THE PLAN FOR PROSPERITY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20284, 6 December 1935, Page 10

THE PLAN FOR PROSPERITY.

“Vote Labour This Time For Prosperity and Security,” was the 1935 electioneering slogan which attracted many thousands of electors to support the Labour Party’s candidates in every electorate. After years of difficult times in which the economic blizzard had wrought dire havoc with the fortunes of all classes of the community, the people were seeking the return of normal times. Uncertainty and losses had persuaded thousands of voters of both sexes and of all classes that a sweeping change was needed to rehabilitate the fortunes of town and country, and that the only course open Was to reject the Government of . the day and give another group of parliamentary representatives an opportunity to try out their plans. As a matter of fact, Ihe habit of blaming the Government seems inherent in the make-up of all democratic communities. The result in many countries has been the defeat of Governments regardless of their political associations and principles. It is not surprising then that such a la rge section of the community should have made up their minds to change their parliamentary leaders, particularly in view of the enticing and alluring prospects that were suggested in the slogan: “Vote Labour This Time for Prosperity and Security.” Here was offered all that had been denied hundreds of people in town and country, since the biting blasts of the economic blizzard swept across the country leaving in its trail a wide area of disaster and distress. The Labour Party offered the people just those things that had eluded the grasp of the great majority of the people: Prosperity and Security! How does the Labour Administration propose to redeem the wealth of promises offered the people in exchange for votes? The plan is set out in twelve articles of Labour’s proposals that were proclaimed from every platform. But every day that has passed since it became clear that the Dominion

was on the eve of having its first Labour Government in office, has brought evidences that the leaders of the new Administration are beginning to realise tlie enormity of the task they have undertaken. Briefly stated, the objective of the Labour Party is “to utilise to the maximum degree the wonderful resources of the Dominion”: First : For the purpose of restoring a decent living standard to those who have been deprived of essentials for the past five years; and Second: To organise an internal economy that will distribute the production and services in a way that will guarantee to every person able and willing to work an income sufficient to provide him and his dependents with everything necessary to make a “home” and “home life,” in the best sense of the meaning of these terms. This, then, in short is Labour’s plan for the creation of that prosperity that will give security to all sections of the community —“to every person able and willing to work.” And from every election platform the Leader of the Labour itlio is now the first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, gave an unqualified pledge that the Labour Party, if returned to power, would implement the policy designed to bring prosperity and Security to all. The first Lqj'onr Administration is jiLW in office, and we think it can be said that every citizen, who has the welfare of New Zealand at heart, will wish the new Government every success iu all the efforts it makes, along sound and safe lines, to redeem the clear and unconditional promises the Party speakers made in the quest for the votes of the electors in constituencies from end to end of New Zealand.