THE POLITICAL SCENE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23514, 31 May 1938, Page 8

THE POLITICAL SCENE

AN INDEPENDENT’S VIEW USE OF NATIONAL CREDIT SOCIAL LEGISLATION COMMENDED (Peb United Press Association) NELSON, May 30. Mr H. Atmore, Independent member for Nelson, in a broadcast address to-night, reviewed the present political situation, discussing various economic and financial theories and devoting some time to a consideration of the national superannuation and health proposals. He expressed approval of much of the Government’s social legislation, and in this connection spoke critically of some of the actions of the nrevious Government. “ The Savage Government’s heavy taxation and nationalising legislation may properly be criticised,” Mr Atmore said, “ but its humanitarian measures are more in keeping with the tenets of true religion than were the callous reductions in pensions of the poor by their predecessors. It is high time that party recrimination ceased, and they could well be replaced by higher objectives and nobler aims. There is plenty of scope for honourable competition in evolving plans for the eradication of disease and poverty in this young country which is so full of promise and so rich in potentiality. We have already achieved a world’s record on a per capita basis in the production of real wealth, and no New Zealander who knows his native land will doubt that our golden age is still before us, for we have only touched the fringe of our possibilities. Right thinking and right living will make us great in the highest sense of that word; keen to right all wrong, and to see that all our people have access to the good things of life. “To achieve the foregoing,” Mr Atmore said, “true education is required. The Minister of Education (Mr P. Fraser) has certainly made commendable progress since taking over this most important portfolio. The Forbes-Coates-Hamilton Government had, with a mistaken idea of economy, almost crippled our educational system, and had made it the Cinderella of the public services. Mr Fraser has secured £1,380,000 for school buildings, has increased the size of the standard classroom, increased school committees’ allowances, opened the primary schools to five-year-old children, and restored grants to kindergartens. Four additional school medical officers, five additional school 1 nurses, and 12 * extra district nurses have been appointed, and he has largely increased the number of dental clinic trainees bo that to-day there are 140 in training.” National Credit The speaker turned his attention for a time to the problems of production and distribution and reached the conclusion that the obstacle to a full distribution of this world’s goods was a shortage of : purchasing power. National credit, had not been tried in Alberta, Mr Atmore declared, because the Legislature, which was a provincial one, had been over-ruled by the Dominion Government at Ottawa, but the ■truggle still continued,-and at a recent election for an Albertan representative in the Dominion Parliament at Ottawa, the National Credit candidate won the seat by a large majority, notwithstanding the fierce opposition concentrated on the National Credit candidate. National credit had not failed. “ The Government must go the full distance for full utilisation, of the national credit for the national benefit,” Mr Atmore said, “ otherwise, rising costs will cancel out all the advantages. It is to the credit (> of the Government that it is thinking in terms of human beings—men, women and children, for the sick and the aged—and is endeavouring to achieve betterment of conditions for all those unable to help themselves. There are parliamentarians who clearly see this truth,” he said, “ and it is to be hoped that in the near future their numbers will be largely increased, so that the national credit may be used through the people’s bank’ for the general raising of the standing of living and for the enhancing of the happiness of the nation.” Social Security After making brief reference to the need for an assured income for the farmer and expressing confidence in the Onekaka steel “ venture,” Mr Atmore stated that an adequate superannuation scheme for about 90 per cent, of the people was an obvious necessity. During the taking of evidence by the Parliamentary Committee on the superannuation and health proposals, he said, representatives of the oil companies’ staffs, Bank Officers’ Guild, and insurance companies staff gave details of splendid superannuation schemes providing in a generous way for their comfort in retirement. It was obvious, however, that the generous contributions to the funds by the firms, companies, and banks concerned were only made possible by the large earnings derived from the general public, and in that way the subsidies were indirect contributions from the public “ I look upon the members of the Cabinet, from the Prime Minister down, as earnest men who are not afraid of work and who are endeavouring to realise some of the ideals which they have advocated for years and in their legislation they have certainly tried to help the helpless,” Mr Atmore said in conclusion. “ The more liberal expenditures on education and all social services are steps in the right direction, for the greatness of a nation may be measured by the care it bestows on its women, its children and elderly people. Not Nazism, not Fascism, nor Communism will disperse the chaos that is in the world to-day. The world is hungry for a lead from a Christian nation to-day, but that nation can only give It when her principles are put into practice.” ■■

The'speaker, who received an excellent hearing throughout, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, the motion being seconded by Mr S. Kenning, who is a member of the Nelson Labour Party.