THE ALTERNATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1938, Page 23

THE ALTERNATIVES

PROMISE & WARNING

MR. COMBS AT HOWARD POINT

A promise and a warning were encompassed in an address delivered by Mr. H. E. Combs, Labour candidate for Wellington Suburbs, to an enthusiastic audience at Howard Point last evening—a promise of prosperity if Labour is returned to power, and a warning of a return to depression if the National Government is chosen at the General Election.

Mr. Combs, who was introduced by the chairman, Mr. J. Saulbery, referred at the outset to the influence which the radio was due to play in the General Election, and he advanced the contention that the Government had treated all parties and individuals quite fairly in the arrangement of the election broadcasts. The Labour Party's organisation in Wellington Suburbs— an untried territory—was so efficient that he was quite confident that the new seat would go to Labour.

The speaker, nevertheless, warned nis hearers of the grave responsibility which lay upon the shoulders of every individual to vote correctly in what promised to be a record poll. In order to decide, in a considered manner, it was necessary to examine the chaotic conditions which prevailed when Labour came into power three years ago and compare them with the prosperous state to which the Dominion had been brought as a result of the Labour Government's administration. While the Dominion's production was being maintained at a high level, the living conditions of the people in 1935 had been reduced in many instances to starvation point. The secret of this unbalance was that the measuring rod of New Zealand's credit was located in London, and the resources of the Dominion were measured by men who lived 12,000 ! miles away, who knew nothing whatever about New Zealand and who would not know a New Zealander if I they saw one. Their only concern was that New Zealand should pay ( interest on its debit. GREAT CHANGES. Great changes had been brought about under the Labour regime. The measuring rod of credit had been transferred from London to Wellington, where the Government had taken measures through the Reserve Bank to exercise full control over the credit resources of the country, and the consequence was that the wheels of industry were now spinning merrily, the spending power of the people had risen, and there was a. general readjustment of economic conditions which was reflected beneficially in every walk of life. If the National Party was returned to power on Saturday the measuring rod of New Zealand credit would again be transferred to London. This he considered would be an awful result of the people's failure to realise the seriousness of the choice at the General Election. He was confident, however, that no such error of judgment would be committed by the people. Mr. Combs replied to statements made by his opponent, Mr. O. C. Mazengarb, and in the course of his remarks produced Mr. J. A. Lee's book. Inviting members of the audience to open the volume at random, he read short extracts to prove his contention that Mr. Lee's writings, far from being dangerous, comprised an instructive and useful survey of New Zealand conditions, which, if it appeared later in a cheaper edition, should be read by everybody in New Zealand. At the present time, he added, it was rather expensive for general use. The candidate declared that if the Labour Government was defeated at the election, the people would be deprived of the benefits of ,social security, as the National Party was pledged to scrap the Government's scheme, under which all classes were j to benefit. DOCTORS WILL COME IN. Criticism had been levelled at the Government's health insurance scheme, but the speaker believed that the doctors, who were now opposed to it, would eventually come under the national plan. They had been given an option, until April 1, with a few months' grace after that date, of coming in, and the speaker was confident that the option would be exercised before the scheme was due to operate. At this stage, Mr. Combs was interrupted by a small group of visitors, who, upon being threatened with ejectment from several other members of the audience, subsided, and a few left the hall. ' New Zealand had been made an example to the world under a Labour Government, the candidate said in conclusion, and he urged the people to ensure a continuance of that administration. At the conclusion, the candidate was thanked for his address, and confidence was expressed in his candidature.