"FOR OR AGAINST SOCIALISM"

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22512, 21 September 1938, Page 12

"FOR OR AGAINST SOCIALISM"

ISSUE AT THE POLL CRITICISM BY INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE [THE PRESS Special Service.] GREYMOUTH, September 20. "All the talking and shouting in the world cannot evade the issue. You cannot get away from the fact that at the poll in October electors will be casting a vote for, or against, Socialism," said Mr E. B. E. Taylor, who opened his campaign as Independent National candidate for Westland at Greymouth to-night. The aim of the Labour Party, Mr Taylor said, was to be found in a pamphlet called "History in the Making," issued by Mr David Wilson, national secretary of that party, in which were the words, "The ultimate aim of the party is the establishment of Socialism in New Zealand." The pamphlet carried a photograph of the Prime Minister, who, Jn a foreword, recommended the publication to every Labour supporter. A photograph of Mr J. O'Brien, M.P.. was on the front page. Supporters of the Labour Party were pledged to support the decisions of the party, which, the speaker said, were made at the annual conference of the Federation of Labour every Easter. As this federation -was representative of the various and very numerous unions, the Parliamentary representatives Were Under the complete control of the federation.

There was a close association, said Mr Taylor, between the Labour Party and the Communists. In the New Zealand Comrji«nist Party's official organ, the "Workers' Weekly," of January 7 this year, the statement had appeared: "The Communists consider that it is in the best interests of the working class to strengthen the Labour Party by electing the best fighters for unity to leading positions, so that .it may become a still more effective force." "Advocate for Socialism" At Wellington on January 26, 1930, said Mr Taylor, the "Minister for Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) had said, "The Labour Government stands unchanged in its principles from those it stood for 30 years ago, and it is still the same advocate for Socialism," and on September 22, 1936. the Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) had said. "The object of the Labour Party is Socialism." At Bathurst, New South Wales, on July 21, 1937. th'j Minister lor Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) had said. "I did become a Socialist —id I am one now." Mr Ormond Wilson, M.P., another Labour member, had said on September 15, 1937, "but two important problems have yet to be faced, the kind of management to be worked out for socialised industry and the method of superseding private ownership. A further and separate question is that of land tenure and the organisation of farming." in any consideration of a satisfactory economy for New Zealand. Mr Taylor said, it was necessary to recognise that the country depended upon the export of farming products, and a healthy farming industry was therefore vital. Secondary industries could only supply, in the main, an internal market, and could not provide the means of export which provided the real life blood of the Dominion. Therefore, the tirst plank in his. platform was that of a.sound land policy to bring more land into production, and thus place more people in productive occupations, and increase the export trade. TUi>-. should be combined with research, and assistance towards more scientific methods of farming, an improvement in stock, and an improvement in the 'standard of products. For the last three years, although land was available, there had been a steady and unchecked flow of farm labourers and farmers' sons - to jobs on public works. Farmers on Public Works Flock House boys, specially trained for farming, were leaving farms and going to such jobs. Potential farmers, in thousands, were using picks and shovels instead. For every rni>i> put on the land one would be taken off public works to become a producer, and once more a permanent -asset to the national economy. The unemployed could be absorbed by a land settlement policy and by the encouragement of private enterprise, allied j to .the development of secondary h-dus- i tries. Those were his proposals, and! they would be effective. So wrong was the Labour view about social security, said Mr Taylor, that the party had allowed a warped political viewpoint to interfere with and override reason and a duty to society. To implement the establishment of a political dogma, Labour had ignored the advice, wishes, and ultimate welfare of the citizens of the Dominion. Right or wrong, Labour intended to go ahead with its scheme with the brakes off. The Social Security Act was devoid of any provisions about the prevention of disease, the improvement of health, or the investigation of the causes of disease, and it failed to provide the essential medical services which were costly. State Housing- Question There had been a great gap, said Mr Taylor, between Labour's promises and their fulfilment about the provision of houses for the people. The Government had promised to build 5000 houses for £6OO each at rentals of from 12s 6d to 16s 6d. Of these, 900 were to be built before March 31 last year. Actually, not one house had been ready by the promised date, and. in Wellington, the houses had cost on an average £I2OO each, or twice Mr Walter Nash's estimate. At Cobden, Greymouth, the rent was £1 3s 6d, and in none of the houses there were there more than three bedrooms. This showed that the Government did not cater for trie man with five or more children.

Referring to what he termed "one of the most scandalous actions ever taken by this Government," Mr Taylor Said that it had taken M acres of one of the finest dairy farms in the Greymouth district, in December, 1936, and not one penny of compensation had yet been paid to the owners of that land. Nor, he said, could any assurance be obtained that~the rest of the farm would not be taken by the Government for the building of more houses. Half the farm had been put out. of production, yet alongside it was 50 acres of ground, well suited for building, which was a rifle range and Crown land. Moreover, in Greymouth, there were three large areas for sale as building sites. Instead of taking these, the Government had taken the farm at Cobden. Under the State housing scheme, Mr Taylor said, no one was able to own his own house. Private property was being abolished and the taxpayers' only right was that of paying high rent all his life. A young married man taking such a home at 25 years of age .and paying £1 10s weekly in rent till he reached the superannuation age of 65 years, would pay £3120 and Still not own his own house nor have one pennyworth of equity in it. That was what the Labour Party called Democracy. In 1935-36, Mr Taylor said. 63 building permits had been issued for Greymouth and Cobden; in 1936-37, 51 permits, and in 1937-38 only 42 permits. This last figure did not include State houses. This was a sad record for a Government that had promised to solve the housing problem. In the past, in times of prosperity, the number of building permits had always increased; under Labour, it had fallen. Moved by Mr A. Kilpatrick and seconded by Mr A. V. Oliver, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Taylor was carried by acclamation without dissent by the audience, which packed the Town Hall, and throughout gave him an attentive hearing. The Mayor of Grey- j mouth (Mr F» A. Kitchingham) presided, j