Labour Campaign

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 215, 10 September 1943, Page 3

Labour Campaign

There was a good attendance at Whaka rongo on Monday evening when Cpl. W . H. Oliver outlined t lie Government's policy. In the course of his address th< speaker considered that no man or group of men could succeed in government unless they were actuated by the desire ot doing good, of building up, not tearing down. The present Government was do sirous of helping ex-service men ami women in every possible way, despite criticism levelled at it from various or ganisations who would be advised to offer help and suggestions rather than de structivo criticism. The worhl is living in hopes of better things, to be rid of poverty, of want, of slumps, of everything that hinders the development of character, greatness, love of nome, of nationhood. Cpl. Oliver’s party would offer the oppor tunity to develop the country by sound economic principles. The greatness ot any country depended on how it is rooteu in the soil—it could never root on speculations but by a progressive policy, having for its foundations a love of home a net surrounding, where the child life can flourish and parents can be free from anxieties and where there is contentment in mind and soul. All greatness springs from the life-giving soil of the land —from towering snow-clad mountains, watersheds, rolling hills and fertile plains, moulding the outlook and hopes of ils people, guided to a great extent by legislation for good or ill. The Dominion was rich and beautiful, Its people strong ana virile, proud of their ancestry ami keen to improve In every way. This could only be done on common sense legislation baseu on equality and opportunity. The meeting closed with a motion of confidence in Cpl. Oliver and the Labour JL'urty to carry on the war effort. There was a good attendance at Longburn to hear Cpl. W. li. Oliver, Labour candidate for .Munawatu. in outlining the Government’s policy, the speaker reported the Government to have been faced with an extremely difficult problem on assuming office in connection with education. Buildings were dilapidated and grave problems of personnel had arisen as a result of the Nationalists closing down two training colleges for teachers during the depression. Labour increased expenditure on education from £2,749,434 in 1933-34 to £5,043,711 ill 1942-43. This represented an increased expenditure per head of population from £1 15s Sd to £3 Is 6d. The live-year-olds iiad once more been admitted to schools, some 20,000 children having benefited from this last year. Thu main principles to be followed by any government were to ensure economic security of the home and that physical well-being is assured by so doing. Mentd! development is based on physical fitness and moral development can only come after physical and mental fitness, which lays the foundation of spiritual well-being. If elected to Parliament at the forthcoming election, the speaker would make ft his duty to work sincerely for the common good of all peoples, believing in ideals and economic principles of the Labour Party and guided by a sincere desire to help all mankind and make the Dominion fit for those men and women who will return from overseas. A number of questions were satisfactorily answered and a vote of thanks to the speaker concluded the meeting.