PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS TO LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28270, 7 May 1957, Page 19

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS TO LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 6. H-bombs, the rise in the cost of living, and “tragic housing circumstances” were attacked by Mr M. Moohan. M.P., in his presidential address today to the Labour Party's annual conference. Mr Moohan forecast a Labour victory in the November General Election, and said his party would initiate a national housing policy and raise New Zealand's voice in international forums to end mass destruction. ! Mr Moohan said th-t New Zealand must make provision for the future, when in less than 20 years the population was expected to • exceed 3.000.000 At least 50 per cent, more vehicles would then be using New Zealand roads. “Today the roads are not capable of coping with the present traffic," he said. The increase meant that at least 30G.000 houses would have to be built. “With.an increase in he labour force in the next 20 years of 360.000. it means that our industries must be fully protected. They must be expanded and new industries instituted,” he said. Mr Moohan said the increase meant that more hospitals, schools, and social amenities would have to be cvide-’ More cities would be created. i Labour would provide "boundless opportunity in all spheres for lour young people in the building |of a nation," he said. “New Zea- ' land is destined to become a great • nation in the Pacific.” The development of New Zealand would no x be determined by I the interest rates of moneyI lenders, said Mr Moohan. The necessary finance vould be found, i “The Labour Government will use the resources of the Reserve Bank compatible with the public good,” he said. “Money will be the servant, and not master.” Referring to the cost of the Second World War, Mr Moohan said:—“To say tha we can afford £600.000,000 in six years of death

and destruction and cannot build a nation of peace and construction is just the height of absurdity.’’ Cost Of Living Labour would place on the Treasury benches “people with vision, courage, and determination." he said. “The continual rise in the cost of living since 1949 must be stopped. The Labour Government will do that and put the value back in the £.” The only reason for the creation of H-bombs and weapons of mass destruction was "the killing of tens of thousands of innocent people." he said. The statement that the H-bomb would make us secure from war did not fill hearts with hope, but with horror and dread of weapons which would bring death and destruction to all. "International problems must be settled by negotiation and conciliation," he said. “It will be the duty of the next Labour Government to see that New Zealand’s voice is raised in the council of nations to urge the control or the elimination from our civilisation of these methods of mass destruction. I think it is high time the Labour movement in this country, in conjunction with the Labour movements of the world, raised their voices in no uncertain terms that the peace desired by ordinary people in all countries should be brought to fruition.”