LABOUR’S RECORD

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9205, 5 April 1938, Page 2

LABOUR’S RECORD

ADDRESS BV MR. J. THORN, 11.?.

G O VERN M ENT ’ S ACHIE YEM JO NTS THE GENEVA CONFERENCE There was a very large attendance at the Miners’ Theatre on Sunday evening when Mr J. Thorn, M.P., delivered an address on “Labour’s Record” which was punctuated throughout with applause. The Mayor, Mr W. M. Wallnutt, presided. In opening the proceedings, the chairman said he thought it was fortunate that Mr Thorn, who was practically on the eve of his departure for Geneva, was with them that evening, for it provided a favourable opportunity to convey to him at a public meeting of citizens their congratulations and best wishes on the

very high honour which had been conferred on him by the Government in appointing him as leader of the New Zealand delegation to the Intrenational Labour Conference at Geneva. Incidentally, he said, a very high compliment had been paid to the Thames electorate. He intended to move a resolution expressive of these sentiments at the close of the meeting. He then called on Mr Thorn to address the meeting.

CRITICAL POSITION The critical condition of New Zealand when the Labour Party look ollice in November, 1935, said Mr Thorn, was indicated by the following facts: Males of over 21 years of age registered as unemployed numbered 57,420, and with their dependants, at least 175,000 people were directly affected by unemployment. According to the report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture in 1931 half the dairy farmers were unable to meet their commitments. In the

manufacturing industry the position was so bad that the number of apprentices had declined from G9lO in 1932 to 3329 in 1935, and it was almost impossible for parents to find employment for' their boys and girls as they left school. By carrying out a vigorous public works policy, by increasing wages and reducing hours, the Labour Government had reduced the unemployment statistics. As to public works, they had been transformed from a vast relief camp to an activity employing 23,000 well paid men working a 40-liour week and by the use of modern mechanical appliances were doing the work at from 30 to 5 0 per cent, less cost than would have been the case had the old methods been followed at the old rates of wages. PUBLIC WORKS SCHEMES

On last year’s Public Works Estimates there was a sum of £10,000,000 for roads and bridges, drainage schemes, aerodromes, land development and similar works, many of which had been asked for by the farmers of New Zealand. Although this largo sum had been made available for public works the Labour Government, during its two and alialf years’ of ollice, had not borrowed one penny in London —it had actually reduced the Dominion’s indebtedness in London by over £3,000,000 —and it had not borrowed a cent from any private lending institution within the Dominion. Its policy had been financed by the lendable balance in such public departments as the Post Office Savings Bank the Public Trust and the Government Life Insurance. In other words, it had used the credit resources of the Dominion to provide the facility alluded to. By increasing wages it had given more spending power to the great majority of the pepple, and this had been reflected in improved business, in the payment of debts and in record payment of rates. The whole country had been advantaged accordingly. INCREASE OF PENSIONS Speaking of pensions, Mr Thorn said that the civilisation of a community was determined largely by its treatment of the aged, the unfortunate and the young. Any community which denied the means of life to those people was uncivilised. When the Labour Party came into office the previous Government had reduced old age pensions and had worsened the whole civil pensions system. The Coates-Forbes-Hamilton Government had cut down the pensions' bill to £3,032,000. By increasing old age pensions to 22s 6d, by

mproving the widows’ pensions, by

paying the widows’ pension to deserted wives, by bettering the family allowance law and introducing the invalidity pension, the Labour Party raised the sum paid to the pensioners to £6,7G9,000 in 1937-3 S. In October last, 9717 people were in receipt of the invalidity pension paid at a rate that would give them £620,000 a year. The miners’ pension system had also been improved, and miners’ widows had been placed in a better position, so while miners’ pensioners and miners’ widows received £69,055 in 1935, in 1936-37 they received £89,69 1 and in 1937-3 S they received £89,100, although in the latter year they numbered a few less than 1936-37. Under the new superannuation scheme announced on Saturday by the Prime Minister the benefits (o miners and their wido\Vs would be raised to £105,000 a year. The new scheme was the greatest achievement in social security in the world’s history.

Mr Thorn said that the only increase in taxation made by the Government was to give the improved benefits to the pensioners. The increased taxation, however, had been paid out of an increase in the national income which was five times greater than the tax and so far as he was concerned, Mr Thorn said he would never apologise for having voted for this increased taxation on the rich and the well-to-do in order

to provide for the necessities of the poor and unfortunate. THE GUARANTEED PRICE Speaking of the guaranteed price, Mr Thorn said at the end of the 1930-37 season the price had worked out at an average payout of more than Is lid per pound butterfat.— the highest payout since the 1929 boom year. It had given the farmers regularity of income and encouragement to spend freely on farm improvments, on manure, and machinery. The production of superphosphate in New Zealand in 1930-37 was 347,000 tons, an increase of 30,000 tons on 1935. It was also a record for the Dominion, being 30,000 tons more than in the boom year of 1929. During the Labour Government’s term of office the area top-dressed had increased from 2,G50,000 acres to 3,330,000 a *res — 050,000 acres of an increase. The number of milking plants had in-

creased from 25,630 to 27,330, of agricultural tractors from 5350 to 0590. The value of agricultural machines manufactured in New Zealand had increased from £493,000 in 1935 to £917,000 in 1937, and the value of agricultural machinery imported from £211.000 to £369,000 The farmers, and all other working sect:i#ns of the community were spending more and living more happily. Over 100,000 additional radio sets had been bought sine.* Labour came into ollice—over 1000 new sets a week. There were also over 50,000 new motor cars. And while farmers and others Avere spending more they were also saving more. At (lie last elections the opponents of the Labour Party had predicted • bat if Lahou ■ became the Government tiie Post Office Savings Bank would lie closed. Instead, of that during Labour’s term of office the number of depositors had grown from 817,017 to 880,557—an in-

crease of 03,240, while in the same period the deposits had exceeded the witlidrawals by £5,721,145. These facts justified the Governments’ policy and bespoke for it a victory at the next elections, concluded Mr Thorn.

CITIZENS’ CONGRATULATIONS

At the conclusion ol' the address the chairman moved the following resolution: “That this meeting of Waihi citizens tenders its congratulations to Mr J. Thorn, M.P. for Thames, on the high honour conferred on him by the Government in appointing him as leader ol the New Zealand delegation to the International Labour Conference at Geneva, and wish him Godspeed, success in his mission and a safe return home.” In speaking to the motion, Mr 'Wallnult said it was ouite apparent that the Government fully recognised the outstanding ability of the member for Thames in appointing him to such a responsible position. Mr Thorn had a line record behind him. He was a foundation member of the New Zealand Labour Party and had held lho positions of national president of the party and national secretary. He also had had four years’ service at Home with the British Labour Party, and as a journalist had been editor of the “Maoriland Worker” and was associated, when in England, with journalistic labour work- there, lie was satisfied that Mr Thorn would prove a credit to New Zealand and the Labour Government during the deliberations at Geneva. (Applause.) The motion was seconded by Mr .1. P. Robertson in a brief address, and was carried by acclamation. A vote of thanks to the chair brought the'meeting to a close.