'GAMBLER’S GOVERNMENT’

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19456, 15 October 1937, Page 9

'GAMBLER’S GOVERNMENT’

OPPOSITION CHARGE DEBATE ON THE BUDGET BOOT INDUSTRY PROBLEM (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. In the House of Representatives today, the debate on the financial statement was continued by Mr. W. P. Endean (Nat., Parnell), who said the present Government was a gambler’s government and people were wondering what was going to happen to them. He stated that the Government’s housing policy was proceeding along the wrong lines. It should eradicate the slums in the first instance, and he advocated that we should follow the precedents of England and New South Wales in our housing policy. Dealing with work on the wharves, he said that New Zealand watersiders were the world's slowest workers. Mr. A. Campbell (Labour, Chalmers): Are they as slow as lawyers. (Laughter). Mr. Endean proceeded to state that lack of discipline was also characteristic of our watersiders, whose work compared unfavourably with that of a similar class of labour in England and Australia. Mr. J. O’Brien (Labour, Westland) drew attention to the increase in the output of secondary industries since the Labour Government had come into office. With regard to the boot and shoe industry, he said he knew the position was serious as the result of overseas competition. There was a way out, however, but the position could not be rectified in a day or two. It was a gross exaggeration for the Opposition to state that the same serious position existed in other industries.