LIVELY MEETING AT HIGHFIELD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21155, 30 September 1938, Page 6

LIVELY MEETING AT HIGHFIELD

Mr Carr Interrupted

Chairman Appeals For Fair Play Proceedings were lively on several occasions during the address by the Rev. Clyde Carr, Labour candidate for Timaru, who spoke to about 50 electors in St. Paul’s Presbyterian Sunday School, Highfield, last night. Several members of the audience, including women, were apparently definitely hostile, and the chairman, Mr S. Lang, was obliged to appeal for fair play for the candidate, particularly when vigorous stamping was indulged in once or twice. Before opening the meeting Mr Lang invited nominations for chairman, but there was no response, and he was obliged to act in that capacity himself. At the conclusion of the address, Mr Carr was accorded a vote of thanks on the motion of Messrs J. McCort and W. Woods. “In view of the international situation, which perhaps is not as serious as the newspapers might lead us to believe,” said Mr Carr in his opening remarks, “I would like to say that the present Government is doing probably more than any previous Government to see that New Zealand plays its part as one of the nations of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The Labour Government's defence policy is progressive; in line with advice from Britain; and the Government is closely and constantly in touch with the British Naval, Army and Air Force authorities.” Mr Carr quoted from the Government’s defence programme, which refuted the allegations of those who said that the Government had not faced the position adequately, and that New Zealand was not playing its part as a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. However, the Government was doing its utmost in defence measures, and was spending as much as it could afford. Mr Carr emphasised the point that nevertheless the Government was definitely pledged to the League of Nations’ policy of collective security. Poster Criticised Mr Carr referred to a National Party advertisement with the caption “A Woman Can't Make Ends Meet with this Labour Government,” remarking that the lady depicted looked as though she was suffering during the threes of the depression during the Forbes-Coates-Hamilton Government. He thought the poster was rather a ghastly joke. The advertisement seemed to indicate that the National Party maintained that rising costs had nullified and reduced the purchasing power of the people. Mr Carr admitted that it was true that prices had risen in many lines. Fifty per cent, of the increase had been due to the rise in the price of imports, over which they had no control. The remaining 50 per cent, comprised products for which the New Zealand farmer was responsible, and, as the farmer was being paid more for his produce, the consumer naturally had to pay’ more. Farmers were receiving 5/9 a bushel for their wheat without the price of bread to the consumer having been increased. Mr Carr maintained that it was nothing but hypocrisy and falsehood to say that everybody was worse off than before the Labour Party took office. The position was a long way better. A voice: A long way worse, you mean. Figures Challenged Mr Carr went on to say that the real test of the position was the statistics in relation to the purchase of goods and commodities. Taking 100 as an index base, Mr Carr quoted figures to prove that' since the Labour Government had been in office the volume of goods consumed had increased from 94 to 130, whereas during the years 1930 to 1932, under the previous Government, the consumption of goods declined from 115 to 74. Although prices had risen, incomes had increased to a greater extent. He maintained that the rise in retail prices amounted to 124 per cent, compared with a wages increase of 24 per cent. Will you please tell the Nationalists that? A voice: It is not true. Mr Carr: All right, lady, bring along your statisticians. I am open to conviction. The purchasing power of the people to-day is 10 per cent, better than it was when Labour took office. A yoice: Get some invoices; they will be all you will want. Mr Carr: Your views may be particular and local. I am taking the average ever the whole of New Zealand. Surely the Government Statistician is in a better position to judge than you are? The voice: You ask some of the women. (Applause.) Mr Carr: They live in Timaru, too. I am not talking about any particular commodity in any certain place, but about the average of all commodities over the whole of the Dominion. The voice: Don't get excited! Mr Carr: If you have any sense of courtesy you will leave your interjections and questions till the proper time at the end of the meeting. If you think you can make a better speech come up here and do it. The chairman: The meeting mustn’t develop into a debate across the floor. Mr Carr: If any amateur financiers or official representatives of the National Party present disbelieve me I can tell you that you are mistaken and unfortunately mistaken. During the Coates-Forbes Government in 1932 there were 897 bankruptcies or assignments; in 1937 under the Labour Government there were 308! During the depression continued Mr Carr many young people could not afford to get married, and if they did marry they could not afford to have children. Mr J. McCort: Will you tell me the recipe. (Laughter.) Mr Carr: I will tell you something about the unemployment benefits. A woman’s voice: O shut up. Mr Carr: What was that? I tell you that, while some people did not suffer as a result of the depression, others were compelled to take a very unfortunate interest in unemployment.

When quoting comparative figures showing the relatively low amount of

taxation in New Zealand a woman interjected: “I wish I could believe you, that’s all." Mr Carr: If I went along and had a chat with you, you would believe me. The woman: I don’t want you! (Laughter and applause.) Mr darr: Upon, my word, am I as dreadful as all that? What I am telling you is not Labour propaganda or Labour figures; they come from the Government Statistician. Politics and> Religion Later in the meeting Mr Carr remarked that a Government had to have some ideals of service otherwise it- would fail. He was about to refer to the Sermon on the Mount when there were cries of “We don’t want to hear that,” and “We dont want religion now.” Mr Carr: You are going to hear it. Stamping followed for several minutes when the chairman remarked that the action of those making the noise was very rude and discourteous. A voice: What about Mr Bodkin at Dunedin; you could not hear him for Labour interruptions. The chairman: This is Timaru. I am chairman and we have paid for tire hall. It is up to you to give the candidate a reasonable hearing. Mr Carr: What about the Hon. F. Langstone’s address. He could not be heard for Nationalist interruptions. The chairman. I have carried out my duties impartially and it is only fair to allow Mr Carr to proceed. Mr Carr went on to recall that St. Paul had said that those who were strong should bear the infirmities of the weak. Under the Social Security Scheme those who could afford it would help the less fortunate. A member of the audience claimed that the Minister of Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan had declined to answer the question whether the Government intended to take over certain industries whether they were showing profits or not. Mr Carr: I can’t believe it. The only reason he did not do so was probably because of unnecessary repetition as the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet have frequently explained that the Government has no such intention. The questioner: Well, in this case Mr Sullivan declined to reply. Mr Carr then went on to refer to the case of Mr L. A. Humphris’s transport service between Timaru and Christchurch, and the possibility of it being taken over as the transport authorities held that as long as such services competed alongside the railways so long would Timaru be penalised by the differential freight charges which those who supported the railways were obliged to pay. The questioner: Mr Carr has given a comprehensive survey in regard to Humphris’s Motors. Mr Carr: I tell you the Government would not take it over without granting compensation. They would not deprive the owner of his livelihood without compensation as the Coates Government had done in the case of Mr Shanks, who had lost the Stud-holme-Waimate service in favour of Lister’s Motors. Tire questioner intimated that he referred to the Whakatane Paper Mills, when the chairman pointed out that he was making a statement and not asking a question. Mr Carr then remarked that if the Government contemplated taking over the Company, which he doubted, the only reason would be that it would be to save the interests of tire shareholders.