"LEGACY OF TORYISM"

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 126, 23 November 1935, Page 19

"LEGACY OF TORYISM"

PRESENT-DAY CONDITIONS

Speaking at Berhamporc last evening at an open-air meeting, Mr. R. McKeen, Labour candidate for Wellington South, saidtnat less than a quarter of a century ago New Zealand had the name of being one of the most progressive countries in the world. Today it rightly had the name of being the most reactionary.

Twenty-five years ago there were labour laws that protected the workers, but as a result of years of Tory government and maladministration those laws had been wrecked and rendered ineffective. The country had been plunged into debt, and the people taxed to, breaking point.

There were unemployment, economic insecurity, and absolute want amongst New Zealand's best customers. This was the true legacy of Toryism.

Mr. McKeen quoted from the Abstract of Statistics to show how the cost of living was increasing thus making the burden more severe upon the people. For the month of August, 1935. he said, the cost of living figure for Wellington was 42.2 per cent, over the 1914 level, as against 33.4 per cent, for the Dominion in 1932. 2G.6 per cent, in 1933, and 28.7 per cent, in 1934. The retail price for all groups in Wellington City was 8.8 per cent, higher than in 1932, 15.6 per cent, higher than 1933, and 13.5 per cent, higher than 1934. The Abstract of Statistics was indeed an eloquent answer to the Government and its candidates who said that the standard of life of the citizens in Wellington or in the Dominion as a whole, was higher today, despite the fact that wages had been cut and a high exchange rate imposed.

Mr. McKeen explained Labour's proposals for a national health scheme, and national superannuation. He also dealt with unemployment, pensions, etc.

A number of questions were asked and were satisfactorily answered.

A vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate was carried unanimously.