LABOUR SPENDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23072, 24 June 1938, Page 15

LABOUR SPENDING

: "WISE AND BENEFICIAL" CRITICISM ANSWERED GOVERNMENT POLICY DEFENDED [nv TELEGRAPH —I'HKSS ASSOCIATION] 0 DUNEDIN, Thursday .Reference to the statement made at 2 Hamilton by tho Leader of the Oppo- > sition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, that 1 "never in tho history of New Zealand f has money been splashed about by tho - State as it is being splashed about today" was made by the Minister of 1 Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, in his > address last evening. s "That statement," said Mr. Fraser, j "is not correct. Didn't the party that • is now tho National Party start railways, and then stop them? The capital value at March 31, 1935, apart from interest on railway works stopped in 1 1931, was £5,100,000, and the interest on railways not completed was £1,200,000. There was some splashing of money there. The Labour Party can say that what money lias been spent has been spent wisely and beneficially and not spent and left derelict. "I ask Mr. Hamilton and his party to-night what they object to in tho present expenditure of public money," Mr. Fraser said. "We have asked them that repeatedly, and got no answer. Wo have asked if they object to tho restoration of the cuts in wages and salaries, and got no answer. Wo have asked them what they would do if they were returned to power? Would they again cut wages and salaries? The Question of Costs "Mr. Hamilton is talking now about bringing down costs. How can costs be brought down? Wo have asked them that, but apparently it is vain to put a straight question and expect a straight answer. "Mr. Hamilton replied to a question concerning his policy at a recent meeting by saying: 'I suppose you would like to know?' Of course we would all like to know," Mr. Fraser said. "It is necessary for the leader of a party to know something of what ho is talking about. As far as the farmers aro concerned, the only way in which costs can be brought down is by a reduction in tariffs. Is the National Party in favour of that? Is it in favour of a reduction in wages and salaries of all workers and useful people in the Dominion? The electors want that answered. Is tho National Party in : favour of reducing social services? Public Work 3 Question . "These are tho only ways that costs j can do brought down, and if our oppo- 1 ncnts say that they are going to benefit tho farming community by bringing down costs, then it is up to them to do so. If they get the opportunity, I know what they aro going to do, and so do you. ~ 1 As far as public works were con- 1 cerned, Mr. Hamilton had said at s Rotorua that the National Party would 11 continue all works of a sound nature s at present in progress. "We want to know what he pro- t poses to do with the workmen frpm r the works which he might not think x should be continued," said the Minis- i ter. "Would they be sent back on to I the unemployed lists?" li

* The Minister was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.