LABOUR’S FREEDOM POLICY

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 236, 6 October 1938, Page 6

LABOUR’S FREEDOM POLICY

Explained by Mr. J. A. Lee

Before a large audience at the Majestic Theatre, Feilding, last evening, Mr. J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, offered a concise explanation of -what he described as Labour’s freedom policy. The meeting was presided over by the Mayor, Mr. T. L. Seddon, and throughout the speaker received a very enthusiastic deception, his remarks being frequently applauded. The speaker recalled the occasion or the 1931 general election, when Labour advanced its proposal of a guaranteed price to maintain the solvency of the farmer and, in turn, the community, against tho depression. Labour did uot then have the opportunity to bring about an improved economic system to meet accelerated production resulting from intensified mechanised industry. The National Government had every opportunity to avert the distress and poverty which swopt throughout the country during the world-wide depression—a depression due entirely to the vested interests' insistence upon -the application of a -worn-out economic system, centuries old, to modern methods of producing real wealth. On the contrary, the Nationalists increased the effects of the depression by a variety of jjrocesses, including wage and salary cuts. The 1935 elections demonstrated that the people had had enough of depression and tho Labour Government promptly took steps to fulfil its promises. Production at 1935 stood at 103, and in two years rose to 121, the highest point reached in the history of the country. The speaker emphasised that the remedy lay in tne provision of a monetary system capable of even equalling the real wealth of the community and he proceeded on to a lengthy criticism of the acts of the Nationalists during the depression years, when there was greater real wealth than ever before.

The National Party was not concerned with the welfare of the masses, but with the preservation of a worncut monetary system, said the speaker. It had been said that the Labour Government had ruined New Zealand, and he asked his audience to cast its minds back to 1932 and compare that situation with the conditions of to-day.

Mr. Lee w r ent on to deal with the Stato housing system, claiming that, contrary to the arguments of the Nationalists, the Labour Government was providing homes for the people and not taking homes away from them. The money for these homes was not borrowed from overseas, not internally, but was obtained from tho Reserve Bank, and its employment in building houses was creating a national asset. He denied that the Labour Goverpmeut proposed to take the land from the farmer; what it had done was -to take the mortgages off farm-lands. He charged the Nationalists with the mass production of lies calculated to damage the Labour Government, which had not repudiated or confiscated anything. It had honoured every obligation. The aim of the Government was to co-relate the issue of money to production, and he would continue his assault upon the despotic power which controlled money until the objective was achieved. Mr. Lee went on to charge the press with having selected isolated paragraphs from the speaker’s latest book lor tie purpose of charging him with enforcing the Socialist doctrine on the people of New Zealand. “I preach the right of the people to control currency and credit so that industry may be free, •' 1 he said. At the conclusion of his address at 10.20 p.m., the speaker -was enthusiastically applauded. A resolution of thanks to the speaker and confidence in the Labour Party was carried with enthusiasm. Questions “Is Mr. Lee aware that the Labour Government is engaging in • blackbirding’ in respect in labour on the plantations in Samoa?”—l am aware that the Labour Government was the first government to progressively put a stop to 4 black-birding' and was pursuing that policy to put an end to indentured labour. In reply to another question, Mr. Lee said that thy Labour Party did not say that it would reduce costs, but would see that everyone received sufficient to enable them to- obtain the commodities they desired. The Government had been able to effect economies and in some instances had reduced costs. How do you propose to acquire the Bank of New Zealand?—The same way as wo acquired the Reserve Bank—pay out tho private interests. It would be done in a way that would not be harmful to anyone. Asked how he would deal with the other trading banks, Mr. Lee said that he could not be expected to give out in detail how the position -would be’ handled. It would be dealt with in n eommonsense way.

Mr. Hunter, who had -returned from one of his meetings, then Driefly addressed the gathering, stating that an organised attempt had been made to prevent him speaking at Rangiotu.