LABOUR CLAIMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25210, 24 May 1945, Page 6

LABOUR CLAIMS

PROMOTING INDUSTRIES

PLACE AT PEACE TABLE (0.C.) HAMILTON, Wednesday The Labour candidate in the Haiml ton by-election, Mr C. A. Barrel], speaking at Maeroa tonight in a crowded hall, described the statements made by Mr Holland in England as advocating the reintroduction of unrestricted overseas imports and contended this was the type of policy that brought about the last slump. Only by the retention of the control and selection of imports could another slum]) be avoided, claimed Mr Barrel!. The candidate said he did not suggest that New Zealand should not buy British goods, but he would only agree to the purchase of those goods which New Zealand could not produce. Kvcry effort would be made to ensure that, as far as possible, the goods consumed in New Zealand should bo made in the Dominion.

New Zealand would shortly be talking peace terms. It was necessary that Labour should be represented at the peace table if the future of the Dominion was to be safeguarded, said Mr Jiarrell. Men with humanitarian ideas, like Mr Fraser and Mr Nash, should represent New Zealand. Mr Barrel! said many people were keen on making New Zealand the cowvard of the Km pi re, while the Labour party was anxious to build up the country's secondary industries so as to ensure a better-balanced economy. It had been said that Labour could not govern, the speaker continued, yet New Zealand had spent £500,000,000 on war expenses and did not owe a penny to Britain, the overseas national debt had been reduced since Labour bad been in office, and a nest-egg, valued at Loo,(KM).(KM), was held in London. The Government had borrowed the mone\ to fight the war from the people of New Zealand, who would receive the interest Dealing with local projects. Mr Bar roll said he wanted to see a new railway station and a wireless station built in Hamilton. He was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks. A visit by Mr A. G. Osborno, M.P., Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Prime Minister, to Newstead this evening resulted in only two residents attending the meeting, and no address was given. PLANNING PUBLIC WORKS Mil SEMPLE LOOKS AHEAD (0.C.) HAMILTON, Wednesday A ten-year plan for the reconstruction and improvement of the New Zealand railway system was outlined by the Minister of Works, Mr 'Scmple, at .Maeroa this evening in a by-election campaign speech. This scheme would be pushed ahead with a maximum speed as soon as men and materials were available. Among the five projects having first priority was the proposed new Hamilton railway station. There was also a 15-year electrical construction plan and this would be followed by a ten-year plan. Four or five major works would be constructed on the Waikato River. One of these, Karapiro, he hoped to see completed within a few months. Mr Scmple referred to the electrical schemes recently finished and said that during the war period the output of electrical energy in New Zealand had been doubled.

Referring to import restrictions, Mr Semple said it would be the Labour Party's object to prevent New Zealand from becoming the dumping ground for goods made with sweated labour ffom other countries. There were 1200 factories in New Zealand employing 40,000 people. What, he asked, was to become of these people and the money they were earning? To put them out of work was to bring about slump conditions. Mr Semple was given a hearty vote of thanks at the close of his address by the large audience. CITY FIRE CONTROL THE PLACING OF STATIONS POSITION IN PICTURE THEATRES No action can be taken in regard to the site for the proposed new fire station in Parnell until the central station is completed and the financial position clear, according to a report received at the meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board yesterday.

Question by Captain R. S. Judson, V.C., as to whether it would not be possible to dispose of suburban stations and concentrate more on the central station now that speed of travel had reduced the time factor, the superintendent. .Mr W. L, Wilson, said that that consideration had been fully recognised. A number of old stations had already been eliminated. "Unfortunately, if we look at the whole area, it will be realised that the existing suburban stations are not as strategically placed as they would have been had they been originally placed to meet the needs of the board as it now existed," said .Mr Wilson. "The city lias grown haphazardly and it is impossible to readjust the position without a complete new lay-out. and that is not economically possible." From the present point of view, the number of stations had been reduced to a minimum. Mr Wilson continued. All the indications were that the speed of traflic in the city, including fire engines, would he reduced as traffic problems increased A report that satisfactory "panic drills" had been carried out at nine picture theatres while the programmes were in progress was made hy Mr Wilson. He said that theatre protection was regarded as generally satisfactory although there was some concern at the action of patrons in lighting cigarettes while leaving t.he theatres at halftime or at the end of the programmes. Questioned by members of the hoard regarding the lav-out of some suburban theatres, Mr Wilson said that where there was only one aisle and where patrons were seated ' right up against the interior walls it was contrary to the regulations. TTe would make further inquiries into the position. "1 would venture to sat- that a panic could occur in a theatre from other causes than fire," said Mr Wilson, "and if one does occur there will probably be a holocaust. The modern theatre is as nearly fireproof as possihle. Tn some of the big city stores, filled with combustible materials and patronised by thousands of people, the position is \vnr«c."