LABOUR HORN OF PLENTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22402, 24 April 1936, Page 14

LABOUR HORN OF PLENTY

Since the advent of the Labour Government, New Zealanders are beginning to think they arc living in the land where all dreams come true. Not a day passes but there is a refreshing shower of blessings in Wellington. Mr. Savage seems to feel that he is the father of his people. Every morning his first thought seems to be, "What new good gift can I give my people?" It is seldom indeed that he fails for an answer. To-day, for instance, every family is to be given a home of its own. In that case there would seem to be no need to protect "every family" from the grasping landlord, but Mr. Savage promises to throw in a Fair Rents Bill for good measure. If Mr. Savage is the good father, his Ministers are the good uncles. So this morning Mr. Parry is to the fore with an extension of pensions and Mr. Sullivan with a planning scheme for industries. Lest industrialists should feel dubious about the new plan, Mr. Sullivan hastens to reassure them that there is always the Unemployment Fund to fall back on. Yesterday dawned brightly also, the Labour Horn of Plenty sounding forth a right merry tune. There was the restoration of the cuts for civil servants and for everyone else, and Mr. Savage said he would not stop at that. Nor were the farmers allowed to eat uneasy breakfasts, for Mr. Savage once again discussed guaranteed prices (without naming the price) and hinted that producers would be safeguarded against rising labour costs. At the same time another good uncle, Mr. Semple, cheered some sparsely settled districts with the promise of three costly railways, while Mr. Sullivan rose superior to prejudice and appointed a tobacco board. Seen in retrospect, Wednesday appears to have been even a better day, mostly concerned with benefits for the unemployed and workers, and aptly capped by Mr. Armstrong's epigram that, "The sky's the limit." But the people may be left to count their blessings and, if they are wise, they will follow the Government's example and forget to count the cost. That detail can be left with Mr. Nash and Mr. Lefeaux.