LABOUR'S PLANS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 78, 1 April 1936, Page 7

LABOUR'S PLANS

DAWN OF NEW ERA

ADDRESS IN REPLY

MOVER'S SPEECH

.The opinion that the carrying into legislative effect of the Government's irteasures would result in a new era for- New Zealand was advanced by Mr.' ;W. J. Lyon (Government. Waiteiriataj, when moving the Address-in-Keply. motion' in the House of Representatives last evening. Mr.. Lyon quoted an extract from of 1842, to the effect that inachinery would displace labour, and tslced: whether it was not -eing realised, in New Zealand that the prophecy Was coming, true.' They had to decide Whether, they ''would maintain the existing system of society or whether Bociety should.be materially altered. That was the question that the people ofirNew.Zealand had to decide at the election1 in November. The Labour Party'had recognised. that there must be some form of revolution. The wheel of'fate had revolved, and that small group which had been the Opposition were now the Government of the day. ■ The reference in the Speech, from the Throne, that the Government intended to" 'introduce humanitarian legislation, ■was of wonderful importance to the people of New Zealand. The Govern-ment-Had taken up the view that the legislation of the country must be administered on humanitarian lines. They had .not-to see on how little a relief ■worker could exist, but to come to an understanding as to how much of the production of the country it would be possible- to give him to enable him to observe'a reasonable standard of living and give some security for the future. RESTORATION OF CONFIDENCE. Mr.'Lyon' said that he had been informed by a big broker that after the election there had been an increase in'business and a restoration of confidence. The speaker expressed the oiiinion that when the Governments legislation was on the statute Book there would 6e such an expansion of business that there would be a paucity of-labour, instead of labour being in excess: of requirements, as was the position today. Today, there were only one and a half million people in New Zealand; but the potentialities of production had not been probed, and they bad only flirted with the expansion of gecOridary industries. Mr.-Lyon said that it had been said that the Labour Government would bave no sense of responsibility in preparing for defence of the country in t^time of emergency, and, accordingly, it! was interesting to see that the Government did intend to meet its obligations: to the League of Nations, and favoured a system of collective security.' 'He had been told that the Labour Government was not patriotic because the-flag was not waved quite so freely at-some of the meetings attended by members; of the Labour Party.. But ■what did patriotic mean? The word Was derived from "country.", and he suggested' that the Government that did the, greatest good for the greatest number was the most patriotic. The Labour Government did not take second .place to.any body when it came to- the interpretation of the spirit of patriotism.* Their job was to see that everybody, had a reasonable opportunltjri'ito, : liv£ "'There;- had to> be a choice jrfaile ibetween the; adoption :o£ ihe liW of the jungle and the law of the tribal' sense of community. He suggested/that first principles meant the application of Christian ethics to the life of the community. ■ ; BIBLICAL SCHEME OF ,: ':■'' :/:?.,'. f ECONOMICS? ' , As ■ far -as- finance was concerned, What did that mean? What would be Bald if the Government introduced a Biblical scheme of economics? What II •they decided to. abolish rent, usury, and profit, and eliminate all debts every, Sabbatical year? What would the- Opposition say about that? The Government believed in the application of Christian ethics to the life of the community as a whole. What did it matter: whether profits were made ■o-'Jong as'every person had enough to eat? 'The carrying of the matters mentioned in: the Speech from the Throne Would-be to the benefit of every man, Uroman, and child in the community. Mr. Lyon said that he had not lost faith' in•=human nature. The Govern>»fent would not only not lose faith, but HPOuld not.lack courage in bringing in fegislation to make possible the things jfey\ advocated, and to see that they ►ere-s done'in-the shortest time posHble.'; : . . ' ■ TRADE RECIPROCITY. Mr.:. Lyon referred to allegations Bnade against the Labour Government jni connection .with its attitude on Imperial: matters. He referred to tl-2 suggestion made by the Hon. Arthur Henderson, 1.,wb0 visualised a British Commonwealth of' Nations composed of Uiiits of the British Empire and other countries (which would voluntarily j6lri)Y-and in which there would be a planned production- scheme and reciprocity .of. trade. In the Speech from the Throne he could foresee, though he was interpreting widely, something of that happening in the next few years. Sych a scheme1 would bring us closer to-'the. brotherhood of man. The lAbbur' Government desired to foster fee spirit of understanding and responaibUity with.reference to the weaker Sections of the community, and if that were: done—and he was satisfied that It'vCould be done —then there would be a i-more common understanding and a better tone extending throughout the Whole .of the, community. !"I;. suggest that the Governor-Gen-feral's Message is a beacon to light the "Whole of New Zealand, and not a fire to;,destroy it," said Mr. Lyon in confcUisiori.';