CLAIMS OF LABOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20556, 6 May 1930, Page 13

CLAIMS OF LABOUR.

PARTY LEADER'S SUPPORT.

CURES FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

REDUCED HOURS OF WORK.

Tho Labour candidato in tho Parnell by-election addressed thrco meetings of electors last evening. He spoke first before an audience which packed the Alexandra Theatre, Green Lane, to the doors. Ho was supported by Mr. H. 'E. Holland > M.P., Leader of tho Labour Party, who spoke after the candidate. The Rev. G. Jackson presided.

"A man should not be elected to Parliament because lie has a university education, because ho is a good sport, or becauso he has some social standing in tho community," Mr. Bloodwortli said. "Ail three of these count for nothing against a kriowledgo of tho problems of tho country. For many years this electorate has beon represented in Parliament by silence. Parnell, I suppose, is ono of tho wealthiest electorates in the Dominion and as such should bo represented by a man whose activities do not begin and end with a silent vote.

'-'I do not ask to be elected on a mere negative policy. I submit that the Labour Party offers a policy which would restore prosperity among all classes of tho community. I am not asking tho electors to vote for ine, but rather for themselves. I am asking for your support in tho interests of those men who, through no fault of their own, are unemployed. "Each of the old parties is pleading for another chance. Wo say that on past performances neither is entitled to ono. The Labour Party offers new men and new methods, and it is on these grounds, as well as my own record of public service, that I now ask .for your support." A statement of tho aims and objects of the Labour Party was given by Mr. Holland. "We prefer to see every political fight made an intellectual fight and not a fight of recriminations and personalities," Mr. Holland said. "Tho party which can afford to neglect personalities must have the strongest case."

Unemployemnt was the greatest problem of the Dominion to-day, he continued. When an able-bodied man was out of work and denied access to the means of production, he was an economic loss. It

was the duty of the Government to provide lasting and productivo work. Relief work was different, but even relief work should bo necessary to the country. The Labour Party held that relief wages should be abolished. If a work was necessary, it deserved payment at full rates. Any attempt to reduce wages lowered the standard of living. "I want to warn the working man that a vote for Reform means a return to reduced wages," Mr. Holland said. "A reduction in relief wages is only the stepping-stono to an all-round reduction. " There is amplo room in New Zealand for the development of secondary industries. Wo send our wool 10,000 miles across tho sea and have it sent back to us in manufactured form. Then we charge ourselves a heavy duty on it., That wool should bo manufactured in and exported from New Zealand. When tho industry grows men can come here from England knowing they will find work." Roading and bridges and railways wero as much a means of production in New Zealand as anything else, Mr. Holland continued. These works could bo mado to absorb many of the unemployed and a building up of secondary industries, coupled with a sound land policy and closer settlement, would help to remove tho problem altogether.

Labour would also consider a reduction in tho hours of work. Labour-saving machinery was being perfected moro and moro each year, and each new laboursaving device meant the displacement of a certain number of workers. Tho only way to counter this was to reduce the hours of work, so that more men could bo employed. The United Party had mado all sorts of promises about relieving unemployment, After the last election both Reform and Labour were bound to give Sir Joseph Ward an opportunity to put his policy into practice. A Voice: You kept him there. Mr. Holland: Well, I wish I were not keeping you .here. Mr. Holland referred to Sir Joseph's promise to find work for all unemployed within five weeks, but at tho end of that period there were still 2000 men registered as unemployed. It was impossible to know how many there were at present. Tho problem was greater than ever before and this winter would witness even more distress throughout the Dominion. In appealing for support for the Labour candidate, Mr. Holland said he had known and worked with Mr. Bloodwortli for many years. In national as >vell as local matters he had never met a man who could put a case more clearly. He did not wish to run down the other candidates, but it was manifest that Mr. Bloodworth was easily tho most able man offering his services to the electorate.