EXPANSION OF INDUSTRIES

Southland Times, Issue 24355, 8 February 1941, Page 8

EXPANSION OF INDUSTRIES

DEFINITE PROGRAMME ADVOCATED

A definite programme for the development of new industries in New Zealand and the expansion of existing i industries was strongly advocated by Mr J. A. Lee, M.P., Leader of the Democratic Labour Party, in an address at a public meeting in the Victoria Concert Chamber last night. Mr Lee emphasized that industrial production must be expanded so that the Dominion could have the fullest and widest commodity income. An address was also given by the Hon. W. E. Barnard, M.P., Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Concert Chamber was crowded and many were unable to gain admittance. A. welcome to Mr Lee and Mr Barnard was extended by the DeputyMayor (Mr J. R. Martin), who assured the speakers of an attentive hearing. What were the conditions that created the world out of which Hitler arose, asked Mr Lee. These conditions were a world not planned for consumption, rotting produce and starving millions. Hitler called upon young men and women to ignore democracy and many people were set wondering if the dictators could bring improved conditions in their wake. The reason for the rise of the dictators was the failure of democratic politicians to solve problems. If New Zealand had only a war policy and did not lay the foundation of a new social order then they would destroy the dictators only to have more arise.

“The conditions of war give to the machine industry the maximum productive demand,” he said. “Cost is no ■ object. Thanks to the fact that what I is physically possible is financially possible any policy that can increase production is adopted. When a war ends the mistake is made of getting the I production system back to the position where it was geared before war began.” This could result only in misery and bankruptcy. This was the policy of Mr S. G. Holland, Leader of the National Party, who believed in the retention of a system that created Hitlers and Mussolinis. The business man of New Zealand, while wanting to be rid of the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser and the Hon. W. Nash, did not want a return to the conditions that prevailed from 1932 to 1935. Free play for that system which created the war and overwhelmed the world with war was dead. They had to determine how to conserve the maximum degree of freedom in the world in front of them, rather than go back to orthodox finance. AGRICULTURAL EXPANSION There could be no doubt that a great agricultural expansion would take place in Europe, which must attempt to feed itself, continued Mr Lee. Bombs might destroy industries, but they could not wipe out the cultivated paddock. In Great Britain millions of more acres were under the plough. Britain had no option but to plough more land and produce more commodities because she did not know how she was going to arrest the submarine menace. They all knew that as bombs continued to fall British industries would be destroyed. Agricultural production would expand while industries were being destroyed. Undoubtedly there would be great improvements in the industrial machines in countries where no bombs were being dropped. But unfortunately these countries did not require the primary I products of New Zealand. If, after the I war, Europe wanted less food and there were no ships to carry the Dominion’s excess products, what was going to happen? Untold millions of tons of produce would be forced on to the | markets, with the purchasing power of | the people contracted. It was absolutely essential to expand New Zea- | land’s industries. :

The Labour Party had talked a lot about introducing new industries, but nothing had been done. Today they wanted iron and steel to make war equipment, but it was not available. Another new industry that was proposed was the extraction of oil from coal. A lot was said about this industry and many reports were submitted, but nothing was done. He visualized a great upbuilding of New Zealand’s industries to a pitch where the diverse skill and talent of all the country’s workers could be absorbed. They wanted an industrial offensive as never before.

Since the Democratic Labour Party I was formed, the sum of £2OOO had been spent by it on political activity, said Mr Lee. That money did not come from vested interests and wealthy groups, but from the people. This indicated a lively radical interest in democracy. . Discussing the Social Security Scheme, Mr Lee said that this year the scheme cost £11,000,000, whereas it was estimated to cost £16,000,000. Someone had deprived the people of £5,000,000. The expenditure on family allowances was estimated to cost £600,000, but only £250,000 had been spent. The motherhood endowment ; was an important question. It was the Democratic Labour Party's firm belief that the motherhood allowance should start with the first child. The size of this allowance should have no j relation to the parents’ income. The } Labour Party used to stand for this principle, but the Democratic Labour Party still stood for it.

MR BARNARD’S ADDRESS 1 j Because of the impending election he thought it his duty to explain to as many people as possible the views of his party on the state of the country, said Mr Barnard in opening his address. When the Democratic Labour Party was forn ed neither Mr Lee nor himself abandoned any of the political principles for which they stood in 1935 and 1938. On the contrary, they maintained that they were adhering more closely to those principles than those men who were returned with them. Many members of the Labour Party held similar views, but whereas Mr Lee and himself were on the outside trying to express their opinions, they preferred to stay inside and see their views thwarted. “There is no need for me to explain the details that led to the expulsion of Mr Lee from the Labour Party,” continued Mr Barnard. “At the time, I described this as a ‘cunning eviction,’ and that is still my view. I felt very keenly the means that were used to throw out a man who has given signal service to the Labour Party.’’ The way in which New Zealand was being led into a dictatorship reign was one of the reasons that influenced him I to resign from his party and to go out into the wilderness, rather than be subjected to dictatorship. Many men had left the Dominion on overseas service and were playing their part in putting the dictators to flight. Of what value would be their sacrifice if dictatorship were to rear its head in their midst. It was essential that a sound financial system should be established in New Zealand. The present orthodox system was sadly in need of reshaping. This was one of the main planks of the Democratic Labour Party. A care-fully-planned State was necessary, but it was also essential to see that the freedom of the individual was preserved and protected. The problem of any future Government would be to en-

sure that the setting up of a sound financial structure did not interfere with the individual rights of the citizens. A vote of thanks to Mr Lee and Mr Barnard for their addresses was carried.