LABOUR POLICY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 244, 14 October 1937, Page 8

LABOUR POLICY

THE BUDGET DEBATE OPINIONS IN PARLIAMENT [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Oct. 13. When the House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m., Mr E. P. Meachen (Govt., Wairau) continued the Budget debate. He referred to the beneficial work which had been carried out by the Public Works Department in connection with the construction of aerodromes and river protection and also refuted the charge that the men employed on public works were relict workers. He contrasted the conditions which were now obtaining foi the men employed on public works with those for relief workers under the previous Government. Speaking of the criticism which the farmers in Southland had levelled at the Government’s guaranteed price for butter-fat, Mr Meachen said that things did not appear too happy in the Farmers’ Union in Southland. The farmers there apparently were not unanimous in their condemnation of the guaranteed price. He had heard Opposition members state that the Government should do something to provide roads and bridges for access tor backblock settlers. That sounded wonderful

coming from the members of that party which for forty years had dont so little in the Wairau electorate foi the backblock settlers. The present Government was providing for them and under its administration Marlborough was coming out of the doldrums and would take its place in the sun with other parts of the community. Mr A. Campbell (Govt., Chalmers) stated that he had taken an active part in the formation of the Association of Police Officers and he could assure the House that it was functioning well. The community, he suggested, should look upon the police as a social body and not as a system of force.

Commenting upon the criticisms by Mr Polson in regard to New Zealand wharf work, Mr Campbell pointed out that there were different conditions in Australia, where they worked around the clock. He was glad to say that this system had been abolished in New Zealand years ago. He went on to deny the charges that the delays in loading ships were due to the watersiders, stating that in many cases it was the fault of the employers. He also urged Mr Polson to consider the suggested co-operative system of work on the waterfront which, he contended, would eliminate much of the trouble which existed there to-day. On the conclusion of his address, which was his maiden speech in the House, Mr Campbell was greeted with a round of applause. Mr S. G. Holland (Opp., Christchurch North) said that experience had taught us that making provision (or a rainy day was a very wise move. It was quite apparent that the Government did not believe in private savings nor did it practice national saving and was making sure of spending every penny it received. He was sure the workers of the Dominion would not endorse that policy. Loading of Ships Mr Holland stated that Mr Campbell had not answered the Opposition's criticism that the loading of [ships took nearly twice as long toJday as it had a year or two ago. He criticised the Government for its failure to remove the sales tax as it had promised to do, nor had it reduced the exchange rate; and it also refused to answer the Opposition’s questions concerning its intentions for the carrying out of its promises. Under the present Government it was obvious that New Zealand was being asked to settle down to a system of State regulation, dictation, control and fixation of prices. What had happened in the wheat and flour industry where the quality of bread and flour was in a particularly low state was a clear indication to the public Df the condition of things that would Dbtain if the Government took full control of all industries. It was time the Government practised a little efficiency before forcing its ideas on industry. The time had also arrived when action should be taken to protect secondary industries and if it were not taken many industries would be wiped out. In some cases It was already too late for factories had already closed down.

Referring to overseas credits, Mr Holland contended that it was the Government’s intention to “collar” the London sterling funds and it would also ration imports. Costless Credit Speaking on the subject of costless credit, he stated that it was no wonder they heard rumours of distension in the Cabinet and Labour Party when it was realised that the Government had not used a penny of costless credit and that the Minister of Finance was not in favour of its use. Mr L. G. Lowry (Govt., Otaki) referred to the successful condition of many industries in the Dominion today and also to the new industries which were commencing operations. The directors of these concerns did not seem to be bothering much about the alleged lack of confidence in the Government’s economic programme. The Opposit'on’s statement that when it returned to office it would restore our heritage of freedom was so mucn empty vapouring and he asked how much freedom had been enjoyed by the relief workers under the Opposition Government. He protested against the Opposition’s statement that the present Government was a class one. It was a community Government and if it remained long enough in office everyone would benefit under its administration. The Budget, he said, was one of confidence and he sincerely hoped it would be the forerunner of many such Budgets by the Labour administration. The debate was adjourned at 5.30 p.m.