LABOUR PROSPECT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 828, 31 July 1933, Page 6

LABOUR PROSPECT.

Gains Everywhere, Says Reform M.P. | FARMERS "GOING SOCIALISTIC." I Socialism or anti-Sociaiism would be , the test at the next general election, j and, with a section of farmers apparj ently going Socialistic, it would appear : as if Socialism must win, said the lion ; A. D. M’Leod, Coalition Reform M.P. } for Wairarapa, in an address to electors ! at Upper Hutt. | Mr M’Leod said that recently he had occasion to travel in many North Island rural electorates, and everywhere he found a great deal of political unreac and dissatisfaction amongst all sections of the people. Since the last general election political Labour had everywhere gained ground, and Douglas Credit Socialists were assisting Labour greatly in some electorates. In New Zealand small traders, with small business professional men, had always, in conjunction with small farmers, been a steadying political influence in rural electorates. To-day, largely as a result of high taxation and city newspaper propaganda, country business and professional men felt that too much was being done by the present Government for farmers. On the other hand, farmers were complaining that not enough was being done by the Government on their behalf. Personally he could only say that farmers as farmers were no more entitled to special consideration than were any other sections of New Zealanders. In saying this, he felt that he was expressing the opinions of the heads of the present Government as well as his own. It jvas the condition of the farming industry itself that was causing grave anxiety to the heads of the Government, and should be causing grave anxiety to every man and woman of the Dominion. Two years ago he had stated publicly to electors that unless some means could be devised to lift the wholesale values of farm products in New Zealand, it could only be a short period before all sections of New Zealand’s people would suffer. To-day that, unfortunately, was the case, and, as was usual with all democracies, the blame was laid at the door of the Government ! Political Labour in New Zealand had ! at present a great advantage in that it

had never held office, although where it had held office elsewhere in the Empire it had on no occasion improved conditions, not even those of Labour itself. Although the farming vote was the largest sectional vote in New Zealand, yet in no rural electorate did farmers’ votes exceed one-third of the total vote. Whether it would be a good thing or a bad thing for New Zealand if Socialism won at the next election only the future could tell. For himself, he would be found fighting Socialism as practised in the world today, as he had no reason to believe that Socialist Labour in New Zealand was any different from Socialist Labour elsewhere in the Empire.