POLICY ATTACKED

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1935, Page 12

POLICY ATTACKED

“ANOTHER BLANK CHEQUE.” MR. H. CAVE ON GOVERNMENT. Addressing a meeting of electors at Moturoa last night, Mr, H. Cave, Democrat candidate for the New Plymouth seat, attacked the points of the Government’s election platform as announced on Monday. Mr. W. C. Weston presided and an audience of between 30 and 40 gave the candidate an attentive hearing. At the conclusion of the meeting a vote of thanks was carried on the motion of Mr. T. Farley, seconded by Mr. E. O’Dea. “ ‘Budgetary stability will be preserved,’ says the first point of the policy,” said Mr. Cave. “The so-called balanced Budget has been accomplished by excessive taxation and its equilibrium, seemingly, must be maintained at all costs, regardless of unemployment needs, the stifling of industries, and heavy burden generally borne by the community in order to achieve this result. “ ‘lncreases in taxation must be avoided by refraining from extravagant expenditure.’ This is a very worthy objective, in the face of the past years of woeful extravagance and mismanagement. Despite the misery which the calamitous policy of the Coalition Government has caused, by ruthless wage-slashing and other so-called ‘economies,’ this same Government has thought fit to increase the salaries and allowances of Government officials to a total of nearly £500,000 during the past year. “This is in striking contrast to the treatment of thousands of unemployed men walking the streets, whose wives and children have been steeped in misery and privation for four long years, and to the rank and file of the Government workers, who have been struggling along on wages slashed to the bone. “The National Party’s policy also says, ‘As economic and financial conditions continue to improve, the rates of taxation will be reduced.’ We have been repeatedly hold that we are well on the road to recovery. The long-suffering electors would welcome, as the parched ground welcomes the shower, the news of an immediate reduction in taxation; but ‘as soon as financially possible’ this will be done. “The policy also says, ‘wage and salary cuts in the public service will be restored and pensions improved as soon as national finances permit.’ Not this year, next year, but sometime—when? ‘As soon as financially possible’ is the answer. EXCHANGE DIFFICULTIES. “The Government says unless there is a marked change in conditions, the Government and the Reserve Bank will cooperate in maintaining the stability of exchange. In other words ‘as soon as financially possible’ the artificial exchange rate will be removed, but in the meantime the country has to face the prospect of raising £13,000,000 each year for a gross benefit to the farmer of £9,000,000 yearly. “‘A scheme of compulsory national superannuation covering pensions for old age, sickness, invalidity, widows and orphans has already been investigated. As soon as financial conditions permit, the scheme will be established.’ This is another splendid scheme that will be put into operation ‘as soon as financially possible.’ i “ ‘lnvestigations into national health insurance have also been made 1 . These will be carried further and a scheme will be introduced as soon as financial conditions permit.’ We shall have to await the pleasure of the leaders of the Nationalist Party for the inauguration of this, another splendid scheme. “ ‘A national housing scheme will be introduced,’ says the Government, ‘involving co-operation between State and local authorities and private enterprise. Most expert inquiry and full discussion will take place before the scheme is launched. An Act providing for a housing survey has already been passed.’ While there is no definite statement of the fact, the inference is that this, too, will be put into operation ‘as soon as, financially possible.’ The Democrat Party does not favour a State housing scheme because it is considered to be economically impracticable, for the present time, at least. “ ‘The Government has plans well under way for the free distribution of milk to school children.’ The idea is a sound one and is incorporated in the policy of the Democrat Party. The matter is past the experimental stage and should be put into effect immediately. LABOUR LAWS INVESTIGATION. “ ‘With a return to improved and more settled economic conditions, it is proposed to have a general examination of New Zealand Labour laws with the object of increasing the scope of employment and maintaining where possible the standard of workers,* is another point made by the Government, This investigation will therefore be undertaken, ‘as soon as financially possible.’ “The majority of the clauses in this policy of the new Nationalist Party,” continued Mr. Cave, “can be summarily described as ‘being already well on the way to completion.’ With regard to that important part which affects the economic structure of the Dominion there is little promise of alleviation of our present condition. The essence of the policy is that the Nationalists will do exactly nothing—unless and until (in their opinion) financial circumstances permit. Thus the Coalition asks for another blank cheque.” The features of the Democrat programme on the other hand, said Mr. Cave, were: Immediate work for the unemployed, standard rates of pay, cost of living reduced, assistance to farmers, security of contract, wage cuts restoration, State expenditure reduction, pensions and health insurance, development of industry and trade, the only definite taxationreduction programme, education improvement, Parliamentary reforms, democratic broadcasting service and private enterprise against socialism. If the Democrats were put into power and the civil servants’ wages were all restored, would the party compel business people to restore wages also? was a question. The Democrat Party could not compel anyone to increase wages, replied Mr. Cave, but the party believed in higher wages and hoped that if it gave the lead private firms would follow. Had the Democrat Party definitely promised a subsidy to the farming community? asked another member of the audience. Mr. Cave pointed out that if the exchange rate were reduced as suggested the Government would assist the farmer in need of help to the extent of the balance of the 25 per cent, exchange.