TO THE ELECTORS OF WESTLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1949, Page 2

TO THE ELECTORS OF WESTLAND

“An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.” Having no gift of oratory I have had to deal in cold, hard facts, and I believe in performances rather than promises. “Deeds, not words.” It has been my proud privilege to represent our wonderful Westland in Parliament with its great scenic beauty of endless variety and charm, its production potentialities which are greater than any other part of New Zealand. The development of these will be my constant endeavour. Whether as a Member of Parliament or otherwise, I shall continue to work for the advancement of Westland and its people. I want to tender my sincere thanks for the very many kindnesses and unbounded hospitality received throughout my tour of the electorate. I wish to apologise to the many good friends I have been unable to meet, as time has not permitted the full coverage of this large district, and I hope those I have missed will take the will for the deed. I assure them that, if elected, I shall give an account of my stewardship at the earliest opportunity. I appreciate the many letters of thanks I have received during my term, which are an incentive to further service. At the Poll on November 30th there is only one issue and that is vital. Do you want prosperity to last? Then you must vote for a strong Labour Government. All that is worthwhile in our everyday life depends entirely oh keeping a helpful, humanitarian Government in power. The alternative is to again suffer at the hands of the Nationalists. They are pledged to reduce costs, which.means a reduction of wages and pensions, and a heavy loss to industry and trade. One man’s costs is another man’s income. Everyone today is enjoying prosperity. I urge you to hold fast to that which is good. Resolve now to support the Labour Government which has already DONE those things which the National Party now promises. Yours faithfully, J. B. KENT. WOMEN OF WESTLAND. The question of pounds, shillings, and pence is of great importance to you. Money is needed to manage the home. Can you afford to have less than at present? Could you afford to lose the family benefit of 10s per week for each child? Could you afford to have less money in the home during a period of sickness? The Prime Minister asked Mr Holland, Leader of the National Party, some questions; one of which was: If th'e money supply is reduced, who will have less money? Mr Holland refused to answer. Why? We submit that if people knew the real meaning of the National Party’s policy on the question of currency and credit Mr Holland and his friends would suffer a very heavy defeat at the forthcoming elections. One of their prominent speakers said: “The supply of money can and will be reduced.” . Therefore someone is going to have less money. Do you think it will be the big financial interests who support the National Party? Or do you think it will be you and your family? Of course it will. The Labour Party put this country on the road to prosperity and has your interests at heart because it is a party of the people. Don’t gamble with your children’s future; be sure rather than sorry. “MY OATH WE WILL.” Hon. W. Parry (Labour Minister in Charge of Social Security): “You are not going to repeal the legislation we have passed?” Mr Bodkin, Nationalist M.P.: “My oath we will, as soon as we get the chance. —“Southern Cross,” October 30, 1948. WORKERS, THINK AND THEN VOTE YOUR DECISION. Your future lies in your own hands. No one will attempt to dictate to you If you choose to put in BIG BUSINESS, with the BIG STICK they have been patiently keeping behind their backs all these years, you are frfee to do so. , , , • , l(rpl _ ■" Only remember what these people have been saying for years: The workers are on the box seat today, but our turn will come tomorrow.” HOLIDAYS WITH PAY. Not so long ago, we were all entitled to take our two weeks’ holiday at Christmas, or at any other time we ehose, provided, of course, that w® didn’t expect to be paid for that fortnight. Indeed, many of our workers found themselves taking almost continuous compulsory “unpaid holidays.” Today under the Annual Holidays with Pay Act, 70,000 new workers receive a fortnight’s full nay for this holiday period. Only now can they afford to take the holiday they were once offered, indeed in many cases forced to take, without pay. This is one of the greatest gains brought to you by La.bour; it can quickly be ta’ken from you. THE LAND SALES ACT. The Land Sales Act protects workers, returned servicemen or otherwise able to buy their own homes, their own sections. It protects younger men’anxious to set up on their own as farmers. It prevents the Big Man at present in possession from extorting inflated values as he did after the last war. , ~ , The Nationalists want the extortionate profits at all costs. Mr S W Smith, Nationalist M.P.: “The National Party’s plan was that properties should be sold to servicemen on 1942 valuations. The owner should receive the 1946 valuations, the difference between the two amounts being found by the State.”—“North Auckland Times, 20/10/46 Mr Doidge, Nationalist M.P.: “The difference between 1942 and pre-sent-day values should be met out of the Consolidated Fund. Bay of Plenty Times,” 19/3/49. . . In other words, you and I should pay ffie owner ms inflated pionts. HOUSING. The Labour Government has made immense strides in housing workers in decent new homes. Those for whom they cannot yet provide homes are nrotected bv the Fair Rents Act. The Nationalists will change this. They dislike our State housing system. They dislike the Fair Rents Act and its curb on exorbitant profits. Mr S. G. Holland, Nationalist Leader: “The Fair Rents. Act is the most unfair piece of legislation this Government has passed. —Hansard, 29/8/40. MONEY. Money, they say, talks. At one time money spoke only for BIG BUSINESS; gave out their instructions only. . . Todav the Reserve Bank and the issue of credit is in the hands of the neonle The Bank of New Zealand is in our hands, to regulate the whole of our banking practices, to combat inflation or deflation, wherever the men Todavwe have a Price Tribunal to prevent exorbitant profits, a Government Guaranteed price to our dairy producers, large Pool Accounts totalling over £58,000,000. safely stored away to see our farmers, and with them the community, through difficulties should they come. Money is today tamed- when it talks it talks for all. The Nationalists would change all this. They have said so. Indeed, they must, for through money control lies their quickest way to dictatorial nowOr over every aspect of our lives. , a .. . P Professor Tocker, Nationalist economist: “Monetary deflation is a. prime necessity if price inflation is to be avoided and freedom restored. It is m fset the first and essential step along the road to freedom. — The Dominion ” 4/4/46. The first subject to be deflated, of course, is wages. ’ Mr S G Holland, Nationalist Leader: Referring to the National Party intention to hand the Bank of New Zealand back to the financial interests: “Thb ourpose of reverting to a measure of private shareholding is concicfent with our whole policy of private ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange.”—“Waikato Times,” .7/11/46. • Thei-e it is in black and white. He will not deceive the voters. Pu vate ownership of everything. No Co-operative Dairy Companies. .No controlling by the farmers of their own industry. Private ownership and profits first. , SOME FACTS FOR EY.ERYONE. EMPLOYMENT. ■At the depths of the depression there were 79,435 registered unemployed in New Zealand. Today thdre are about 100. You say that this is because times are good? In the United States, hapl ? y f - n n U o^ t o m^ n fmployed Private Enterprise, there are in today s boom days 4,500,000 unempioy . In New Zealand this would mean well over half the depression s wo . total. It could happen here, and very quickly. Dl i r p l^J h c e ta rved Laboir food production reached all-time records, yet our people staived. Daoour will see that this will never happen again. , • Pwnlnvpd » to keeD the The Nationalists prefer a wide margin of unemployed to p wor “ThlYconlSst,” June 4. 1949: “A moderate degree of unemployment would do a great deal of good—on condition Economist” 7 ner cent ” Five per cent, in Britain would be 1,(DO,000. The Lconom st shows 7 per cent would be 1,470,000. Seven per cent, in New Zealand ’'"’'’hater “The Economist” says: “Full employment will not work without a million unemployed.” FORTY-HOUR WEEK. The 40-hour five-day week has been fought for and won in the teeth of the fiercest opposition. It is one of the greatest gains has won since the coming of the Industrial Revolution. The determining factor ta 1“ success is preduction. We are making our labour more erHcient so that greater production can be obtained with less hours. But the 40-hour five-day week will be the first casualty if the tlOtl Time ami § tiffie agaTn they have made this'obvious, and they will prove ready tools when the Power behind their party gives the word that the 40-hour five-day week must go. Labour will preserve and extend this gam when the workers’ productive effort justifies it. (Published by Arrangement.) _