MR. J. A. LEE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1938, Page 6

MR. J. A. LEE

AT GREYMOUTH. In the presence of a large number of people, the first tenants to be selected to occupy the new State houses at Cobden, were installed yesterday afternoon by Mr J. A,. Leo. M.P.,i Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Finance and in Charge of. Housing Construction. ,

Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., and Mrs O’Brien were present, and associated with them on the dais erected in front of one of the houses were the Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham), Mr J. B. Kent (President of the Greymojnth Labour Party), Mr J. A. Hart (Contractor for the houses), and Mr and Mrs F. ,W. B. Rosell, who were the first tenants to he handed keys , to the houses.

Prophets of gloom were abroad in the land and a visitor to, the Dominion now wodld be pardoned for thinking that the people were unhappy as never before, said Mr J. A. Lee, M.P., Un-der-Secretary in charge of housing construction, in a political address in the Town Hall at Greymouth last night, to a large, and enthusiastic audience.

Such prophets, of whom , the' flori.. Adam Hamilton, leader of-the Opposition and of the National Party, was the foremost,were abroad because, said Mr Lee, the policy of the Labour Government was the upbuilding of the families of the Dominion and of society, to' which all ,-would contribute, menaced the interests of the few who worshipped the golden calf of the orthodox price system.

Labour’s claim to be returned at the next election, he said, was based on achievements and undeniable facts. New Zealand’s production to-day was greater both in value and in volume than ever before in its history; and this, he claimed, was a striking testimony to, the Labour Party’s contention that increased, demand .would cause increased production. /The only, factor that prevented an even greater increase in . production was, he said, the unwarranted fear that.tho F or ’oes-Coates-Hamilton government might be returned.