LABOUR AND ITS PROMISES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21051, 1 June 1938, Page 6

LABOUR AND ITS PROMISES

To the Editor of “ The Tlmaru Herald “ Sir,—Without wishing to prolong this controversy I must ask your correspondent, R. W. Anderson, not to credit me with his Party’s spirit by accusing me of evasions. The fact is that I did not think of reserving the newspaper containing his second letter (or first either) and when I searched for same could not find them, so I presume they were used for the fires. Mr Anderson is not too bad at evasion himself, since he has not offered any proof of his statements about Mr Savage and Mr Sullivan having no intention of keeping the promises they made when speaking to the electors, so I propose to find out for myself. Tne position is plain enough for anyone to see why certain taxes have not been removed and the exchange tax is, as everyone knows too, the most difficult of all to remove. But even if they were never removed, it would not justify the National Party’s action in putting them on during a depression. Surely, during the Nationalists’ reign was the time to be airing their rainy day slogan and indispensable umbrella, but Mr Anderson evades my question as to where they were at that time and as they claim they had a full Treasury (as they should have had after so many years of almost continued prosperity), why did they have to put the taxes on? The Government has upon many occasions refuted charges of unfair criticism and propaganda levelled at them, and one cf these was refuted by Mr Nash at Lower Hutt when he refuted the charge of disloyalty to the Throne of Mr Savage and his Party, and there are many other incidents which I can quote any time if Mr Anderson would like to hear them. Anyway this kind of back-

I biting and petty juggling, to use Mr I Hamilton’s own words, does no harm to the Government, but merely con- | veys a very regrettable impression of the National Party’s spirit and idea of fair play. As for overseas factors, the situation in Europe has changed beyond all imagination since the Government took office and has created difficulties untold for every country, but I am sure Mr Savage’s plan for insulation of New Zealand against slump periods will prove an admirable one once it becomes stabilised, but even Mr Anderson should admit that such an undertaking requires considerable time to accomplish. It would appear as though the National Party and supporters are determined to bring a slump upon us whether it is due or not, since capitalistic concerns and vested interests are tightening up all their resources in a way that they did not do even in the slump period. Labour (member speakers are certainly superior to Nationalist speakers, noted as the former are for forbearance of spirit towards hostile criticism, together with the decorum and sense of propriety which command the respect of everyone and which the Nationalists would do well to emulate. It is grossly incorrect to state that Nationalists have always been upheld by Mr Speaker upon points of order, and I can quote many instances to the contrary and shall later on, if Mr Editor will permit. When this slump which the Nationalists are hatching for us looms in view, I shall borrow one of Mr Hamilton’s now famous umbrellas, but | until then I shall enjoy the sunshine and blue skies which the Government I have made possible for us by a decent living wage. We have the consolation ;of knowing that if this man-made slump eventuates, Mr Anderson will i have to put up his tax too, instead of standing by and watching the wageearner and poorer classes foot the bill as they did before.—l am, etc., DISGUSTED. Timaru, May 31.