THE LABOUR GOVT.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20080, 7 August 1937, Page 2

THE LABOUR GOVT.

FIRST YEAR OF OFFICE. RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT. COMPILED BY MR. J. THORN, M.P. Mr. J. Thorn, member for Thames, in addition to his multifarious Parliamentary duties, has compiled a closelyprinted 64-page booklet under the caption, "New Zealand's Labour Govern* ment: Its First Year of Office." This booklet, priced at 1/-, is a most useful compendium for Labour enthusiasts, as it covers every phase of legislative activity during the first 12 months of office of the Labour Government. A foreword by the Hon. P. Frascr concluded in a pungent paragraph thus: "Mr. Thorn's pamphlet is a storehouse of information, and to active members of the Labour Praty who are keen to know and to make known the more important details of Labour's achievements during its short period of office, it is an indispensable armoury of facts and figures. Along with Mr. D. Wilson's 'History in the Making,' it provides an effective answer to the ill* informed and distorted criticism of flic Government which at present is overtaxing the inventive ability of Labour's opponents and, incidentally, because of the facts it recounts, it builds up an invincible case for Labour."

Mr. Thorn concludes a very able presentation of the achievements of the Government, backed up by an amazing array of facts and figures, by stating:—• "Most people will agree, on a review of these figures, that extraordinary progress has been made in the first 12 i months of the first New Zealand Labour Government's term of office. Unquestionably conditions arc happier, and the great mass of people arc enjoying an improved standard of life. As to the next session, three great acts of policy are contemplated—a National Superannuation Scheme, a National Medical and Health Service, and a complete reorganisation of the Dominion's education system. Committees consisting of Government M.P.'s are working with the Ministers concerned at the compilation of flic ■necessary measures. It onTy remains to add that every Cabinet Minister is sparing no effort to meet all sections of the people, and, by personal consultations and visits to many parts of the country, to acquaint himself and the Government with their problems and their needs."