INSULATING NEW ZEALAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 242, 13 October 1938, Page 5

INSULATING NEW ZEALAND

dr. McMillan explains. ADDRESS AT ROSLYN. A packed audience addressed by Dr. D. G. McMillan, Labour candidate for Dunedin West, in the Roslyn Presbyterian Hall was divided in its sympathies, but the meeting, although it produced some bright interludes, especially at question time, was quiet and orderly. There were, of course, a few interjectors, but they did not appear to worry the candidate to any great extent. In the opening stages of his address, Dr. McMillan sought to explain the Labour Party’s scheme for insulating New Zealand. Insulation, he said, meant protecting the country against the eve of tailing world price levels. World prices were already beginning to fall and a depression was on its way. but there would be no depression in New Zealand unless the National Party gained the Treasury benches. In the event of overseas price levels falling the Labour Party proposed to organise the economic system of the country so that it could produce those goods which would otherwise be imported. Thue as ability to purchase oveiseas fell, so would the Government expand the capacity for production. At this stage, a member of the audience who interjected was told by the candidate that during the last depression he (the interjector) was a member of a committee which had recommended the abolition of family allowances ind cuts in pensions. “All right," paid the interjector, "I’ll admit 1

every crime in the calendar if Dr. McMillan will only get on with his speech. ” (La ugn t er j After delivering a vigorous condemnation of the previous Government's policy, Dr. McMillan denied that at anotner meeting he had made the statement that woollen mill owners had refused a subsidy and were putting off hands to create unemployment. He had said that the mill owners had told the Government that they did not want an increase in tariffs to enable them to keep going. He challenged Mr. A. S. CooKson, who had creuited him with the former statement, to answer with a plain “yes’’ or •’no” whether this was not the case. “That L not the point,” broke in a member of the aucuence. “You deliberately stated that the local mills were discharging men in order to create unemployment.” “Where are we going to get the money from? asked the candidate, after reviewing the Government’s housing scheme. “From Mark Silverstone,” came the loud suggestion from the body of the hail, and there was a roar of laughter. Dr. McMillan said that the cost of money for housing was nominally 14 per cent., but the real cost was much less, as the interest was paid to the Reserve Bank, and the profits of the bank went to the Government. Dr. McMillan dealt at length with defence problems, and in conclusion touched briefly on education, the cost of living, and taxation. High wages and high taxation, he said, not only benefited the working man, but added to the wealth of the rich. He mentioned that he did not intend to deal with social security that evening, but he invited any questions on the sub-

ject—an invitation which, incidentally, was not accepted. ror the next three-quarters of an hour Dr. McMillan, was Kept busy replying to me questions wnich came ul mm irom every quarter or the han. une elector wanieu to know whether the Government, in its national health seneme, nad given any consideration io cnnstian Scientists, who were unable to take advantage of it, ana whether Cnnstian Science practitioners would receive recognition and be incluuea in me panel system. Replying to me second query, Dr. Mcivinian said mat - this uepenued on whether Caoinet would be prepared to give statutory recognition to the practitioners mentioned. With regard io tne first question he said that under the iNational Government Christian scientists paid a wage tax of 8d in the £ and drew nothing, whereas under the Labour Government’s legislation they would pay 4d more and drew benefits from the social security scheme, which would be worth far more than the extra amount of tax. In any case, they must receive certain beneiits from the health scheme also, and it was therefore only equitable that they should pay. There was a storm of protest and crieb of “Yes he did,” when a questioner again referred to the woollen mills, and the candidate repeated his denial of the statement attributed to him that “The mill down the road is dismissing employees to embarrass the Government.” The chairm-.n interposed to say that he had been an employee of the Woollen Mills for over 40 years, and he could definitely state that men had been put off recently. Dr. McMillan was then asked if he i would categorically deny that he made

the statement attributed to him in Saturday's Daily Times, which Was read to the meeting. "Have it your own way,” he said. To demands that Dr. Mci.iillan should prove that the mills had deliberately put men off in order to embarrass the Government he refused to reply. A more good numoured tone prevailed when, to the question, “Is not the Reserve Bank profiteering when it charges the City Council 3 per cent, for tne housing loan?” Dr. McMillan replied that the council could not get the money elsewhere for less than 31 per cent.

In answer to another question, Dr. McMillan stated that, in the event of experts falling in price by £30,000,000 the Government would borrow this amount from the Reserve Bank to subsidise the farmers by a system of guaranteed prices. The Government would take steps also to have goods to the amount of the deficiency manufactured in the Dominion. Asked if his scheme of insulation was the Government’s scheme, Dr. McMillan gave a non-committa! reply, but said it was the only scheme that had been talked about, and was the only practicable way to meet slump conditions. A brisk argument on a comparison of the Statistician’s and grocers’ price lists between the candidate and a man who wagered £5 that the former’s figures were wrong, was the brightest interlude of the evening. If Dr. McMillan lost, his £5 was to be paid to the Kaikorai Cricket Club. Waving two tins of preserved fruit, the questioner pu' up a great battle on behali of the club, and sought to reinforce his contentions by referring also to the price of soap. Unfortunately there was no referee, and the winner of the wager could not be decided under the existing rules. This very vital issu< was not clarified when the chairman (Mr. J. Torrance) declared the meeting closed, and it would appear that the club’s chances of getting its £5 are remote. Dr. McMillan was accorded a vote of th?"* -