LABOUR CRITICISED

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 272, 22 November 1935, Page 2

LABOUR CRITICISED

GUARANTEED PRICES THE PRIME MINISTER’S VIEWS (Per Press Association) *” RANGIORA, Last Night. Quoting Labour’s programme from a Labour pamlphleU issued in Dunedin, the Pulime Minister this evening made outspoken criticism of Labour’s plans for guaranteed prices and financial manipulation and adjustment of overseas debt. Air Forbes was speaking to an' audience of more than 500 at Rangiora on his return to his own electorate from Invercargill. 4 4 That simply means repudiation,” he said when referring to the Labour proposal for the adjustment of the overseas debt in with ruling monetary and trade conditions. ‘ ‘ Repudiation is an ugly word, and one which has never been used before by any political party. Throughout the difficult times we have stood up to our obligations outside New Zealand, but here we have this definite statement about adjustment of overseas obligations from this end in the Labour policy. Remember, in Russia they were going to (adjust class differences. They shot up the middle classes and called it adjustment. This proposal of Labour’s for adjustment means nothing else but repudiation of our obligations to other countries.

‘ 1 It is just as well that wo should understand what Mr Savage, who has promised to put this policy through, would do if put in control of the country. Mr Langstonc, in his pamphlet, had said they were going to make the country a land fit for heroes to live in. Well, if they could put this policy into operation it would take heroes to isltand it. ” Question of Publicity

Ho also slpoke bluntly about Labour saying they were not getting a fair deal in the Press of the Dominion. No charge of the sort could be made, and he though our Press was very fair. “You’ve .been able to read all about what Mr Hislop has been .saying and been reading about what Mt Savage has been saying for the last six months during a lion gpart of which, no Government member had taken to the platform. I guarantee that Mt Savage has had double ot treble the amount of space I have had. Newspapers, he said, did their best to place before the people the weaknesses of any statement made by any party. That was their duty. He did not know whether it was on account of the newspapers seeing dangers in. the Labour policy that Labour had been criticising them. “In thle ‘Standard,’ the Labour paper, you will see nothing favourable of the Government at all—nothing but one-sided abuse of Mt Coates arid myself. •“ They should not squeal about anything said against them. What chance has the Government got to see anything about itself in that paper.

Guaranteed Prices “I think the people of New Zealand have little more sense than to swallow that,’’ Mr Forbes said whom criticisiiing Labour’s- guaranteed price plan. “They are going to guarantee prices to farmers, and I would like to know how that is going to be done, and who is going to find the money. Fox* instance, it is stated by thein that the economic prise of wool is 19 a pound now. During the depression the price of wool averaged about 4d a pound, so that lb bring it Up to the guaranteed economic price they quoted they would have to find £8,000,000. Then they are going to guarantee butter, fruit, and vegetables.

“According to this (plan, they are going to guarantee all salaries of those engaged in production whether the salaries are earned, or can be paid, or no. In fact, everyone is going to guarantee everyone else. ’ ’