LABOUR’S CAMPAIGN

Evening Star, Issue 22953, 10 May 1938, Page 5

LABOUR’S CAMPAIGN

MEETING AT MORNINGTON Four of the Labour candidates, Dr D. G. M'Millan, M.P., Hon. M. Connelly, M.L.C., Mrs E. E. M‘Millan, and Mrs S. C. MacArthur, addressed a moderately large gathering of electors in the Mooiington Methodist Hall last night. Mr E. Wilson occupied the chair. Mrs M'Millan, dealing generally with the activities of the Hospital Board, said that she was of the opinion that the board should defer the matter of the erection of the new wing until it could be decided whether or not it was required. The speaker proceeded to enumerate the various points in hospital administration which were advocated by the Labour Party, these including more provision for outdoor relief, improved treatment of the inmates of the benevolent institutions, new and modern homes for benevolent inmates, a new hospital for the aged and incurable sick adjacent to the main hosEital, improved conditions of pay and ours of work for hospital employees, and freedom of association for all board employees. Mr Connelly upheld the council’s housing scheme, which, ho said, was designed to give the people of Dunedin decent and comfortable homes. The scheme had been deplored in some circles on the ground that it would possibly result in a rise in rates, but that fear was groundless, for an increase in the rateable property of the city would tend to pave the way for a reduction in rates.

The Citizens’ Association, said Mr Connelly, Were opposed to the council assisting in the relief of unemployment, as the people were already being taxed for that purpose. Actions however, spoke louder than words, for in 1933-34 the council took the sum of £17,222 from the profits of the trading departments and spent it on relieving unemployment, and the public was then being taxed Is in the £, which, was 50 per cent, higher than the tax to-day. There was, however, a Nationalist Government in office in 1934. An address, on. similar lines to that given by Mrs M'Millan was presented by Mrs MacArthur. who criticised the present Hospital Board’s administration of the benevolent homes, and reiterated her charge made previously that an employee at the Hospital had been summarily dismissed because of her endeavours .to secure better conditions of work and wages for herself and her fellow-employees. Dr M'Millan dealt with statements published by the Citizens’ Association, one of which, he said, was to the effect that under Labour control property values in the city might be “ bumped up.” That was absolutely incorrect, as the council had no powers over the city valuer, while a' further statement that tram fares, and . electricity charges might also he increased were equally incorrect. Sneaking of the Passmore. nroperty purchase, Dr M'Millan said that nresent citizens blessed the foresight of the-pioneers who gave them 1,600 acres of-town belt, and in 50 years’ time residents would he eouallv thankful for, the Labour council’s foresight in purchasing the Passmore property, which was intended to serve _ the Wakari housing area primarily. The nroperty was not expensive at £6,500. and-'conld not have been bought more cheanly. It had been on the books of several laud agents at that price for the past two years.., In’response to a question concerning the high rate of the tram concession to school children on the hill—namely, 10s 6d a month, compared with 4s a month on the_ flat—-Dr M'Millan said that a reduction in the price of the concession had been refused some time ago because it was not financially expedient to accede to the request at that time. The Mornington tram service had to balance its own budget, quite apart from the rest of the tram services, but it was ; hoped to be able to bring all the services under one transport department, and in that event he_ had no doubt that the present anomalies would be removed. The speakers were accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. AT NORTH-EAST VALLEY The policy of Labour in connection with local body affairs was discussed by Messrs M. Silverstone, B. O’Donnell, R. Harrison, and Mrs A. Herbert at Northeast Valley last night. Mrs Herbert spoke of the necessity of providing playing grounds in the crowded areas of the cities, and also advocated the building of a city destructor. Buses played their part in the transport problem, but in any extension of this service it was not the policy of the Labour Party to make any retrenchment without providing for those who were adversely affected by it. Labour claimed that it was contesting the election on behalf of the commonpeople, said Mr O’Donnell. Referring