CHANGING TIMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23083, 7 July 1938, Page 15

CHANGING TIMES

SOCIALISTIC TREND LEGISLATION ABROAD CONTENTION BY MINISTER fur TELEGP.Arn—special reporter] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The claim that a socialistic trend in legislation has been noticeable for some years throughout the British Empire and in other parts of the world* was made by the Attorney-General, the Hon. H. G. It. Mason, during the Address-in-He ply debate in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Mason said that in opposing tho Government's actions the Opposition was attempting to stand in the way of inevitable evolutionary forces. "It is said that one of the main election issues will he this bogey of socialism," the Minister stated, "hut when they criticise socialism, do members of the Opposition mean that none of our legislation of an economic nature should have been passed? If we are Socialists —and I am not saying that we are not—we keep company with a good many other people and if we had not done what we have we would be lagging behind the rest of the world. "Trying to Sweep Back Ocean"

"The same thing is happening in other parts of the world because the same forces are operating. All over tho Empire legislation similar to ours is being passed, so that it seems to be cjuito clear that in attacking the Government's marketing legislation, for instance, the Opposition is simply trying to sweep back the ocean with a broom. Only a doctrinaire quite out of touch with realities would suggest this Government should attempt to follow a policy that would have been quite in order a century ago."

Mr. Mason said that even in England, which was usually regarded as a conservative country, it had been found necessary to regulate and control the marketing of primary products. Curtailing Production

The IU. Hon. G. W. Forbes (Opposition —Hurunui): Do you think it is sound to curtail production? "If there is more than people need I would say it is time to reduce production," the Minister said. "We do not say, however, that that time has come. I think it is quite conceivable that there may be real over-production and then it should be restrained. We are more familiar with apparent overproduction, which is due to the people's inability to buy and I certainly do not say there should be curtailment in that case."

BROADCASTING CONTROL PARTY PROPAGANDA COMPLAINT FROM TARANAKI [BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday "If there is one matter more than another that has roused the people of this country it is the use of radio broadcasting for purely party political purposes," said Mr. S. G. Smith (Opposition—Now Plymouth) during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr. Smith said the position was becoming a public scandal. Even the \ T A stations were commandeered. On Saturday, when the Aueklnnd-Taranaki Rugbv representative match was beiuc played at Eden Park, IYA advertised that it would broadcast a description of the match. However, the match was broadcast from IZM. A school at Orakei was being opened and three Ministers were present. They all made speeches patting each other on the hack and the function was converted into an occasion for party political-propaganda. "The people who did not know of the change in arrangements for the football broadcast were entitled to be anew." Mr. Smith said. "Being unable to get the Auckland football. I tried to tun>» in to the football in Wellington and I heard the Minister of Railways. He had command here. If T had tuned in to Christchnrch I would probably have heard the Minister of Labour."