The Grey River Argus SATURDAY, November 5, 1949. NATIONALIST HACKS AND HIDDEN HANDS

Grey River Argus, 5 November 1949, Page 4

The Grey River Argus SATURDAY, November 5, 1949. NATIONALIST HACKS AND HIDDEN HANDS

WITH good reason did the Minister of Agriculture last night denounce the lying propaganda that the Labour Party is identical with the Communist Party. His proof of the Opposition somersaulting upon legislation, such as the Bank of New Zealand Bill, and its two-faced attitude to Parliamentary superannuation, goes to emphasise pts dishonesty in attempting to paste the Communistic label on Labour. In every country where the genuine Labour Movement, is free to do so. it has been ditching from office those whose object is to exploit unionism on the Hues oi Communism. There has been the case of Australia, and now there is the case of America, where the C. 1.0. has adopted the policy of creating a now union in the elec-trical-.industry in order to get rid of one following the Moscow line. One reason for .Red ascendency has been the absence of a virile Labour Movement to vindicate the worker’s rights, and another Ihe effects of war, coupled with the proximity of the army of a tyrannical Power. More ■wisdom, not to say honesty, would be shown by the Opposition if, instead of such misrepresentation, they plucked up the courage to say openly -what they conspire, if they get the opportunity, to do witli the currency, and whom they plan to despoil of money. Mr Holland appears now to fear that, little and all as they have actually said about it. they have yetblurted out too much —too much at least to be explained away. 1.1 is like the Bank of New Zealand question, whereon he changed his tune al the hustings. Air Cullen’s reference to the rapid advancement of the Bank since the State took over is itself a telling disproof of the dire predictions of the .Nationalists, They have similarly had to swallow their words in opposition to social securitv.

It is notorious Ihat the Opposition propaganda regarding increase of prices never hints at. a comparison between this country and any other. Prices have soared everywhere, but the average New Zealander can do far better with his income in securing ail of life’s necessaries than can the average individual in any other country on earth to-day. There is absolutely no sign of hardship such as the Tory propaganda attributes to people as a result of prices, which, incidentally, are equalised in the ultimate result as the money circulates. But there is the utmost justification to call for a comparison with other countries. Especially convincing should be a comparison with the richest country in the world. The head of that country. President Truman, has just defined the policy of his administration on social security, specifying just the things that were the specification of the New Zealand Labour Government tvhen it came in, and that it has since made an everyday reality. Fair prices, good wages; equality for workers in bargaining power; an assured income for the old and disabled people, in place of charity; decent housing for the citizens; better health and medical care for everyone; a fair chance for co-opera-tives and small businesses; and the protection and development of natural resources for the benefit of all people, instead of their exploitation for private greed—these are the objects Mr Truman declares to be the obligation of Governments!

The foregoing policy is in this country no mere aspiration, as it is .n the United .States, 4 but a reality! And as Truman says, “these are policies ihal spell progress for all people—the best assurance of prosperity for all, including the very people who attack them most bitterly!’’ lie might indeed apply his declaration as well to the Dominion as to the United States. No Nationalist dare say poverty persists in New Zealand, nor deny its pi’evalancc before Labour implemented, not only all that the American President proposes. but still greater .safeguards of the welfare of the masses. Hence the Opposition expedient is to rely upon

dolorous forecasts--such as that falsified already in the case of the Lank of New Zealand. A pretty fair criterion of the Opposition bona tides is Air Cullen’s revelation of their submission to the “back room’’ boys when they Iwisted on the Parliamentary superannuation measure in the division lobby, but revealed at Ihe same time their jubilation that their own voting somersault did not have any effect. They wanted the measure and, at the same time, wanted to be able to tell the people they did not. Air Holland wanted £5OO a year, but lacked the pluck to propose it.