MEMBER FOR WAITEMATA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22722, 7 May 1937, Page 12

MEMBER FOR WAITEMATA

PRE-SESSI ON AL ADDRESS DEFENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT The policy put before the Dominion prior to the last general election and the extent of its fulfilment by legislation were reviewed by Mr. W. J. Lyon, M.P. for Waitemata, in a pro-sessional address at Northcote last evening. The Mayor, Mr. R. Martin, presided. Mr. Lyon defended the legislation already enacted, which, he contended, was in the best interests of the Dominion. He pointed to the large increase in spending power within a month of the Labour Government taking office. The dire prophecies of their opponents had not been fulfilled, he said, but instead prosperity had been restored. One of the first things done was to take power to issue credit, and £5,500,000 had been advanced to the producers for butter, without interest and without increasing the national debt, and this did not cause inflation or other difficulties. The amount would be recovered when the produce was sold. Another £3,500,000 was used from the Central Reserve Bank in a similar manner for the housing scheme. This madfe £'9,000,000 in all. Mr. Lyon reviewed what had been done in the restoration of wages cuts, increasing the old age pension to 22s fid. creation of the invalidity pension, and other legislation of a humanitarian character. The education system had also been overhauled, and a fortnight ago he received advice from the Minister of a grant for remodelling the Xorthcote school and for renovating Stanley Bay school, and two other schools at Devonport were to have better facilities. He explained his opposition to the amendment of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Act. which was altogether undemocratic, and he made no apology for his action. Several questions were answered, and a unanimous vote recorded continued confidence in the Labour Government and Mr. Lyon as the member for Waitemata.