PROTEST MEETING

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 177, 22 February 1933, Page 5

PROTEST MEETING

I POLICY OF GOVERNMENT j Wellington Town Hall FilleH LABOUR STATES ALTERNATIVE SALES TAXCONDEMNED Wellington, Today.—To protest against the Government's policy on exchange, sales tax, wage cuts, and unemployment, 3000 persons assembled in the Town Hall last evening, when a meeting was held under the auspices of the New Zealand Labour Party. The gathering was addressed by four jjM;P.,'s, Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. J. McCombs, Mr. M. J. Savage, and Mr R. Semple, who generally condemned the policy of the Coalition Government and explained Labour's alternative. At the close of the meeting, which was presided over by Mr. P. Fraser, M.l'., the following resolution was' carried unamimously:

"That this meeting of Wellington citizens condemns uie Government's financial and economic policy emtooayig nigh exchange, sales tax, wage and salary cuts anu inadequate unemplovment provision; and considers that as tne said policy must inevitably increase unemployment, want, anu destitution, aim generally aeepen tne depression, that as it lar exceeds anything discussed or contemplated at the general election, and is clearJy opposed to the opinion of the overwhelming majority of the peopi© of New Zealand, the honest course for the Government to pursue is to immediately tender its resignation. "This meeting further expresses the opinion that the time has arrived for the credit and currency resources of the Dominion to be utilised for the purpose of restoring and increasing the purchasing power of the mass of the people in town and country, of stimulating industry, of initiating a system of planned production for the beneht of all the people, and generally lighting the depression."