WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1934, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS

■LABOUR PARTY

HOW IT STANDS

(Special to the “Guardian”)

WELLINGTON, December 4

: Mr M. J. Savage, the leader of t)he ;Labour 'Party, and his’ colleagues in the House of Representatives, appear for the time being to be concentrating their efforts upon the goodwill of the rural community, particularly upon the milk and. blitter producers. Shaping ‘their opportunities in this direction they demand, as aptly as they anight, (1) a guaranteed price for butiter, \2) security of tenure to farmers competently using their lands, (3) readjustment of mortgages and land .costs on-a- basis of guaranteed prices, .and (4) a negotiated agreement with vxseat- Britain and other countries for

•. e importation of goods which could ,not'be economically produced in the Whether or not Optratioiis of this kind are commonplace in other countries is hot generally known •but they certainly are not familiar in this part of the Empird. The farmers, as well as the mass -workers, quite rightly of course, should have a fair share of the ap'ppoMing reform. “With tlie substaiitial assistance which must be given to the farmers,” Mr Savage insists, “wages and salaries must be restored to higher levels. It is only ‘from the increased’ incomes of the rank and file of the people that increased''prices or subsidies can be paid. If any serious attempt is to be made in the direction of scientific planning of production and trade, co-ordination of the various parts of the national economy is essential. For that reason the Dairy Commission’s recommendation for the getting up of a council of production and trade should be seriously ■ considered with view to securing co-operative action.” The dream of Mr Savage obviously is to make good for the worker, the farmer and the capitalist, (but unhappily he has left the means of tijiis Scoop yet- undetermined. Referring, later on’to trade development the leader of the Opposition reminded :his audience that it would be well to remember that unless the Dominion’s surplus wealth was invested in the nation, or the lands, our trade too must go beyond our own borders. “The present generation of New Zealand and the generations to come,” the represent-dive of the Opposition emphasised,” must find occupations in the service's of New citizenship, and Labour’s object must he to build up, not to destroy, either the opinions or the nrdnbrties of their fellow citizens.” Whatever his political views-may be, in or out of the H6u'se v of' '■ Repres’efltatlvelS, it must be almitted that in his speeches last week Mr 'Savage spoke with tact and candour, amounting to something in the way of grace and emphasis.