LABOUR AT ROSKILL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22260, 7 November 1935, Page 15

LABOUR AT ROSKILL

CAMPAIGN OPENED THE BANKING POLICY GUARANTEED PRICE SCHEME An audience which filled the King George's Hall, Mount Albert, to overflowing last night accorded a most attentive hearing to Mr. A. S. Richards, Labour candidate for Roskill, at the opening of his campaign. The Mayor of Mount Albert, Mr. R. Ferncr, presided. "The first thing the Labour Party will do if returned will be to nationalise the Reserve Bank to raise the standard of living of tho mass of the people," said Mr. Richards. Tho Canadian elections were recently successfully fought on the issue whether the Government should control credit. The candidate quoted authorities which advocated a State bank, and ho said that a State note issue had been used to fight the Wars of the Roses, the Napoleonic wars and the War of Independence and tho Bradbury note issue had helped Great Britain to win the Great Wfir. By that means tho Labour Party would solidify the banking system of tho country and ensure its future prosperity. Dealing with the criticism of political opponents that the Labour banking policy would produce inflation tho speaker said it was a bogey which could be speedily dispelled. "Shortly after it was brought into being the Reserve Bank wroto a cheque for £22,000,000, when all the capital it had was £500,000," said Mr. Richards. "And then they talk about wild inflation."

Referring to tho Labour Party's proposal of a guaranteed price for farm produce, the candidate said, that 41,000 farmers were bankrupt in New Zealand to-day because tho crushing policy of the Government had destroyed the purchasing power of the Dominion to the extent of £50,000,000 a year. Ho said the farmer was entitled to a guaranteed income, which was enjoyed by union members and civil servants. "Labour also advocates a national superannuation scheme, the restoration of the compulsory clauses to the Arbitration Act and a minimum national wage on a decent level," said Mr. Richards.

In reply to a question, Mr. Richards said that in tho event of military sanctions becoming necessary against Italy, the Labour Party would stand by the Covenant of the League of Nations. When the recent Sanctions Bill was being considered two new clauses preventing conscription and allowing reasonable criticism of the Government were added on the recommendation of the Labour Party. A vote of appreciation of Mr. Richards' address and confidence in the candidate was carried without dissent. LABOUR IN PARNELL SIR A. HERDMAN CRITICISED CONNECTION WITH DEMOCRATS "1 say frankly that the Democrat Party has a candidate in Parnell in the person of Sir Alexander Herdman, and the only difficulty lies in the question of leadership," stated Mr. A. G. Osborne, Labour Party candidate for Parnell, in tho course of an address at St. Chad's Church Hall, Meadowbank, last night. Mr. S. Oldfield presided over an attendance of about 50, which showed itself strongly sympathetic with the candidate. "In his opening address, Sir Alexander wished Mr. Hislop the best of luck in his campaign, a thing which he has not done to anyone else," continued the candidate. "If Sir Alexander had been successful in being appointed leader of the Democrat Party we would not have heard anything about an Independent candidate in Parnell. Rumour says that Sir Alexander was offered the position of deputy-leader, but as ho was not prepared to accept this he turned Independent. If returned, Sir Alexander will vote for the Democrats."

The candidate followed tho lines of his opening address and devoted a considerable time to criticism of tho Government which, he said, was guilty of maladministration. In criticising the policies of the Democrat Party and the •Liberals, Mr. Osborne said that he would not trust any Liberal in a monetary matter. A Voice: Why do you not trust the Douglas social credit? Your own leader preached that policy in Wellington. "That is absurd. Tho policy of the Labour Party is entirely different." replied the candidate. "Does it include Socialism P" asked another member of tho audience. "Yes, if you are prepared to socialise credit, you can go the whole road with Labour. That is our policy," said the candidate. A Voice: Therefore, you have the same objectives as Communism? "No, you cannot put mo there, any more than in Douglas credit," replied the candidate. , A Voice: Wo are prepared to support tho Labour Party, but not a man who has no chance. The candidate replied that tho committee of tho party in Parnell was the strongest in any electorate in Auckland. Ho said there were over 300 people on his committee. A Voice: Yes, but it is useless to vote for the party. They only received 2500 votes last election. Tho chairman then appealed for order, aud the candidate was allowed to finish his address without further interruptions. After the candidate had answered a number of questions a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate, tho Labour Party and its leader was carried with only one dissentient voice.