LABOUR’S IDEALS AND RECORD WILL CARRY IT TO VICTORY

Grey River Argus, 8 November 1949, Page 4

LABOUR’S IDEALS AND RECORD WILL CARRY IT TO VICTORY

Mr J. B. Kent Speaks at Cobden The member for Westland, Mr JB. Kent,- M.P., spoke in a forceful and forthright manner when he addressed electors at Cobden last evening, where he was given a very enthusiastic hearing.

The Deputy Mayor, Mr J. E. Stokes, who presided, said that Mr Kent was too well known to be introduced. He had represented the people on every local body in Greymouth, and since his elevatjon to his present office, he had done everything expected of him in a most satisfactory manner. Mr Kent, who said that he had just returned, from campaigning in the southern portion of the electorate, stated that there was a heading in the evening paper, “Who Is In Labour’s Tax Net?” which appeared over the report of an address by his political opponent. This could not pass by unnoticed. Everyone was entitled to free expression of opinion. The discussion could not exist unless opinions could be offered. No one, however, had the right to be deliberately and corrigibly wrong. People who thought so were fools or knaves, and as far as he knew’ they were not iools. Commenting on the budget, Mr Holland had talkec of high taxation, but he did not mention that since 1939, fifty-five million pounds of taxes was being returned each year to the people by way of pensions, subsidies and other payments. The £lO rebate on income tax,, the reduction' of the surcharge from 33 1-3 per cent to 15 per cent., the removal of the national service tax of Is in the £ and the lifting of the taxation on food and clothing were not mentioned by the Leader of the Opposition. Some 125,000 people had-been relieved of inconie taxation completely by the rebate. Yet in summing up on the rebate, Mr W. S. Goosman, M.P., termed it “chicken feed.” “No doubt it would b e to him,” remarked Mr Kent. “Naturally, it would be chicken feed to the wealthy, but it means a great deal to the workers. “Overseas countries, had copied New Zealand’s Social Security scheme. Since the Labour Party came into office New Zealand was commonly known as the laboratory of social science. Other countries that had followed our lead, as a loss Should Labour not be returned to power it would be a sorry day for New Zealand, and for _ the countries that ha dfollowed our read, as a loss of inspiration, and would put them back years and years. It is up to you on November 30 to show that you want no millionaires and no paupers,” he said. <• _ The philosophy of the LabourParty, the more adequate distribution of wealth, had raised all sections of the community to security. If the worker had money to spend everyone benelited. “You don’t see any poor people around now,” said the candidate, who added that it was a pleasure to him to attend a prize-giving ceremony at a local school and. see the smiling faces of well-dressed and healthy little children. There were no under-clad and under-nourished ones, as had been the case before Labour came into power. In fact, Mr R. M. Algie had said that the people were now spending money “like drunken sailors”—but they had the' money to spend! The London “Times” had paid great tribute to the New Zealand Government’s Stabilisation Act by means of which this was one of the few countries to keep on an even keel. Mr'Nash, indeed, was probably the .greatest financier in the world. Mr Kent outlined the rehabilitation scheme and its benefits, a total of £84,000,000. At first Mr M. Moohan and then Mr Skinner had been in charge of the Rehabilitation Department, which’ had done a wonderful job. The Labour Government had vastly reduced the overseas debt and saved £2,920,000 a year in interest on the overseas debt. The war effort had cost £630,000,000 with all the money being found insice the country, and, therefore, interest did not have to be sent overseas. There was no unemployment in New Zealand at present, whereas the figures in 1935 were 57,246. The total had been reduced to 51 in 1948, and unemployment was completely eliminated this year. The Tories and the Commos were out to destroy the good work that Labour had done. When Mr Savage introduced Social Security, the Opposition referred to that great humanitarian’s applied Christianity as “applied lunacy.” The Tories except only in a few cases had the whole press with them and were now spending an unlimited amount to fight the election. But the Labour Party had something more convincing — its ideals, its struggle for the feitawship of man, and its achievements, which would parry it to victory on November 30. “Think and think well before you go to the polling booth,” he added, “and vote against those powers that want uncontrolled capitalism and the destruction of freedom.” Mr J. J. Haddock moved a vote of confidence in Mr Kent and the Labour Party. This was seconded by Mr D. Lloyd, and carried unanimously.