INSULATION PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23084, 8 July 1938, Page 13

INSULATION PLANS

ISSUE AT ELECTION ANOTHER LABOUR PROMISE STATEMENT BY MR. PETRIE [itY TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday Labour's plans for insulating the Dominion in tho event of any recession in prices overseas will he the main issue placed before tho people at the coming general election, according to a statement made by Mr C. It. Petrie (Government —Hauraki) during the Address-in-Reply debato in tho House of Representatives to-day.

Tho view of Opposition members, said Mr. Petrie, was that tho measure of good government was tho price quoted for New Zealand loans on tho London market. They were concerned with keeping the Dominion s credit good in London at tho expense of tho standard of living in their own country.

"That sort of thins is called good government," Mr. Petrie continued, "but 1 submit that where want, discontent and insecurity exist there cannot be good government. The Labour Government has removed these spectres and is concerning itself with the welfare of people within the Dominion. It has done more to reconcile Christianity with economic materialism than has ever been done before in any other countrj*.

"The Opposition is seeking to raise the issue of private enterprise against socialism. We will not run away from that, but the most important point to be placed before the electors, and the point 011 which the election will be fought, will be tho so-called insulating theory." Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition— Waitomo): Tell us what it is. "When we meet the electors," said Mr. Petrie, "we will promise to sustain the high standard of life which they now enjoy. Opposition speakers say that booms and slumps cannot be avoided and in doing so they confess their inability to protect New Zealand from outside influences. We say that we will give that protection." Mr. Petrie concluded by quoting Viscount Nuffield's remark, "Any country that talks depression will get into it." The Labour Party was not talking depiession, he said, but was planning prosperity.

POVERTY AMID PLENTY "VOTE-CATCHING TALK" FOOD USED DURING SLUMP [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTKR] WELLINGTON, Thursday Statistics showing that the consumption of foodstuffs in New Zealand actually reached peak levels in the years of the depression were quoted by Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Opposition—Motueka) during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-night. Labour members were continually talking of poverty amid plenty during the years of the slump, said Mr. Holyoake, but it was strange that the consumption of staple foodstuffs had never been higher than it whs over the period. "Many people suffered during the sl'imp," Mr. Holyoake said. "I am not denying that for an instant. However, I do say that the reason was not that people were denied access to the production of the Dominion, but that our surplus production could not be exchanged for the same amount of (roods from overseas. The member for *&rev Lynn said the other night that during the depression we were up to our necks in butter, but could not afford to put it on our bread. lUe figures show that the average annual consumption of butter in New Zealand rose during the slump from 351b. to 401b. per head and has since remained more or less constant." The consumption of other foodstuffs had also increased, Mr. Holyoake said. "It can readily be seen, he added "that all these statements about poverty amid > plenty are only vote"lSinutaK.' the speaker said it was rather armisinK to see members of the Government endeavouring .to do a little vote-catching by playing on the names of the old Libera leaders and describing them as Socialists, In l sp.te of that a daughter of the late Mr. it. I Seddon had announced her candidature against a Socialist in Wellington Sons of the late Sir Joseph Ward were openly opposed. to Labour, and the son of another Liberal leader, the late Sir William Hall-Tones was also contesting a seat against a Socialist.

LABOUR PROGRAMME COMPLETION IN SIGHT Tut telegraph —srKCiAj. Rn'Oirmt] WELLINGTON, Thursday "Before this session of Parliament comes to an and nil of the 12 points in tho Labour propamine will bo emI in tho legislation on the Statute Book," said Mr. J. O'Brien (Government —Westland) . during the iddress-in-Reply debate. in the "bouse SS% M- Hon r W Forbes (Opposition—Huninui) vfnrl issued a dismal warning concerning the Government's superannuation and t'nlfh scheme. However, Mr. Forbes W nnnarentlv forgotten that a mamKmselTaSd the°Rt. t^on 1 . 8 JG^Coates SopS as soon as financial condition. permitted^^______________.