MINISTER'S ADDRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 24

MINISTER'S ADDRESS

MR. FRASER IN PALMERSTON I NORTH {By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. The Hon. P. Fraser was given a rousing reception tonight at the Opera HPuse, which was crowded. The Minister declared that the Leader of the Opposition had descended from a pretty high pedestal. He had said that the Social Security Bill was most awkward to handle from the Opposition point of view. Why, asked Mr. Fraser, should better pensions for widows, old age pensioners, and the like, be awkward for them? Why should benefits to be given to the sick be awkward? .

A voice: Where's the money coming from? Mr. Fraser: When we ask where the money is coming from we also want to know what sense there is in some of the National Party proposals. Mr. Fraser quoted the Hon. A. Hamilton as saying, "We thought we could steer our course in a manner which would prevent the Government getting us offside." Mr. Hamilton had no thought for the widow and others, but instead a mean thought of the Government getting them-offside and the Nationalists losing advantages. However, he counted without the intelligence of the people. Labour came before the country with its platform-ful-filled to a greater extent than had been done by any other Government. Mr. Hamilton had promised not to j-cut wages but leave the matter in" the hands of the Arbitration Court. That promise was not satisfactory because legislation could easily be put through instructing the Court to do so. Mr. Fraser said he wanted Mr. Hamilton to give a complete answer.. ) ... "We made them ashamed of all they did during the depression years and the country will not risk the chance of seeing whether they' are sincere this time," Mr. Fraser stated when commenting on the National platform.