IN THREE YEARS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 100, 29 April 1936, Page 8

IN THREE YEARS

GOVERNMENT'S TASK

The conditions under which he would be prepared to admit that the Labour Government had been a failure when next election came round in three years' time were stated by the Minister of Health (the Hon. P..Fraser). Mr. Fraser said that Mr. Bodkin had shown the same lack of consideration for accuracy, the same rashness, and had made the same sort of wild statements and unsupported assertions that

lie used to make when he attacked the Reform Party some years ago.

"It wasn't long," Mr. Fraser continued, "before he came' down from those Olympian heights where he stormed and raved his feeble thunder out and became very mild. I wouldn't suggest that that was due to the attraction of the emoluments of office, but there was ■ some difficulty over the Chairmanship." (Laughter.) A year from now, or two years, or three years from now, if Mr. Bodkin came forward and said that the Government had had its opportunity to make its financial . arrangements to carry out its plans and then had failed to raise the standard of living of the people, had failed to diminish or abolish unemployment, and had failed to improve the lot of the people, then he (Mr. Fraser) would be the first to admit that the Labour Government had failed. Mr. Bodkin: Will you admit that the Government has failed? Mr. Fraser said the Government had to be given a chance to put its policy into operation and they would see the result when they faced the electors in three years' time. If it was as dismal a failure as Mr. Bodkin and his colleagues had been it would deserve the same treatment ;that they had received. DISTRESS RAMPANT. That distress was rampant when the last Government vacated the Treasury benches was a statement made by Mr. Fraser. . "We are endeavouring to implement our election pledges," said Mr. Fraser, "and so far we have been successful." The Minister referred to the expressions of gratitude that had come from poor people—fathers and mothers— when they had received the small bonus that had been given them last Christmas. The Minister described these expressions as "tragical.' It had made all the difference to their Christmas and their,gratitude was more eloousnt ■ ■ Mr. Kyle: More eloquent than silence. Mr. Fraser: There is a time to be eloquent, and no doubt every member on the other side thinks I should be silent now.. . Continuing; the/Minister said he believed that as a result of the Government's policy. prosperity would be restored No party would doubt the earnestness of the Government. After three years the Government would go to the people.and ask for authority to go still further its programme that would-make unemployment almost impossible. He was one who believed that he should pay a portion of his income to those less fortunate than himself. He did not think that the method of dealing with the question was the last word, and he hoped to I see the necessity for unemployment ! taxation withdrawn altogether. If the Government's proposals proved successful the form of taxation now being, discussed would gradually and surely diminish.