BACK TO PROSPERITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1938, Page 15

BACK TO PROSPERITY

LABOUR'S RECORD

MR. M CKEEN AT NEWtOWN

When Labour came to power in 1935 a policy of progress replaced a policy of stagnation and ruination, said Mr. R. McKeen, Labour candidate for Wellington South, who spoke at the Rivoli Theatre, Newtown, last evening. He drew a comparison between the regime of the present Government and that of its Coalition predecessor. The meeting was largely attended and Mr. McKeen was accorded an enthusiastic hearing. In his opening remarks Mr. McKeen took his hearers' minds back to the economic situation which had prevailed in New Zealand three years ago. When the last General Election had been held —a time when the position of the Dominion from an economic point of view was at an extremely low ebb, a time when industry was dismissing men, and when the unemployed personnel numbered close on 100,000 —a time, in fact, when the country had been facing stark ruination, Mr. Savage had come before the electors with the Labour Party's progressive policy, seeking a vote of confidence from the people. This had been accorded him, with the greatest majority ever given a Government in this country, and the result was that today, three years after Labour's advent to power, there was not a man, woman, or child who *had not benefited in some substantial way from this policy. THE FIRST TASK. The first task of the new Government in 1935 had been to divert the vast army of unemployed men into productive channels of industry. Immediately the Labour programme was put into operation the economic situation began to improve and the improvement had been going steadily on ever since. Hence there was more contentment and tranquillity of mind among the people today than at any time in our history. Efforts had been made by the National Party to fix the issue at this election as Socialism versus private enterprise. That was not the issue today. It was crystal clear that the issue was that of vested interests, as represented by the National Party, and the people, as represented by the Labour Party. The Associated Banks and insurance companies and the joint stock companies were financing the National Party in a campaign which for innuendoes, falsehoods, and slanders possessed no parallel. The effect of the Coalition Government's policy had been to contract I the productive capacity of New Zealand instead of making for expansion and progress. Apprentices had been reduced to a low level numerically, the doors of the training colleges had been bolted and barred against those seeking opportunity, and the programme of cutting had been extended even to the five-year-olds—all in the name of economy. A CHANGED OUTLOOK. When the Labour Party had gained power, however, there was a noticeable change in the outlook. In .the past two and a half years the number of apprentices had risen from 3000 to nearly 8000, the training colleges had been reopened to students, and industrial opportunity had been restored. The Labour Party had made possible a better distribution of the wealth of the country. The proponents of the National Party spoke of money' as if it were a peculiar commodity which had to be imported from another country; but money was merely a reflection of the productive capacity of the people, and it was the Labour Government's determination to see that the money passed into the hands of the people themselves. In turning to the problems of the farmer, Mr. McKeen said that despite the efforts of the National Party to woo the farmers' support, the farmer realised that Labour's promise was genuine—that whatever produce prices were ruling overseas, the producer himself would get his price. It was being suggested to the farmer that he would lose everything if Labour were returned; actually the position was that the first time in his life the farmer had been given economic security. Furthermore, industry itself had done exceedingly well under the Labour Government's administration. Private enterprise, which was being made a bogy election issue, had profited to an abnormal extent in the past three years, as the record of company profits would show. The day had passed when employers could regard their employees as mere hands, instead of beings. The time had % come when they would be compelled *to do their.duty as a part of the industrial system of the country "If they are not prepared to do their duty as individuals," the- speaker added, "then the Government will do it for them." FACILITIES FOR EDUCATION. Mr. McKeen compared the record of the Coalition Government and that of the Labour Party, in the field of education, and claimed that whereas it had been impossible to make progress in the expansion of school buildings under the old regime, the progressive policy of the. Labour Government had been reflected in new and extended buildings, enlarged playing areas, and generally more congenial conditions, both in the, classroom and in the playground. Certainly from the attention given to local requirements he could j assure the people that Newtown, among I other places, was being placed on the map.

The people of the Dominion were faced with a serious choice at the coming election —the choice of the democracy of the people as against the dictatorship of vested interests. He believed that when the Labour Party was returned to power next month it would remain the Government for a quarter of a century. That would be a quarter-century of further progress— an extension of the progressive policy which had been instituted by the present Government, and partially carried into effect in the past three years, a policy which was destined to bring permanent security to every man, woman, and child in this Dominion. | (Applause.) In reply to a question, Mr. McKeen said that to exercise control over high flat and house rents was extremely difficult, and was but one phase of an acute social problem. Those who were paying £3 and £4 a week could often well afford it, but the solution was to be found in the erection of more houses. That was how the Government was attacking the problem. After the candidate had answered several other questions, a resolution was passed thanking Mr. McKeen for his address and expressing appreciation of Mr. and Mrs. McKeen for their services to the district. The motion also expressed confidence in the candidate and in the Labour Party. The meeting then sang "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows." Mr. M. J. Reardon presided, and on the platform with him were Mrs. McKeen, Mr. J. Andrews, president of the Wellington South branch of the Labour Party, and Mrs. Janet Savage, secretary of the branch.