LABOUR PARTY

Evening Star, Issue 22383, 6 July 1936, Page 14

LABOUR PARTY

BALCLUTHA BRANCH There was an attendance of about 50 members, including a number of ladies, at the monthly meeting of the Balclutha branch of the Labour Party on Thursday evening. Mr O. R., Throp presided. An address on the work and aims of the Labour Government was given by Mr P. Neilson, M.P. for Dunedin Central. After referring to conditions throughout the world, Mr Neilson said that two schools were in conflict —private ownership and control for profit by the few, as against common ownership and control for use by all, including the few. Those of the former school were those who controlled the means of sustenance, while the Labour Party espoused tho cause for the good of all, and represented the new order in society. He reviewed the work of the past session, and indicated how the Labour Government was carrying out its pledges. When the Government took over there were 50,000 farmers bankrupt and 50,000 men were unemployed and their wives and families almost destitute. The Government was taking steps to alter this state of affairs and to make conditions better for all. When Mr Forbes returned from Lngland he said, with reference to the unemployed, “No work, no pay,” but there was no work for them to do. The Labour Government was finding work, and intended that everyone should be paid sufficient to live upon in a decent way. Men didn’t want sustenance. They wanted work. None had any choice about coming into tho world, and all had the same rights to the fruits of the earth. They were told that they were idealists, but they were legislating constitutionally , to improve conditions for everyone. The Government had started on the rails where Mr Seddon left them, and it was going to keep on them and continue his great work. They were charged with having a Socialistic policy, hut what was more Socialistic than the Post Office, the Public Trust, tho railway and road services, their education system, and public health system, and it was only the great principles embodied in the operation of these services which had been so. successful that the Labour Government was pursuing. It was the aim of the Government that the people should have control in the same way as they had control for tho general good of the services he had mentioned. Mr Neilson was accorded a vote of thanks by acclamation.