LABOUR'S POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 59, 7 September 1937, Page 8

LABOUR'S POLICY

A PLEA FOR PATIENCE

PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS

MR. M CKEEN'S REVIEW

There were many people who were dissatisfied with the progress made by the Government and wlio gave little thought to the tremendous legacy of chaos that it had inherited, said Mr. R. McKcen. M.P. for Wellington South, in the course of a pre-sessional address at St. Thomas's Ha]], Newtown, last evening. "They grumble, because the Labour Party has not been able to create Heaven on earth," he said. "They think that they have only to give expression to their wishes, and that the Labour Party, like a band of magicians, can wave a wand and give them what they want." '

To such ■ people, Mr. McKeen continued, he would reply mat the Government itself wanted to do things quickly, as quickly as its resources would permit. He asked for patience and co-operation in implementing the Government's programme. The party had inherited ages of maladministration, and things could not be improved in two years, nor even in ten years.

The hall was well filled and Mr. McKeen was given a very attentive hearing. Mr. F. Tworl, president of the Newtown branch of the Labour Parly, was chairman of the meeting, and at the conclusion of the. address a resolution endorsing the work and policy of the Government and expressing confidence in Mr. McKeen was carried unanimously. The greater part of the address was devoted to a review of the Government's work since its assumption of' office in November, 1935. Mr. McKeen" claimed that every previous attempt to ameliorate the prevalent distress had had the effect of accentuating it. He referred to the'reduction of wages and salaries, the retrenchment of workers in every branch of industry, and the reduction of pensions as having brought about a state of demoralisation throughout the Dominion. "All this," he said* "came from the blind ineptitude of the previous Government, and it was a state of chaos and .distress that faced the Labour" Government when it assumed office." MEMORABLE CHRISTMAS. One of the first acts of the Government was immediately to relieve distress and privation by giving a Christmas bonus oi1 £270,000 to the unem-1 ployed and to the recipients ■of charitable aid from hospital boards and other organisations, Mr. McKeen continued. The Government's action on that occasion would never be forgotten by the people who benefited. From time to time notable events had marked the Dominion's progress, but the Christmas of 1935 would remain evergreen in the memories of tens of thousands of people. The Government had had to - act quickly to bring the country out of the doldrums into which it had been carried, and one of the first steps taken was the restoration of wages, salaries, and conditions of employment to the 1931 level. Amendments to the industrial laws had also had the effect of strengthening and improving the position of the workers. The 40-hour week had not only given the opportunity for healthful recreation, but had led to increased employment and greater general efficiency in industry.. "If only our opponents would make a dispassionate analysis of the increased volume of production during the past year, both in the primary and secondary industries, it would prove conclusively that our policy is on the right lines," said ; Mr. McKeen. During the past year the total wages bill of the Dominion had increased by £15 000,0Ctf. That was an increase of 20 per cent, over the 1935-36 figures, arid there was the striking evidence of increased business turnover to show that the public now had more to spend than before Labour took'office. Another clear indication of improved conditions was the increase of 20 per cent, in the value of exports for the year ended June last, as compared with the figures for ,tho year ended June, 1936, and the increase of 26.7 per cent, in the value of imports. Returns from wool, mutton, lamb, butter, and cheese had also improved very substantially. "INSPIRED" OPPOSITION. "The dairy farmer has benefited ■considerably, because the guaranteed price has been appreciably higher thaa the overseas market price, Mr. McKeen continued. "Most of the dairy .farmers' oppbsition to-the guaranteed price of which we hear so much, is inspired by those who are bitterly hostile to the Labour Government. Withan the past few days I have met 'farmers who were visibly jubilant over the announcement of the new 'guaranteed price, as it gives them the surety of a stable income." 1 Mr. McKeen said that he was not blind to the fact that there were many who thought that the Government should make faster progress, and he would challenge such grumblers to 'compare the Government's record of •work done and in hand with that of any other Government in any part .of the world. He was convinced that they would have to admit that greater progress had been made in the short time that had elapsed than any other Government had accomplished. Improvements to the social structure of the Dominion were being.made which1 would ensure the prosperity and happiness of the people, Mr. McKeen concluded. With that objective several very important . measures would be introduced during the coming session of Parliament. Preparations were almost complete for the early introduction of Bills dealing with national superannuation and the national health scheme, and those two measures alone would guarantee security in sickness and old age.