Mr. Harry Combs

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

Mr. Harry Combs

LABOUR CANDIDATE FOB WELLINGTON SUBURBS

Notwithstanding the very boisterous weather prevailing on Wednesday evening last, there was a good attendance at the Prince Edward Theatre when Mr. Harry Combs, Labour candidate for Wellington Suburbs opened his campaign. Mr. F. S. Molesworth, president of the Wellington Suburbs Labour Representation Committee presided.

Mr. Combs received a very warm welcome and in thanking his hearers said he felt honoured for having the privilege of carrying the Labour banneT into this constituency. Already he had visit ed many parts of the district and was impressed by the cordial receptions he had. received. He did not take this as a personal compliment, but he attributed it to the appreciation the people had towards the Labour Government. Eight throughout the district there was definite evidence of increased support for the Labour Party.

"I am looking forward to a clean fight," declared Mr. Combs "and I appeal to all to give my opponent a fair and good hearing It is ap to us to give as fair a hearing as Ave wouid wish for ourselves."

Mr. Combs then dealt at some length with the conditions existing during the period 1931-35, and remarked' that although the past Government had been returned with a blank cheque, there was nothing shown but chaos and maladministration. He contended 'that during that period the Railway rolling stock of the country was reduced to such a condition that it was made almost unsafe for travel; schools had been reduced to a serious run-down condition; starvation wages prevailed so that in order to procure food people were compelled to dispose of their furniture; and soup kitchens and "slave" camps had been established. When the Labour Party came into power their first consideration was to alleviate suffering and consequently the granting of a Christmas box was the first ray of hope the people had received. From then on the Government had achieved much. It had taken over the control of 70,000 unemployed. In 1934 there were 5274 factories and this number had been increased to 5700 in 1937. The number of employees had increased from 79,000 in 1934 to 96,000 in 1937 and £5,000,000 more was paid in wages, and thus clearly showed the effects of increased purchasing power on the factories. Practically every employable person had been put back into industry and those who were unfit would be trans ferred to the Social Security Scheme when it was introduced in April next, so that by then the Government would have disposed of the unemployment problem. (Applause).

No one could say, continued Mr. Combs, what were the full effects of unemployment experienced during the depression, but it was certain that the morale of the people was sapped and personality depreciated. Many a man found it beyond his capacity to recover, and this condition of affairs could only be put down to the late Government. The first step taken by the Government was to close down the "slave" camps and open up useful public works at a minimum wage of l(i/- a day and going as high as 22/0 to 25/- a day, and conditions in the camps had been wonderfully improved. (Applause). Since 1934 the number of men on public works had increased from 10,000 to 22,000. In three years the Railway Department had employed 5,000 more men and the Post and Telegraph 3,000 more. In all 37,000 extra employees could 1)0 classified.

•Speaking of the reduction of hours in the. working week, Mr. Combs maintained that it was a stroke of statesmanship that would always stand to the credit of the Government. Railway men in England were now advocating the 40-hour week. If they were successful and the 40-hour week could be introduced in England, the speaker claimed that the purchasing power of the people would bo increased, 'resulting in an increased consumption of New Zealand .products.

Mr. Combs remarked that much had been said about the minority vote. At the 1935 elections Labour gained 339,000 vo-tes and he firmly believed that at the next election this figure would be increased to 450,000 or 500,000. It had been claimed that Labour had gained power on a minority vote. All other parties had gained 402,000 votes, but in a straight out light many of the votes that went to the Democrats or '-he Independents might have gone to Labour. In any case Labour did not contest ten seats, so the. potential vote here had to be taken into account. It was true that 40 per cent of Labour's candidates had been elected on a minority vote, but it was not generally kjiown that GO per cent of the National members of Parliament had also been elected 0 n a minority vote.

Dealing with the Government Housing Scheme Mr Combs considered it a splendid achievement, and the Government was keen to provide up-to-date accommodation. The homes were finished in the best material and built to {he highest specifications, and the people should not only be proud of their homes but proud o fthe Government who gave proud of the Government who gave them assistance. (Apiplause).

Much had been said about the increased cost of living. His own household experience was that he got the same good foodstuffs as four years ago and, while there had been some increases there had also been decreases. A comparison of retail prices with 192(> when prices were high, showed that there had) been reductions in the price of bread, factory butter, cheese, flour, oatmeal, cocoa and salt.

'' One of the greatest achievements of •the Government was the nationalisation of the credit of the people of New Zealand "by taking over the Reserve

Bank," declared Mr. Combs. 'ihe people dare not risJt the lveserve Bank uemg handed back tu private shareholders alid directors with private banks resuming control of the .Unserve Bank. The banker was a chain in ihe circulation of money. If ho stopped circulation tho ,peuple behind—the workers—got no work and the business people could sell no goods. No private institution had the right to stop the circulation of money for the be>neiit of individuals and dividends. The banks had a useful part to play, but they should Hot have the unfettered, right to determine howpeople should live. The. Labour Government had shown that the banks were not going to have the right again tu keep people out of work.

Continuing, Mr Combs said i'< had I boon stated thai many men would be thrown out of employment when suitable public works had become exhausted. Useful public works were here to stay. It was only necessary to look at this electorate. Why not ipierce the Wainui-o-mata hill and have a low-level road straight through to the Wairarapa. There were also the completion of the Waterloo railway line to Silverstream, there to connect with the Wairarapa line; the electrification of the Welling-ton-Hutt rail service on the same lines as Wellingbon-Tawa Flat; the reclamation (without much trouble) of the shallow estuary of Porirua Harbour to provide a site for the trans-Tasman air base*. These were works which in the Wellington Suburbs electorate alone re- j quired doing. Multiply these by the i number of electorates in New Zealand and it gave a fair idea of the wants of the country and dispelled the idea that there would be no more jobs for public works employees to do. Any man who wanted to stay on public works could do so all his working life and then get the pension. The speaker has been assured by many employees

that they were perfectly happy with their work and conditions of the camps.

Mr. Combs's declaration that the Social Securiyi Bill was one of the finest in the world, met with much applause. Air. Oombs was confident that it was a measure which offered very real benefits to the people.

In conclusion Mr. Combs warned his hearers that before the election an attempt would be made to stampede voters. It might be said that the Labour Government would interfere with tlie marriage ties. To him tho name and honour of women was sacred; the same principle applied to the 55 Labour members of Parliament. It was rediculous to suggest that tho Labour Government would loosen the m&rriagt ties. After the candidate had anewored several questions-, Mrs. Mary Dowse (member of the Hospital Board) mo?ed: "That this meeting of electors Waiwhetu in the Wellington Electorate, expresses complete conftd- ( ence in Mr. H. E. Combs as their candidate for Parliament, and also in the Bt. Hon. M. J. .Savage and' his government" This was seconded by Mr H. Burrell and carried with acclamation.