LABOR’S LUREACHMENT

Evening Star, Issue 16347, 13 February 1917, Page 7

LABOR’S LUREACHMENT

OF THE N.VTIONAL GOVERNMENT. At last night's meeting of the Otago Labor Kcpresemaucn Committee io wac decid'd to place ure following dcuUraliou before the P-OpiC;

Flic Otago Labor Representation Comnuttee affirm that the policy of the so-en'i d National Government is fraught with danWr to the community, tor the foiowing and o t r g reasons:— °

’I. Tlio Government are wasteful iu . Lra expenditure of piulic money. Their first act, was to increase (lie number of iu.i of the Cr ' ,wn . thereby addin’ iT.U-0 a year to the Civil List, and additional Secretarial, travelling, and other expenses incidental thereto, at a lime when Tic country was at war. and when the ord n;u;. work ot -Ministers of the Crown had heir mucti reduced. Again, at the end of ia-t ytar the Government voted hire ciiran.ouiu.ing to several hundred pounds.” w cml seivaats iu roce.pt. of over £oCO r. -.- year, in one case ni:iki;;g a rooimem.n .-.a'!,-' £r£oo. At tins time a large- amount o', public money is being riailv wasted by the prolonged visit of Mr Massey and Sir Jos. ph Ward to Eiignind. If t .. iC other Domini.'hs can be adequately represented bv one nun .why does this country require two men, wu i the additional .MioLteriai staffs and other expenses entailed?

“2. The Government have failed adcqua-»i-to pay coldiers and their dcpciuLm-s. This tenure of the '-tevernmont has forced puralv nen-poktirai Iccal bodes to set a too: .in agitation ro urge the Government to remedy the injustice, and so enable New Zealand to do its duty to those making the prime tacihoes.

3. The Government' have failed to protect the people against exploitation. One section of the people has been exploited by another section. The huge profit* made o. the ono hand have created difficulties on ih, } other. Iho Gear Meat Company paid a 0i ,25 per cent., and ear.itd iorwar.l tAj.OO2. Shares are now eight times their original value. Tne Southiaud Meat Company 3 enormous profit, equivalent to 50 per cent, on paid-up capital, is the last illuetranon oi war profits. "4. The Governinent have allowed raaninulatora ot_ foodstuffs to increase prices oi the necessaries of bfe. Tlie policy of resuiaiin* pnees ol foodstuffs produced in New Zealand or the basis of prices ruling in the scared market in the world is inimical to the public we.tare, inasmuch as it creates industrial unrest by forcing wage-earners to demand higher wages to meet, increased prices. Ai a time ■ ween organisation of industry and resources is necessary the Government tolec ate miudlenien and price-rigging, and so add to the cost of living.

5. The Govr-ninicr.t, by their lack of con:..go and political loro-ncat, have tolerar. -I an-l cncor,rayed Hw, pilin'/.-.-,p m - Br pr: f r --, 'W hen our count ly is at war trcrylh ny r i :! .V amis burdens on our people. inciudicc cv.soldiers and their dependents, should bc’Vyuia!ed. War _pr<MUs constitute a toll on te? general public, and arc immoral and mmsic;.?.! in their off. cl, ■■'Tus c-M>inr.i.tco urge, with a view to remedying Uiryc and other abuses, air! fr r tile purpose ot promoting ;■ hc bin ter "ov:.ruirent of the rouv.iry. that Parhamont/bo im-raeiu.K-ely convened, eo that the people can eruca-vo* l(> vai rterenir-. oi their yrhivanc.cs through their elected rGprcscntatevG3l !>