LABOUR RULE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24032, 1 August 1941, Page 8

LABOUR RULE

CLAIMS OF Hi, NASH END OF BUDGET DEBATE STEPS TOWARD SOCIALISM tS.K.i WHLLIXCTON, Thursday

The major points raised by speakers in the Budget debate, including both Government and Opposition members, were answered by the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Nash, when lie

wound up the debate to-night. The Minister spoke for nearly two hours, but about halt an hour was occupied with the reading of a long statement on Home Guard reorganisation.

Speaking of criticism of the Government's imjKirt policy, Mr. Nash said that no one could deny that even with import restriction the Government had brought more goods into the country than the previous Government and had raised the living standard. As to the Budget generally, Mr. Niush said, the Opposition was disappointed that more taxation had not been imposed and there was nothing to criticise. The Opposition was now bravely silent. Subsidies and Houses Discussing subsidies, Mr. Nash said stimulant to private industry in the form of subsidies was given to the extent of morn than £7,000,000 this year. That was the way some of the taxation would go. The member for Waipawa (Mr. C. G. K. Darker! had said that New Zealand, particularly the workers, was not playing its part, continued the Minister, who quoted increases in production from ISt'i") to I'.MO to show that the workers were working harder. In the last five years, Mi. Nash said. 8'!,94.'! houses had been built, against 28,258. 27,291 and 12.7-52 in the previous five-year periods. The average cost of State houses for the last Fix months had been, with land and everything, slightly under £L'ioo. A Charge Denied

I Answering a charge that iho Gov- | eminent \s social policy was similar to | that of Nazi Germany or Russia, Mr. i Nash said a more cruel indictment of this country or the Government had never been made. There was not a shadow of comparison which couhl bo legitimately made in (he social adI ministrutive procedure of the Govern- ! monl and (lie other two mentioned. For anybody to say that there were only two schools of thought linked up with Socialism was to misrepresent the position in a*, unfair a way as it was possible to do. "We have in this country taken stops toward Socialism/' Mr. Nash said. "We have taken these steps toward Socialism along the free, open, democratic road, as far opposed to those other schools of thought as it is possible to be." Mr. Nash's Heated Reply "Your every adjustment of pricelevels is a principle of Nazi philosophy," interjected Mr. Poison. "That is what makes it impossible to do what is in the interests of this country." heatedly replied Mr. Nash. "They say from the Opposition benches there ought to be a National Government. They still ask the privilege of coming and associating with a Nazi Government. They charge us with being like the enemy we nre sending our men to fight. To suggest that any of our policy is built on the foundation of Nazi Germany to-day is untrue." Living Conditions and War The Leader of the Opposition. Mr. S. G. Holland, had stated that they would bp living in a fool's paradise if they thought they could maintain living standards, social services, hours and conditions of employment and run a war, the Minister .said. "We will take out of the production of the country everything necessary to maintain and to lift up the living standards of the people after wo have made sure that the war effort is taken to the maximum." he continued. "No country in the Commonwealth has done more than this little country in the war effort."