Mr. C. L. Hunter at Ashhurst

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 65, 18 March 1938, Page 10

Mr. C. L. Hunter at Ashhurst

LABOUR’S POLICY PROCLAIMED Mr C. Li. Hunter, M.P. for Manawatu addressed a large aud appreciative audience in the Town Hall Ashhurst on Saturday evening last. Mr P. Wilkin, president of the local branch of the Labour Party occupied the chair. Mr Hunter was greeted with spontaneous applause. He explained that owing to the change in electoral boundaries, Oroua would be absorbed into the Manawatu and Rangitikei electorates, lie criticised the administration that, granted the so-called freehold in place of L.E.P. resulting in a mortgage hold !or rather stranglehold that left 50,000 | farmers of this country bankrupt. Ho compared this with the, security the farmer of to-day enjoyed under the guaranteed price and challenged any farmer to prove he was not in an infinitely freer and more prosperous condition to-day than when he existed under tlio stay order plan. Our present Minister of Finance was, he stated, undoubtedly the cleverest this country had had and his computation of costa and attention to intricate details in connection with the guaranteed price plan, will remain in the history of this country as a masterpiece of organisation. The use of the Reserve Bank to enable the people to use their own credit had resulted in considerable savings in interest charges which otherwise would have been paid to private banks and avoided the necessity of borrowing overseas* A welcome contrast to past methods which had loaded the taxpayer with an annual burden of 11 million pounds in interest payments. Dealing with compensated prices the speaker said that the refusal by its advocates to explain the scheme from the public platform left serious doubts as to its efficiency. Touching on the National Party s' predictions of another slump round the corner, Mr Hunter maintained that there should be no slumps. Were they an act of God or an act of man? Surely in a land literally flowing with milk and honey, where production had doubled since 1914 and economic conditions had worsened in the same ratio, there can be no doubt that it is an act of man. Dealing with the Government’s policy in regard to FublU Works, Mr Hunter said that at the timo the Hon. E. Semple assumed office, the department was Jacking even the com-

mon essentials for carrying out uu ordinary understanding due to the fact that thousands of pounds worth of jcquipmcnt had been destroyed.

The Nelson aerodrome estimated to cost £179,000 had been completed for for £135,000 by using up-to-date machinery and methods and paying good wages. The wild statements that were made by the present Opposition prior to last election that the Labour Party would rob the people of their savings was mentioned by the speaker who proceeded to quote the following facts showing the immense increase in savings since the Labour Party had attained the treasury benches. Post Office Savings Bank deposits had increased by eleven million pounds and the number of new depositors had increased by 84,547. Six hundred new companies had been registered, employing 9000 people. 50,000 new cars had been purchased, 17,000 telephones installed and 118,000 new radio licensed. Surely these facts speak for tneniselves. lu regard to B stations the speaker cm pasised the necessity for the control of broadcast by the Stato in the public interest in preference to control by private interests for private prolit. The establishment of the iron and steel industry as a State enterprise was refered to by the speaker who explained that it was necessary to the economic wel fare of this country and pointed oui that at the present time many important works were held up through in ability to procure the necessary sup plies of steel from overseas. That .ii New Zealand had a vast quantity o 1 high grade. are with essential accom pauying minerals coupled with the fad that employment would be created foi a large number of our people, justiiiec the Government’s policy in this direc tion. Statements to the * effect tha New Zealand was more heavily taxet than Great Britain were made fron time to time both iu the House aud ii the l’ress by people who knew the; were misrepresenting the true position In New Zealand, the police, cducatioi and health services were all maintained from Government taxation, w'hereas ii Great Britain these services were pro vided from local body rates. The Government’s housing scliem was undoubtedly' the finest iu the work as regards finish, comfort and coneeui ence. A rental of 25s per week for ; four-roomed house compared more tha: favourably with the £2 2s aud upward charged by jirivate landlords for house of the same size with fewer eonvem cnees. In conclusion the speaker asl; ed: Is it possible to imagine the peopl of this country wanting to return t the degrading conditions that had exisi cd in this country, after having enjoy cd the happiness and prosperty in ev: deuce during the past two years? Ne\ Zealand to-day had won back the prou distinction as leader of the world i humanitarion, legislation and people i ether lands are watching with interes the progress of the Labour Governineu iu giving economic security' to th people of New Zealand. The few que< tions asked were satisfactorily answered. A vote of thanks to Mr Hunter for his address was moved by Mr Wilton and carried by acclamation, this concluding a very successful meeting.