LABOUR'S RECORD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24676, 31 August 1943, Page 4

LABOUR'S RECORD

REVIEW BY MR. FRASER

ELECTION CAMPAIGN FRESH MANDATE SOUGHT (P,A.) WELLINGTON. Monday The Labour Government's record in nearly eight years of office was the theme of an address given to-night by the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. P. Eraser, when opening the Labour election campaign before a packed house in the St. John Ambulance Hall, Wellington. Mr. Fraser spoke for two hours and announced that Labour's policy would be made public in the next few days.

There was a certain amount of opposition and interjection, but only a dozen hands were raised against a motion of confidence in Mr. Fraser and the Government which was carried at the conclusion of the meeting. Mr. Fraser received a vociferous welcome as he entered the hall accompanied by the chairman, Mr. J. O. Johnson. The Most Vital Task Mr. Fraser said that after eight years of Labour administration lie could claim that no Government had conferred greater benefits on the people or had interpreted the mind and heart of democracy in peace and war better than had the Labour Government. He asked the people for a vote of confidence and approval of the Government's direction of the war effort and a vote of confidence and approval to go on prosecuting the war to the utmost. That was the most vital task of all until victory was achieved. The question of the need for a general election had been raised, Mr. Fraser said. It was true that an effort had been made toward political unity. He had striven hard for such an agreement. He outlined events leading to the breakdown of the War Administration. In his manifesto statement the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, was in favour of a National Government, but Mr. Fraser asked how that could be achieved if the democratic principle of majority rule was not accepted. By being the only dissentient in the War Cabinet decision over the Waikato strike and subsequently withdrawing Mr. Holland had clearly demonstrated the impracticability of a National Government. Continuation of Policy The Prime Minister said it was essential for him to review the administration of the Government since it had assumed power in 1935, because the Government's policy was inextricably bound up with adminstration and that policy would continue to be followed. In reviewing the Government's record Mr. Fraser said it was true that internal debt had been increased, but there had never been wider basis for doing so and the Third Liberty Loan, which had been an" outstanding success, was money owed by the people to themselves.

He then referred to social security arid said that the National Party, after years of opposition, now said it would not interfere with it. Labour's housing programme, which was regarded as of vital importance, provided for the erection of 3000 houses this year. It would be_ stepped up as more labour and material became available. Mr. Fraser devoted some time to defending the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act as necessary to prevent inflation of land values. Fight Between Two Parties "I cannot see much to quarrel with in Mr. Holland's announced policy because he has simply gained education by studying ours and has gone to great distance m social security and in other things," said Mr. Fraser, amid laughter. "Stealing old clothes is a well-known political game, but some of them do not exactly fit. You can also have a change of clothes, but no change of heart." Mr. Fraser emphasised that in the coming campaign the fight was against the National Party. The others did not matter, they had been overwhelmed in Australia.

AUCKLAND EAST CONTEST MR SCHRAMM AT DEVONPORT "The Labour Party introduced as far back as 1935 the New Order which other countries are still talking and thinking about," said the official Labour Party candidate for the Auckland East electorate, Mr. F. W. Schramm, addressing a gathering of about 140 in_ the State Theatre, Devonport, last night. The Mayor of Devonport. Mr. R, G. May, presided. Mr. Schramm outlined what he considered the Government's achievements since 1935. He mentioned among improvements increased production and the broadcasting of Parliamentary affairs for all to hear. A Voice: You put Scrim off the air. Mr. Schramm: He put himself off. There can be only one head in the country and that is the head of the State, not the head of a State department. Labour's war effort, the candidate continued, spoke for itself. Upward of 160,000 men were in the armed forces, in spite of which war production had broken all records. "Coal miners are hold up to ridicule," he added, "in spite of the fact that they are producing more than ever before. "I seek the conscription of money and ' wealth in the country," Mr. Schramm said. "In Russia, every ounce of wealth has been put into the common fight. If it is good_ enough for Russia, it is good enough for New Zealand to preserve her manpower in the same way." In discussing the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act, the candidate said it was no good stabilising other things if land speculation was not stabilised. Not one genuine land sale would fail to be passed under the new Act. A motion thanking the speaker and expressing tho utmost faith in the Labour Government was passed by the meeting. MAN WHO "BROKE BANK" LONDON, July 27 Lieutenant J. It. Drummond, aged 25, was the submarine captain who recently "broke the bank at Monte Carlo" with a torpedo, it was learned in London the other day. His home is at Basingstoke, Hants, and he is the son of Vice-Admiral E. R. Drummond. Lieutenant Drummond was patrolling along the French Riviera tho day after he had sunk an enemy vessel. .Sighting a ship inshore, he blew her to pieces. Two of his torpedoes that missed slid up the beach and exploded under the Monte Carlo Casino.

£IOO POST-WAR CAR LOS ANGELES, July '27 At Detroit, Mr. Henry J. Kaiser demonstrated the prototype of his £IOO post-war car, and predicted that ten million people in the United States could pay casli For it. He said he would market the car through every petrol station in the United States (there were a quarter-million in 1930), and without tmancing charges. The engine would he a two-cycle, 16cylinder, 80 horse-powor one. "My principal concern is now war production, but war production and production for after the war go hand in hand," bo added. 16,000 COUPONS SEIZED LONDON, July 27 Police seized 16,400 clothing coupons at an office in the West End of London nine days after 155,000 coupons had been stolen from the Customs and Excise, said Mr, R. C. Jackson, prosecuting, at Marlborough Street Police Court. Jack Dayan, a food merchant, Clarence Percy Callow, a clothing manufacturer, and Mrs. Julia Burns were alleged to have been found counting the 16,400 coupons. They were remanded on bail, charged with receiving..