard to education, Mr. Toogood said he believed in paying particular attention to primary education in order that during the most formative years of the child's life characterbuilding might be commenced on proper lines. Over-large classes and frequent changes of teachers was undoubtedly not in the interest of the child. In dealing with the question of industrial laws and their amendment, the candidate pointed out the difference of opinion held in Labour circles regarding the retention of the compulsory clauses in the Arbitration Act. "Our efforts should be directed towards industrial peace and to the elimination of the bickering which at times takes place on both sides," he said. "The third party in these disputes, the general public, demands that a fair deal be given to the wageearner, and the question of what is fair and equitable can and must be settled in a reasonable manner. The evidence available of the past year indicates that there is less industrial strife under the amended Act. and it is highly probable that a definite return to conciliation is a more acceptable way of settling industrial disputes."

MR. BUTLER AT NGAIO

Mr. P. M. Butler (Labour, Suburbs) addressed an attentive audience in the Town Hall, Ngaio, last night. There were about 150 people present, and a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate and the Labour Party was carried. Mr. E. Foster was the. chairman. The main item in the Labour Party's election policy, with particular reference to the educational programme, were dealt with by Mr. Butler. "The New Zealand Labour Party is of opinion that education was never j more important than at the present I time," said Mr. Butler. "New Zealand, with other countries, is faced with the task of reconstruction which calls for an education to help the boys and girls of today to cope effectively and courageously with the problems which lie ahead. Without such an education they will be lost in a world that they cannot fully understand. It has never been more important that every child should receive a full, generous education together with the opportunity to develop his or her talents to the utmost. The Labour Party feels that educational expenditure is different from all other expenditure. It cannot wait, because the passing of the years means the passing of the opportunity." Dealing with the Government's attitude towards education, Mr. Butler said that the Labour members in Parliament protested against every cut in education expenditure and against the exclusion of the five-year-olds; the stopping of the grants for kindergarten work; the general cut in salaries, and the closing of the training colleges. The Labour Party would reorganise the whole of the education system with the object of giving children in the kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools the maximum opportunities for development. Especially would it do its utmost to bring conditions- in the primary schools into line with modern educational ideals.

MR. WRIGHT'S CRITICISM

Mr. E. A. Wright, Independent can-] didate for Wellington Suburbs, ad-1 dressed a largely-attended meeting in the Kiosk, Kelburn, last night. Mr. G. H. Moir occupied the chair. In the course of his remarks, the candidate dealt with the Labour Party's policy of guaranteed prices, and said that the two major political parties—Labour and the Government —were both angling for the farmers' votes.- The latter was doing this by means of the high exchange, and the I Labour Party by means of its guaranteed price scheme. Whether the farmer was helped by one or the other of these schemes, the fact remained that the funds to meet the payment of these benefits would have to be levied on the non-farming section of the community. The question then arose as to which members of Parliament could be called upon to protect the interests |of the major section of the people, it I being obvious that little support for the town and city electors could be expected from either party mentioned. This, therefore, made it imperative that some independent should be elected to the House to safeguard the interests of those particular electors. He was satisfied that a gotid Independent candidate would be elected in the forthcoming election. The Labour Party, or its leader, had stated that the money necessary to pay guaranteed prices would be raised by taxation or borrowing. Details of that, however, had not so far been published. Several of the Labour Party candidates had stated that the money would be manufactured —presumably that meant the issue of paper money by the Government. It could have only one ending—the huge inflation would lead.ultimately to financial disaster. I Mr. Wright spoke on the question of taxation. The figures, he said, were arresting. In 1932 the sum of £17.500,000 was collected in taxation: in 1933 the sum was £19.750,000; in 1934 it was £21.500.000; and for the year ended March 31. the total was £24.750,000. As a matter of fact, taxation had been growing at the rate o£ £2.000.000 a year, and from 1932 to 1935 the increase amounted to no less than £7,250.000. With local body taxation, the levy amounted to £19 13s 7d a head of population. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and continued confidence, on the motion of Mr. Henry Ivory.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) MASTERTON, This Bay. At a well-attended meeting Mr. G. R. Sykes, National Government candidate for Masterton, had a good hearing,! though he was interrupted freely at I times by minority sections of the audience. Mr. Sykes stoutly defended the Government, attacked the Democrats as representing only the city interests, and dismissed the Labour policy as impracticable. On concluding he received a vote of thanks and acclama- j tion.

CAMPAIGN NOTES

THE CONSCRIPTION ISSUE

"In the event of New Zealand becoming involved in war, would the candidal-i vote . favour of conscription " This question was put to Colonel T. W. McDonald, Democrat (candidate for Wairarapa, at Upper I Hutt last night, and he replied: "No. I am dead against,conscription. Conscription means lives, and the first thing I say. should be conscripted is wealth." A member of the audience said that Australia did not conscript a single life during the war, and it was the i only country that did not do so. Colonel McDonald: Then I say more | credit to Australia. (Applause.)

AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE

An urchin was very eager to attend a Saturday afternoon political address by Mr. F. Jones, Labour candidate for Dunedin South. His parents were amused at his premature interest in worldly affairs, and when the day arrived and rain- caused a cancellation of the open-air meeting the child tearfully inquired why the elements had to be so cruel. Still puzzled, fatner asked why he was so disappointed, the little fellow boo-hooing: "I hoped Mr. Jones would give me the box he stood on for my rabbit hutch."