VcILVRIDE, M.P., AT DANNEVIRKE

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 26, 27 June 1923, Page 3

VcILVRIDE, M.P., AT DANNEVIRKE

Labour Party Gels Good Support

Mr. L. Mcllvride, Labour M.P. for Napier, at the request of the local Labour Party Branch addressed a representative gathering in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Tuesday evening - , the 12th inst. 'Mr. S. I. Anderson kindly consented to take the chair, and in a few appropriate remarks introduced the speaker, who was greeted with applause. In opening , his address, Mr. Mcllvride made it plain that his speech and reference would, of necessity, be short. He dealt comprehensively with the. objects of the ?\ T .Z. Lciboui Party and stressed the importance of united and concerted action. The strength of Labour was gradually but noticeably increasing and ere long the Party would be the dominant factor politically. In order of urgency the land occupancy and tenure should be thoroughly investigated and re-modelled so that the .burden of taxation should be borne by those most financially accommo- , dated to carry it. Financial DlJeiimia. The nation's finance was in a most precarious dilemma and nothing of practical legislation was being done to remedy such. The huge interest payments must be met yearly and for these to be paid there was one of two solutions —increased production or decreased consumption. The af-ter-war slogan hadd been ''Production and still more production," which indirectly caused ihe financial stringency and the appalling state' Of unemployment. The Government was now trying the other solution—that of decreased consumption—-by lower--ing the wages of workers and thus lowtring their purchasing power. The business men could certainly have united to oppose the Expenditure Adjustment Act, bocaapti reduced wages wages are not conducive to prosperity in 1 usiness enterprise. Housing ami JJeiii: Ht'sirU'tions, In dealing with Housing, the .speaker pointed out that 20,000 houses are urgently needed lit Mew Zealand to-day. To show that the Government was absolutely pledged against the worker, the Kent Restriction Act and Tenants' Protection Act automatically ceases on July 31st. next. | When this date, arrives the landlords and speculators in house property can command their own terms, and still leave the tenants with, no security of tenure. The Coal Injporlnfion Stunt. The next case against a muddling Government was the Coal Importation stunt. At that time the Govern- I rnent accused the N.Z. raiher of adopting a go-slow policy, but statistics prove that during the period of war the miners have put up records and for ITil6 they put up a world's record. What of the Government's go-slow policy, when they refused to construct the Duller Railway and to open the lignite quarries of Charlestown? Some of the imported coal cost the Government £20 per ton Lauded at Wellington, whereas the Government could have procured New Zealand coal at £2 per ton had they advocated judicious expenditure in opening up our national coal-bearing areas. Re-Mi'i Works 21 Fjjilure. The relief work under the Public Works was an utter failure, because the Temporary worker got no relief. The basic wage was not forthcoming, and thus the workers toiled weeks on end for a miserable pittance. The injustice placed upon the relief worker:-- is n;ost tragic in its results. The Labour Party was in favour of proportional representation, and this scheme of clo-.toral procedure was briefly outlined. The Party stands for the referendum, initiative and recall. Ey this the legislation v/as entirely in the hands of the democracy and the members of Parliament, the servants of the electors —not the tools of a specific class of electors, as is the case to-day veith many of the representatives. Foreign Affairs. As regards foreign affairs, the occupation of the Ruhr and the Reparations of Germany were cited as being of vital interest, not only to New Zealand, but to the whole of the world. France was not asking for security, but for dominance, as can be seen by her superiority in armaments, aerial fleets and chemical appliances necessary for modern warfare. The trade relationship with Russia was spoken of as being conducive to high prices for New Zealand produce at Home, but with Britain's best client blockaded there was a lesser demand for our produce than formerly. A splendid Appeal. At this stage the speaker earnestly