LABOUR'S RECORD

Chronicle (Levin), 11 September 1946, Page 2

LABOUR'S RECORD

Review By Mr. James Thorn Mr. James Thorn, M-P-. the Labour Party candidate for the Otaki electorate, gave his opening address in the Anglican Hall, Otaki, on Monday evening. Mr. Brindle was in the chair and between 50 and 60 people were' present. In introducing the speaker, the chairman referred to the retirement from Parliament of Mr. L. G. Lowry through ill health, which was deeply regretted by members of all parties. Mr. Thorn was not altogether a stranger in the public life of the district. In 1931 he had contested the Otaki seat and polled over 3000 votes. He was confident that Mr. Thcrn would represent the district well. ' In opening, Mr. Thorn said how scrry he was that circumstances had made it possible for him to be the Labour' Party's candidate for Otaki, for in the loss of the services of Mr. Lowry a good member and a good comrade were lost. . When considering the legislation ;hat the present Government had put on the Statute Book, Mr. Thorn asked all electors to keep in mind the state of things that existed throughout New Zealand when tney came into office. Some 57,000 adult males registered as unemployed were put on relief work ai irom 27s 6d to 35s per week, many of them with a wife and family co provide for. In 1935 a commission had been set up to investigate the circumstances of the dairy farmers. The rcport showed that 50 pcr cent of the farmers were bankrupt or uiiable to meet their commitments. What were the conditions of trade in 1931? There were 6000 apprentices, but by 1935 the number had sunk to 3300- Parents were desperate and unable to find any trade in which to start their boys and girls, and the country was full of despairing people. Much had been said about allowing private interest, but private interest, if unchecked, brought about booms and slumps, with riches for some and poverty for many. The result was loss of homes, soup kitchens, doss houses and the bankruptcy of working farmers. The National Party had asked what Labour would do in the case of another slump, Mr. Thorn continued. Labour had shown how it could bring the country to a state of. comfort .and fair living. Professor Algie, * when speaking at Levin, had said that nobody could stop slumps; they were climatical. Did anyone believe that? It was the system, if allowed to go unchecked, that would produce slumps. The National Party had sent out a pamphlet in 1935 giving flgures about wagcs in Australia. sliowing that the conditions there were worse than in New Zealand though Labour Governments were in power in Australia. Mr. Thorn pointed out that the conditions of Government in Australia and New Zealand were quite diiferent, for in Australia there were six states, and Dhough some of them had Labour Governments, it was the Federai

Parliament that was over them. It had • been asked by the Nationalists, if Labour had plans, why they were silent about them while the slump was on. When given power in 1935 Labour at once put a plan into operation and all knew the improvement that followed. Labour had said that it would make the Bank of New Zealand State property. It had done so. Yet one National candidate had stated that the National Party, if elected, would sell two-thirds of th? shares to private people. The Reserve Bank had been used in the interests of the public. There had been much criticism about the guaranteed prices of dairy produce, yec nearly every other class of farmer had asked the Government to bring in some measure upon similar lines. State housing had brought happiness to thousands of inen and women, said Mr. Thorn. A charge had been made against the Government that far more houses should have been completcd, yet for nearly six years the World War had raging. Thus, both labour

and building material had been short of supply for two years, while there was a danger of an invasion by the Japanese. All building material had to be takcn off the market, as much was required for i defence purposes. Stiil 40,000 1 houses had been made available, ! 14,000 to ex-servicemen. Some 2300 ex-servicemen had been given ! assistance to purchase farms. Did i not that give proof of the sincerity of the Government? The people ot New Zealand had never been better hcused than they were to- ' d?„y. The Govermnenc's aim was 12,000 houses a year, though at present 9000 was the most that could be done. One National member had stated that every State house was another nail in the coffin •' of freedom.

_ Many extracts from papers throughout the country were read by the speaker in support of his statements. One member of th" National Party had stated that the wages for domestic work were loo high, yet it was quite well known iha-c it was difficult, even with the present wages, to get girls to undertake house work. The social security measures were the envy of other countries, and the people of New Zealand should think well before they let Ihe power pass out of the hands of the present Government. A charge of having ready a bill for disinheritance had been made against the present Government, but was quite untrue. Mr. Fraser had publicly stated that such a measure had never been di-sussed or mentioned by his party. Mr. Thorn quoted a book that had been writfcen advocaNng disinheritance. : The author had afterwards been employed as organiser for the Reform Party. ; Throughout his address the speaker kept the interest of his audience. There were some interjections, but the speaker was given ; an attentive hearing. !

Mr. Thorn was asked if he would support the Bretton Woods Plan. and in reply stated that when it was first brought forward he : thought that all members of both ! .-..ides of the House would have sup- : pcrted it, but many tliings had 1 taken place sinee then and some ; had changcd their minds. He ; could not support it. ; Asked if he would support the i recommendations of the Dairy j Commission, he replied that he I would support the Government I measures. A member of the audience said ! that a statement regarding i economics made by Mr.'Martin- had : not been made by him as the ! representative of Federated Farm-i 31'S. On a question as to the prohibi- ' tion of names in the law courts, Mr. Thorn replied that if particulars were put in writing and for- : warded to him he would give the i rnatter consideration. The meeting closed with votes of j i.hanks to the speaker and chair-1; man.