Hon. W. Nash

Hutt News, Volume 12, Issue 17, 21 September 1938, Page 5

Hon. W. Nash

ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING The Him "Walter Nash addressed the electors in the Moera Hull on Monday night. There was a large audience and the speaker received an attentive heariug. The chairman (Mr J. H. Dunn) referring to the promises made by the Labour Party in 11)35 that given the opportunity they would bring the country back to prosperity and, he said, there is no doubt they have done so. Tho country was now in a better position than ever and he (predicted that on the loth October the voters would return the Labour party to power with a bigger majority than ever. When the opposition, party come along I want you to remember that the Labour Party stands for the right of free speech. Mr Nash on rising was received with prolonged applause;—

I have had an interesting three years, he said, and will try and tell you why those years have been good and why they wall be the foundation of still better years when we will be able to improve the structure we have built. Moera was behind ine in 1929 and in 1935 what a magnificent majority you game me. You will all remember the years 1931-35. Those were troublesome times. But we had a chance in 1935 to make things better. The objective of our Party is to utilise the resources of the Dominion, first, to restore a decent, living standard and to organise an economy that will guarantee an adequate income. Now what are the formulas of the Labour Party? said the speaker. (1) Guaranteed prices to farmers*—the farmers have never been better off than they are now. (2) Minimum wages and salaries to provide an adequate standard of living for all workers. (3) We said we would organise the education system. (4) and institute a national health insurance service. (5) provide a superannuation system. In addition (public works were to be organised 1 local authorities were to be assisted and secondary industries were to be fostered, also to support the covenant of the League of Nations, reorganise the Mortgage Corporation, maintain the guarantees of the Public Service Superannuation system. (6) To restore cuts in wages and salaries and wc claim that all these promises have been fulfilled. (Applause). Within (i months we have worked out a public works scheme. We introduced a 40-hour

week. Arbitration was made compulsory, and it is now working to insuro that decent conditions are available. We restored all cuts in the Public service. We are now exporting more produce than ever before and are getting better prices. Then we increased unemployment pay from 17/- to £1 and 15/- for the wife and 4/- for each child. In 3931-32 the total of wages and salaries paid was £63,500,000 In 1937-3S this Increased to £98,300,000.

There is no doubt that the maximum amount distributed, by way of salaries and wages determines the standard of livi:i: . .ad' Mr. Nash In speaking of

..ation. Mr. Nash said the 5-year-j.d« were out of the schools when the Labour Party took office —15,000 children had to be placed within one year. The Government could not build schools fast enough to accommodate the children. Then they had to face the housing shortage which amounted to 20,000 houses. Largely, building was stopped during the depression, and there were not enough competent builders to meet the demand. The Government lias also improved the facilities for conveying the children to schools in the country districts and have extended the age limit for school season tickets'. The grant of the W.E.A. has been restored and really magnificent service in the i-hape of rural libraries has been started.

Dental clinics have been extended. There were only 40 nurses being trained and it would have taken 20 years to train sufficient at that rate. We are now well on the way to get sufficient nurses. The supply of milk to school children has also been a great success, a pint per day to each child, said Mr. Nash. Teachers' salaries- are now on a better basis and it is correct to say that never in the history of this or any other country has there been a better foundation for the educational structure.

Mr. Nash went on to refer to currency and credit. Money is useless unless 'the goods are behind it to stimulate production, he said. We have let contracts for 0000 houses, the money being provided from the funds in the Reserve Bank. Every penny we spend on houses is coming from the Reserve Bank, Production, he said, had increased 26 per cent since 1935.

Referring to Income Tax, Mr Nash said that the amount a 'person paid was not important; it was what he had left that had to be considered. When a person's income reached £!)„700, (and that is quite enough to live on), well, we take about half of it. There is no hardship for anybody in the income-tax levy. We owe less money now overseas. We owe more in New Zealand, but what we owe here we pay here, and it stays here. There is over £(>0,000,000 in Post Office Savings Bank now. We have used that money to build roads and for irrigation, and last year we had a surplus of £800,000. Referring to overseas loans, Mr Nash said that lie had been able to get the rate reduced, and' we now were paying less interest than ever before. The dairy farmers were never better off and they have never had such a good 1 marketing procedure —the speculator had been cut out. Last year when in London, lie had met merchants who had previously handled New Zealand butter and 1 they agreed to a reduction in their commission to 2 per cent, an actual saving of £289,000. Air. Nash referred to new markets for our butter in other countries. Canada is taking 50,000 boxes Germany 5(i,,000 boxes. We are trying to build up markets l in other countries, but always give the United Kingdom the preference, said Mr. Nash. Referring to houses he said contracts for 5000 had been let and 7*oo are being built—one house every 40 minutes of working time. There were 320 urgent, applications in this district alone. As soon as labour is available a building programme will be hastened. The houses beng built are right up-to-date, and rentals range from 17/(5 to 33/ li per week. He referred to the production of oil and said the Government was prepared to help the big oil companies and to grant licenses to prospect for oil—the Government to have first call on the oil and in addition, if they make any profit the Government will get a fairly large share of it.

Referring to Public Works the speaker said there were now 2-1,000 employees and there is a better man in charge, in the person, of Bob temple, than ever before Someday -\vc will give him credit for the aerodromes that have been built.

Speaking of the Social Security measure, Mr Nash at some length set out the benelits as laid down in the bill, and referring to the health section said ho thought the doctors would agree when they had! reasoned it out. The Leader o:f the Opposition in speaking on the Bill said: "They agreed that the widow ought to have ,so much, but — "they ■thought the people ought to*"be provided for, but —they ought to have a doctor when they required him but—" and so lie went on. They were in favour of the principle, said Mr. Nash, but they used every device to prove it could not be done. We say it can be done. It is on the Statute Book and 1 it is going to be done next pear. (Applause).

In his concluding remarks Mr Nash referred to the splendid work of the New Zealand Commissioner, Mr. Jordan at the League of Nations; he had done magnificent work there. He had had a difficult and' strenuous three years and there had been no 40-hour week about it.

Mr. Nash concluded: "I,f I have been able to bring joy to the homes of the people, I think it has been worth while, to give the children a chance to grow into men and women worthy of this country. We are going on with the job ami I know you will help me to do my part." (Loud) and prolonged applause)

At the conclusion Mr Nash answered a number o;f questions and was accorded a vote of 'thanks 011 the motion of Mr Fairclough.