MR FRASER HAS BIG MEETING AT MASTERTON

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1949, Page 8

MR FRASER HAS BIG MEETING AT MASTERTON

MASTERTON, Nov. 28 (P.A.) — “Mr Holland has been running so far and so fast that he ought to take part in the British Empire Games,’’ said the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) in Masterton this evening. Mr Holland was still running away from the question he had asked about his “funny money” scheme, Mr Fraser said.

An enthusiastic welcome was given the Prime Minister. There was an attendance of 900 people, with an overflow of 100. Outside the theatre Mr Fraser was cheered and as he entered the theatre he was given sustained applause, followed by musical honours. He said he believed that the Labour Government would be returned to office. Mr Holland had been confident in Auckland that he would obtain seats up there but he had failed to consult the electors. Mr Fraser said the press had “played up” Mr Holland’s meetings. He and Mr Nash had had wonderful meetings, in fact record meetings, but there was nothing to indicate that. However, it was the people and not the press who elected the Government. Should a poll be taken of New Zealand dairy farmers 95 per cent, of them would favour, and fight for, the guaranteed price. No country in the world, he said, was in a better position to meet a slump should there be a slump. Mr Holland had shown in 1935 that he had no faith in the future .of New Zealand when he had said in Christchurch that he could not see how New Zealand could provide emplovment for everyone. Labour and the people of Netv* Zealand had shown that .it could be done. Mr Fraser said the Labour Government was proud, of its expenditure this year of £46,000,000 on social service, because it regarded that sum as an investment in human happiness. A vote of thanks to Mr Fraser and a motion of confidence in Labour were carried.