'CREATING DISCONTENT'

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21816, 12 September 1945, Page 4

'CREATING DISCONTENT'

MR. COLEMAN’S CHARGE NATIONAL PARTY POLICY (P.R.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 12. Persistent attempts by the National Party, both inside and outside the House, to create discontent in the minds of returned service personnel were alleged in the House of Representatives last evening by Mr. D. W. Coleman (Govt., Gisborne), speaking in the Budget debate. His assertion brought the response of: “Utter nonsense!” from Mr. W. S. Goosman (Waikato), and Mr. M. H. Oram (Manawatu) asked for specific examples. No country in the world had done so much for the returned servicemen and women as New Zealand, said Mr. Coleman and its efforts were appreciated to the full. The Opposition claimed that the mufti allowance of £25 was insufficient, but after the 1914-18 war the allowance was £s— a serviceman had to hand in his overcoat to get that. Work of Rehabilitation

Mr. Coleman drew attention to all that had been done and was being done by the Rehabilitation Department and said that, instead of trying to sow discontent, the Opposition should give the credit that was due. In spite of all the commitments for rehabilitation, gratuities and deferred pay the Opposition cried out for a reduction in taxation as soon as the Japanese had surrendered. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G Holland: Australia must be wrong. Mr. Coleman said he was sure the people of New Zealand would endorse the statement of the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, that no tax reduction that would endanger social security or rehabilitation would be made.