BENEFICENT RULE

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22149, 22 September 1943, Page 4

BENEFICENT RULE

LABOUR’S STEWARDSHIP REVIEW BY MR C. A. BARRELL An account of the Labour Party’s stewardship and its legislation for the social welfare of the people was given by Mr C. A. Barrell, Labour candidate for Hamilton, when he addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting in the Frankton Town Hall last night. Mr Barrell was accorded musical honours and was frequently applauded during an address lasting two hours. The chairman, Mr W. R. Shattock, in introducing the speaker, said that all of them would agree that during his eight years of office Mr Barrell had shown the greatest impartiality in carrying out his work for the Hamilton electorate. The last four years had been difficult years for Parliament, said Mr Barrell. It had been no easy task to direct a great war effort and at the same time keep domestic affairs steady. Work on War Committees He himself had worked on special committees in connection with the war, but the extra work had been a pleasure, for there was the realisation that one was playing some part in the war effort. The election represented the same fight as in 1935 and 1938, and the issue was between the same two parties, said Mr Barrell. The National Party had apparently adopted the policy of the Labour Party, and this rather indicated that even they saw the wisdom in Labour’s programme. Referring to the statements of National Party candidates that they would be the same as Independents m Parliament, the speaker said that he. was not an Independent but stood pledged to the policy of the Labour Party, a policy that he had expounded to the electors. However, Labour Party candidates could vote as they liked on anything but policy matters. They could not do as they pleased when it came to carrying out promises made to the people. “We have been accused of not carrying out our promises made in 1935 and 1938,” commented Mr Barrell. “The Labour Government today controls in its entirety the currency of this country. The Reserve Bank controls the finance of the country and the Government of New Zealand owns the Reserve Bank, and when 1 say the Government of New Zealand I mean the people of New Zealand.”

Man and Income Tax There had been complaints about taxation, commented Mr Barrell However, it was his ambition to see the day when the working man would be paying income tax, for if a working man was paying income tax they would be assured that his wife and children were well fed and clothed. The income of the people under Labour had risen from £106,000,000 to £260,000,000. In 1935 there had been £60,000,000 in the Post Office Savings Bank, but this figure today had risen to £130,000,000. There could be no better barometer of the people’s prosperity than this. Was there anything wrong with a country which could produce such figures?

Schools In Hamilton During his term of office, added Mr Barrell, he had been able to have £17,000 spent on schools in Hamilton and there was an .expenditure of £54,000 to be made after the war was over. Formerly there had been only one small dental clinic to attend to all children in Hamilton, but he had I had the task of obtaining four more ! dental clinics for the town. He had been fortunate in having the cooperation of sympathetic Ministers, and he was proud of the fact that these things had been done for Hamilton. “I know that we have not half the houses that we need,” continued Mr Barrell, “but few realise the magnitude of the building programme in connection with the war.” Altogether, 388 State houses had been built in Hamilton, but these were rental houses and did not take into account the large number of houses that had been built by Government loan. The Leader of the Opposition wanted to give freehold titles to the people, but anyone could get the freehold today. It had to be remembered that as far as rental houses were concerned, houses had to be provided for itinerant workers, people who might be stationed in one place for only a few years. Cost of State Houses Mr Barrell said there had been criticism of the cost of the State houses but the Government believed that nothing was too good for the working people. The Government could have built a cheaper type of house, but what did a few pounds count when the comfort of the people was concerned. An idea of the huge building programme of the Government in regard to essential war buildings and hospitals could be gained from the j fact that new hospitals and extensions had been provided to accommodate 10,974 people. Most of the hospitals were permanent but some of them after the war could be changed into open-air schools. Model Social Security Scheme The Government’s Social Security scheme had been a model to the civilised world. It was not so much a credit to the Government as a credit to the people who had put the Government in office to institute the scheme. Indicating the number of people who had benefited under the scheme, Mr Barrell said that last year 130,000 mothers had received free maternity benefits and 3,500,000 free prescriptions had been given to the people. A further item that would be added to Social Security would be motherhood endowment. Too long had the medical profession been the profession of the rich man’s son. With the bursaries the Government had made available it would now be possible for a person of limited means to go through the university. New Zealand had always been short of doctors even in peace time, and the Government was determined to remedy the position. Answering criticism of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act, the speaker said the Act provid,ed that tne people would sell land to the soldier at a fair price. The new Act would stop the land racketeer, for no one had the moral right to ask more for an article than it was worth. The Government had no apology whatsoever to make for the Act. A resolution expressing thanks to Mr Barrell and pledging support for him at the polls was moved by Pte. W. J. Dent, seconded by Mr A. R. Tibby, and carried by acclamation. An excellent quality in English Tapestry is now showing at Hooker and Kingston. It has a bold design similar to a paisley pattern in shades of either rust or green and is popular for Heavy Curtains, Cushions, Bedspreads, and is strong enough for upholstering Suites of Furniture. It is 48in. wide and marked at only 16s 6d a yard. The wise buyer will make an early call and secure their needs jas the quantity is limited.*