LARGER MAJORITY

Grey River Argus, 16 October 1946, Page 5

LARGER MAJORITY

LABOUR’S CAMPAIGN SPLENDID START By Prime Minister Wonderful Auckland Welcome P - A - AUCKLAND, Oc/.. 15. There was a large gathering at the Town Hall to-night to hear the Prime Minister, Mr P. t Fraser, open the Labour Party's election campaign. A .feature was a ( ■prepoinderande of middle-aged arid elderly people. Of these, women formed a large proportion. Pensioners were admitted by the Grey’s Avenue entrance, and were given a privileged' position at the front of the hall.

Hundreds of people arrived at the hall early. By 7.35 p.m, all of the seats were taken, and the doors were closed.

Late comers gathered in Grey’s Avenue where they listened to the address through loud-speakers. Throughout the hall there were Labour Party officials wearing red’ ribbons bearing the slogan: “Labour Again foxj 1946.’’ On the stage the Auckland Watersiders’ Silver Band entertained the crowd while they awaited the Prime Minister’s arrival. Outside two bands converged on the hall, the Waterside Workers’ Junior Band and' the Railway Workers’ Band. Shortly before 8 o’clock a large party of Maori men, women and girls, in native costume, was introduced by Mr T. P. Paikea, Member of Parliament fox’ the Northern Maori district, who carried a Maori ’mat. The Maoris drew warm applause during a five minute programme of hakas, just before Mr Fraser’s arrival.

Led by a Scottish piper and accompanied by the Mayoi’ of Auckland, Mr Allum, the Prime Minister entered the hall amid’ a tumult of cheering. Supporters at the aisle sides eagerly gripped him by the hands, and shouted greetings. A Maori warrior, armed with a taiaha, cried the traditional warrior’s challenge. With two women and a small boy leading from the stage, the Maori party continued its programme of welcome, the whole assembly gave Mr Fraser three resounding cheers. They then joined in singing, “Fox’ He’s A Jolly Good Fellow.”

The Prime Minister’ said that he had come again before the people of Auckland and of - New Zealand to ask those who had sent Labour to Parliament with a majority, and who had thus enabled the people to have democratic ana proper Labour Government, to ensure Labour’s i’e-olec-tion.

“We have been privileged to be the agents and the insiru- . mdnts,, through you, by which Democracy in this country has advanced to, the vanguard of the nations of earth,” IVIr Fraser said amid app’lausee. “It has been the co-operation, between all of you that has made the Labour Government possible, qnd the people have reaped the benefit. “I come to-night claiming that the New Zealand Labour Government has abolished poverty in this country. It has freed the people;—all of the people—from want sjnd fear of want. It has removed insecurity in the essentials of life, and has given unprecedented opportunities of intellectual advancement. “We have established in this country true democratic freedom. The Labour Government that has achieved this, and has justified the people’s faith, given it in 1935, and reaffirmed in 1938 and 1143, is now asking you, on the anniversary of Labour’s first victory, on Wednesday, November 27, to return Labour again wi'th even a larger majority.”' < HEALTH BENEFITS. Mr Fraser reviewed at length the health benefits under the Government’s social security legislation. Comparisons between the conditions at the time that Labour took office in 1935 and the conditions prevailing to-day were given by the Prime Minister. WAGES AND INCOMES He said that the aggregate private income was £106,400,000 in 1934-35. The aggregate was about £310,000,000 in 1945-46. The total wages paid in 1934-35 were compared with £185,200,000 'paid in 1945-46. The corresponding figures for savings were £60,709,000 in 1934-35 and £182,700,000 in 1945-46. FARMERS PROSPEROUS The Prime Minister dealt briefly with the guaranteed prices.,for dairy produce. He stated that, under Labour the dairy farmers had had good prices, and had had an assured income. The volume of the farm production had been consistently higher, every year under Labour than in any of the previous years. N.Z. MANUFACTURERS

A wonderful job had-been done in secondary industries, Mr Fraser said. It was unthinkable that anything should be done to endanger them. He remarked that Mr F. Doidge (Member for Tauranga) had stated that some of them would collapse, like a pack of cards. But Labour did not believe that! Import restrictions must remain. The Prime Minister said tnat theie was an understanding between the Labour Government in New Zealand and the Labour Government in London. It was appreciated that Bntain was the Dominion’s best and, wherever it was. possible, the New Zealand Government wanted to get its imports —such as machinery —from the United Kingdom.

THE LIVING STANDARD. It was not possible to go in for a great policy of immigration at present. As soon as the housing pio"ramire was ahead once more, however families would be welcomed from the United Kingdom. As the result of the policy of stabilisation, the standard of living had been maintained, and the burdens of the war had been shared equitably among the whole community.