IF LABOUR RULED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22261, 8 November 1935, Page 13

IF LABOUR RULED

MR. F.OKBES' WARNING "DISASTER FOR COUNTRY" VIGOROUS SPEECH AT OXFORD [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday "God help New Zealand if, as the result of the elections, a Labour Government is given control o£ the national finance and administration of affairs for the next four years. It will mean a worse disaster than the severe depression from which the country has emerged. It will involve the control of the banking machinery of the Dominion and tliesavingsof the people. The people must face that 'prospect as the most serious issue ever submitted to the electors of New Zealand." Such was a direct statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, to-night in the course of a vigorous address to close on 300 electors at Oxford. "The electors are being invited to believe that there is some new magical method of avoiding difficulties without cost or hard work," said Mr. Forbes. "It is suggested that by manipulating finance an open, easy road to prosperity will be provided. Such a suggestion is merely an illusion. To-day the United Kingdom is the envy of the whole world, and its enviable position hals been due to firm and consistent adherence to sound methods of finaiice, which simply means balanced Budgets and reliance on old and tried methods. "Leading representatives of the Labour Party are speaking just now in very moderate terms, which might tempt many people to accept the party's policy as a mild onej and almost worth a trial. That is the real danger. I have been associated with the Parliamentary members and respect them, but it is necessary to remember that they do not advocate their own policy, but must, follow the policy laid down for them by their industrial organisations outside Parliament. Make no mistake about it: that is the position. "It has to bo admitted that Labour has to put something attractive before the electors, but every sensibly man knows quite well that its policy of all sorts of guarantees cannot be put into operation. It's like spreading treacle for flics." Mr. Forbes received a good hearing and was frequently applauded during a two-hour address. After replying to questions Mr. Forbes was accorded a vote of thanks without dissent. DAIRYING CONTROL OLD HISTORY RECALLED REPLY TO MR. W. GROUNDS x —— [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER 1 PAPAROA, Thursday In his tour of the Kaipara electorate the Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates, continues to receive invitations to discuss the history of the breakdown in the dairy control negotiations in London nine years ago. The questions come chiefly from supporters of Mr. W. Grounds, the Independent candidate for Kaipara, who was chairman of the Dairy Board at that time. It has been alleged that Mr. Coates was responsible for the breakdown, but his reply hps been to quote the comments of Mr. Grounds' colleagues on the board, Mr. W. A. lorns, Mr. W. Claude Motion and Mr. Stronach Paterson, to the effect that Mr. Coates had done everything possible to facilitate the negotiations. "Mr. Grounds also appears as the champion of the one man one vote principle in the election of members of the Dairy Board," Mr. Coates said. "There is documentary evidence to show that in 1922 Mr. Grounds favoured a system whereby dairy factory directors would elect a council and the council would elect tho board. Later he amended this and advocated the election of the board by the straight-out vote of the factory directors. "Mr. Grounds can hardly blame us for adopting the system which he urged the Government to adopt.. Actually we have at last got a measure of unanimity in the control of the dairy industry which wo never had when Mr. Grounds was associated with the board." CITRUS FRUIT INDUSTRY PROPOSALS OF DEMOCRATS [from our own correspondent] WHANGAREI. Thursday There was a fair attendance in the Town Hall last evening when Mr. C. It. Dodd, Democrat candidate for 'Auckland Central, addressed tho electors in support of Mr. It. W. Johns, Democrat candidate for Marsden. Mr. W. .Tones presided. Mr. Dodd said tho Democrat Party proposed to develop fully the citrus fruit possibilities of North Auckland, for which there was a good market. The party favoured a reduction in the number of members in Parliament. Air. Jones briefly addressed the meeting and a vote of thanks was accorded both speakers.