LABOUR’S CAMPAIGN

Opunake Times, 15 October 1935, Page 3

LABOUR’S CAMPAIGN

INTERESTING ADDRESS BY MR RICHARDS.

For the first time for many years, a member of the Labour Party took the platform at Opunake to open the campaign on behalf of a candidate whose anme has not yet been disclosed. The task was in the hands of Mr A. S. Richards, M.P., for Eoskill and the good audience was treated to a most interesting outline of the Party’s proposals for the future. Mr A. J. Brennan presided. Mr Richards outlined the main features of the Labour Party’s platform including a State bank, the control of credit and currency a system of guaranteed prices for produce, adequate pensions and insurance, a policy of non-borrow-ing and the restoration of purchasing power. Mr Richards contended that the giving of a blank cheque to the present Government had been most unfortunate at the last election and its policy had been the cause of most of the troubles affecting the country to-day. On the other hand, had the Labour Party been returned at last election the country would not have suffered what had been mis-called a “depression.” The Labour Party stood opposed to the exploitation of the people by internatiou- • al finance and would return to the I workers the fruits of their lab- i ours. 1

There were in the world in 1934 n 0 less than 120,000,000 unemployed people, while in New Zealand there were 57,000 unemployed, affecting: 120,000 people, each being a definite liability. In 1934 no less than 2,400,000 people in the world died from starvation. There were also 1,200,000 who i committed suicide, the main cause in 90 per cent of the cases being' hunger and despair. Standing behind the Ottaw;* conference was the band of financiers who controlled the Bank of England and also the finances of the world who said the statesmen could go so far and no further, declared Mr Richards. He considered that Ottawa had been a dis, appointment and a failure. ' In an indirect sense, said Mr Richards, every nation consumed what it produced, but the Croyernment bv its various cuts had deliberately cut the purchasing power of the people by £IOO,OOO- - and they were unable to bu back the products produced. A high dietetic authority had said that the British people should spend £200,000,000 more per year on foodstuffs, added Mr Richards. • w Mr Richards instanced the guar Jan teed prices now given, for wheat ana fruit and said the raising of the exchange was also a method, although clumsy and unsatisfactory, of guaranteeing pieces. Labour would do it in a much better way. Of 80,000 farmers in New Zealand 41,000 had last year to make ariangements with their creditors and this was, after 25 years of “farmers’ government.” Half the • farmers were virtually bankrupt after 95 years of anti-Labour Government. He said could Labour do worse? When the leasehold was departed from the cpuntry was placed under the domination of the “mortgage hold,” said Mr Richaids, who referred to the great amount of mortgage on the Holdings of returned soldiers, many o f °whom were hopelessly in a - rears with their interest. There ’ was a reduction of nearly 4000 in th". number of small farm holders which system he considered was a failure. Every session the Lands Committee was deluged with petitions from people who desired to get cut of the predicament tfiey were in. The Mortgage Corporation would never be able to give the sjiTiie service that the State vances Department had done for 40 years, said Mr Richards. He claimed that mortgaged farmers - would be unable to put themselves right in five or ten years without guaranteed prices. Proposing a national superannuation scheme Mr Richards condemned the Government for cutting pensions to 15s 8d per week on which it was impossible for the aged to live comfortably. Labour’s scheme would give comfort and security and red ice taxes. Right through Labour’s programme ran the keynote of human justice. Mr Richards said that at last election the Labour Party vote increased 109,000 and was only 59,000 less than the combined votes of its opponents. He believed the Egmont electorate would show a substantial turn-over towards the Labour Party at the next election. If the electors <K the district believed in the Labour policy they would soon be given an opportunity of voting for it. He understood that a state* ment would shortly be made that would be very acceptable to that part of the electorate and voters would be able to get behind the candidate selected and support ernment come into po"wer, Richards, and the things he had sketched along with many others would be written into the Statutes and New Zealand would then be brought back to that state described by the late Mr R. J. Seddon ns “God’s own country.” Now it was ‘the devil’s own country, said Mr Richards. Moving a vote of thanks to the speaker, Mr J. S, Tosland paid tribute to the high standard of the address given and the humani tarian ideals of the speaker. Whether the people of the coun-

try would declare for a Labour Government he would not say but it appeared that the ideals of the people were certainly becoming more socialised.

Mr T. Gardiner seconded the motion which was carried with acclamation. / A number of residents stayed after the meeting with a view to formin'? a committee and it is understood there is good prospect of support.