LABOUR ACHIEVEMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 240, 11 October 1938, Page 8

LABOUR ACHIEVEMENTS

LEGISLATION REVIEWED MR. ORMOND WILSON AT WANGAEHL The legislation of the Labour Government during the past three years and a review of the policy to be pursued if the party is returned to the Treasury Benches were given to a meeting of about 50 electors in the Wangaehu Hall last night by Mr. Ormond Wilson, Labour candidate for the Rangitikei electorate. Mr. J. Duggan presided. At the conclusion of his address, Mr. Wilson answered a number of questions and was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, coupled with an expression of confidence in the Government. Mr. Wilson spoke at Fordell before proceeding to Wangaehu. In opening his address, Mr. Wilson expressed appreciation of the cooperation he had received from the local bodies which had enabled much good work to be carried out throughout the district. The best of relations had existed between himself and Mr. E. B. Gordon during the campaign and whatever the result of the election on Saturday they would be able to meet and shake hands. He regretted that Mr. Gordon had made the mistake of associating himself with the National Party, but hoped that he would change his views during the coming three years.

The Leader of the National Party, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, had affirmed that the policy of his party was not to change the legislation of the Government in every respect. Mr. Hamilton had said that his party was in favour of the increased wages against which they had fought and the 40-hour week. Most of the propaganda of the National Party was directed to show that the increased and rising costs were strangling industry and business. Compared with 1935, the amount of confectionery sold had increased by 2000 tons, the sales of blankets by 41,000 pairs, shoes by 795,000 pairs and radio licences by 131,000 in 1938, when compared with 1931. The number of units of electricity consumed had increased by 46 per cent, and the number of telephone installations by 32,000. “All the propaganda about increased prices circulated by the National Party is bunkum and is untrue,” declared Mr. Wilson. The cost of living and farming had increased in comparison with the 1933 level, but if the people wanted to go back to the conditions which existed in that year then they should vote for the National Party on Saturday. Mr. Wilson said he had secured figures from the firm with which he dealt, showing the price of goods in 1937 compared with 1929 and he had the authority of the trader to say that the figures were the most correct that could be secured. Most of the articles where the price had risen were imported articles ana were made of steel. Although the wages were higher and the 40-hour week had been introduced, costs were lower than in 1929 and the Government was partly responsible for this.

Mr. Wilson said that one of the reasons why the costs of goods had been lowered was the development of science in relation to industry and another was increased turnover due to increased spending power. Another factor was the protection afforded by the Industrial Efficiency Act. Although the farmer had received a better price for his wheat the price of flour and allied products had been decreased. Flour was one of the most important items for the housewife. The price of manure had been reduced in comparison with 1927. “The argument that the policy of the Labour Government had increased costs to a greater extent than the increase'in the incomes of the people is absolutely fallacious,” said Mr. Wilson. “If you want to go back to slump conditions you do not need me to tell you how to vote on election day." Decreased Unemployment. Mr. Wilson said that in 1935 there were 35,000 registered unemployed in New Zealand compared with 10,000 registrations in 1938. Of the 10,006 /registrations, 8000 were people who were not registered before so that strictly speaking the decrease had been from 35,000 to 2000. There were 20,000 on subsidised work but this wa* full time and the wages full time too. Apart from the decreased unemployment. there had been p.i increase oi 79,000 in the number of people in employment, only 18,000 of whom were on public works undertakings or the railways. Factories were employing 25,000 extra hands, shops and offices 16,000 more, while it was estimated that there had been an increase of 20,000 in other avenues of employment. This, he declared, was an indication that everyone was more prosperous and that business was booming. However, it was not claimed that the Labour Government was entirely responsible for this happy state of affairs. The propaganda of the National Party was grossly exaggerated.

Housing Scheme. Dealing with the State Housing Scheme, Mr. Wilson said that the Hon. Adam Hamilton had stated that he would build more houses and was going to sell the present Government houses on a 20-year purchase plan. Interest and sinking fund alone on such a proposal would cost the purchaser of a home from 30s to 45s a week ana there were rates and other costs to be considered. The chief desire of Government had been to cater for the / sectton of the townspeople who wished to lease houses. Had it not been for the Fair Rents AcX which the Government had passed, the rents for houses would have risen to an exorbitant figure to-day. The Labour Party’s manifesto made provision for the erection of houses for the rural community. Marketing Dairy Produce. The Hon. Adam Hamilton had stated that his party would return to the farmer the control of their produce, said Mr. Wilson, in referring to the guaranteed price scheme. Another way of expressing this was to say that the National Party would hand the farmers back to the Tooley Street specula-

tors. The Government had wisely taken over the control of the marketing of dairy produce and had removed the farmers from the hands of the speculators. However, he was firmly convinced that if the National Party were elected to office the farmers of New Zealand and the leaders of the dairy industry would stop him from reverting to the conditions which existed before the Government took control of the marketing. Leaders of the industry had expressed agreement with the system of marketing now’ in operation and at the last conference of the National Dairy Association a remit had been passed affirming confidence in the scheme. Mr. Wilson considered that if the National Party were elected, the Hon Adam Hamilton would abolish the Marketing Department and place the same organisation under the control of the Dairy Board. Mr. Wilson said that when the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates was asked at a meeting of the Auckland Junior National Club if he were elected and were faced with another depression would he pursue the same policy as during the past depression. Mr. Coates had said that in the light of past experience his answer was no. Mr. Forbes, when asked the same question, had replied in the affirmative. New 7 Zealand could do something irrespective of overseas countries in the alleviation of slumps. During depressions the value of imports foil but Mr. Forbes, when he found this out, made matters worse by reducing the spending power of the people and thus decreasing the consumption of goods. The sensible thing to do was to endeavour to make up the difference by producing more in New Zealand. There were many articles which New Zealand imported but which could oe produced in this country and many articles which had to be imported. The sensible thing to do when there was less money available to spend on goods in England was to spend the money on the goods that could not be manufactured here and manufacture the balance in the Dominion. Furthermore, in 1931, when there was some argument in favour of borrowing, Mr. Forbes had cut out borrowing.

During the depressions, said Mr. Wilson, funds were accumulated in London and w hen the depression ended these funds totalled £46,000,000 This could have been spent advantageously in England and would have increased the spending power of the English workmen and enabled them to pay more for New Zealand produce. When the farmers’ income dropped, the past Government had made the mistake of reducing the incomes of the other sections of the community. The Government proposed to maintain the incomes of the farmers, for durin fo the last slump the debt of the farmers had remained constant while their incomes had dropped away. The policy of the Government was not one of inflation but preventive deflation. If such a policy was so obvious why haa not other people thought of it? Such a policy had been advanced by economists all over the world, who preached that the purchasing power of the people should be kept up to maintain the demand for goods. Social Security Act. “I think you all know, and have known all the time, that benefits under the Social Security Act will not be taxed,” said Mr. Wilson. All othei sources of income would be subject to a tax of Is in the £l, but social benefits would be exempted. In including women and people over the age of 16

years with independent means, the Government had acted according to principle, believing that everyone who

was eligible for benefits should be a contributor according to his or her income. It might not be a good election point but it was right in principle. Mr. Wilson said that there were many people, particularly the rich, who sought to avoid paying the full amount of taxation. Had the Opposition’s amendment'to exempt women with incomes of less than £250 a year been adopted, it would have provided many people with the opportunity of avoiding £25 a year in taxation. Every wealthy man would allow his wife an allowance of up to £250 a year for the purpose of exemption from taxation. “I believe, and I am prepared to stand by my belief, that if people are eligible for benefits under the social security legislation they should pay for it," said Mr. Wilson.

Mr. Wilson said he did not begrudge the National Party the assistance it was receiving from the medical profession in New Zealand, for it needed all the assistance ti could get. After October 15 he knew that the doctors would come around and be amiable. It was for tht people to say whether they wanted the scheme or not. If they wanted it the doctors would soon come aroud. Cost of the Scheme.

Mr. Wilson said that statements were being made that the cost of the scheme was too great for New Zealand to carry. If the full demands were met in the first year, and he did not think they would be made, the Government would have to find from £2,500,000 to £3,000,000. If the national income were to fall to a low level then the scheme must go by the board. With this one exception, there were no difficulties in financing the proposals. Even if taxation had to be in-

creased to find the extra amount it would be well worth while, for it would be less than the amount whicn would be saved to the people of New Zealand in medical and doctors’ expenses. In concluding his address, Mr. Wilson said that the Labour Government had sought to give the people greater freedom by means of greater economic security. Furthermore, it had endeavoured to give greater freedom as far as the laws were concerned.

Socialist “Chain Gang.” “If you give the reins of Government to the Socialists, you will become slaves in the Socialist chaingang.” said Mr. W. P. Endean, M.P. for Parnell, and National Party candidate for the new Remuera electorate in an address at St. Chad’s Hall, Meadowbank.