LABOUR’S POLICY OUTLINED

Southland Times, Issue 25746, 9 August 1945, Page 7

LABOUR’S POLICY OUTLINED

ORGANIZER’S ADDRESS AT MATAURA

In a review of the Government's legislation during the present session, Mr W. J. Butler, South Island organizer of the New Zealand Labour Party, told a meeting of members of the Mataura Labour Representation Committee and a branch' of the party at Mataura that, with no fewer than 27 Acts to come before Parliament, together with the tenth Labour Budget, this year’s programme of progressive legislation was likely to excel that of any session during the war period. Mr Butler outlined some possible effects of the new legislation, and said that the Labour Party placed in the forefront the taking over of the Bank of New Zealand, so that complete rehabilitation of every serviceman and servicewoman in happy positions and living conditions could be accomplished. In the sphere of progressive social thought, the proposal to provide a minimum family income was regarded by the Labour Party as a prime factor, and the Bill to be introduced shortly would again, place New Zealand a step ahead of the rest of the Empire. “No one made a greater single contribution to world peace and security at San Francisco than the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser,” said Mr Butler. He added that the delegates of every nation at that conference had asked for information about social security, rehabilitation and the labour system of this country. “Mr Fraser’s work as chairman of the Trusteeship Committee earned the warm appreciation of the leaders of many delegations and of the United States Press,” he added. “His appointment was a tribute to the manner in which New Zealand had made the Samoans a happy people and treated the Maori with the full rights and privileges of the white man. And tire new world charter contained some of the principles laid down as long ago as 1936 by the late Mr Savage for world peace and security. The views he expressed at that time have been faithfully followed by his successor, and they have made New Zealand’s contribution no small one.”

Mr Butler, who was asked many questions by the large audience, was accorded a warm vote of thanks on the motion of Messrs D. O’Brien and H. K. Edie. The president of the L.R.C., Mr James Ingram, presided, and at the opening of the meeting he made reference to the death of Mr Alexander McLachlan, who contested the Mataura seat in Labour’s interests in 1919. Those present stood in silence as a mark of respect. > Mr Butler will address meetings throughout the Mataura electorate during his visit to the district.