WORLD NEEDS LEAD

Chronicle (Levin), 6 November 1946, Page 8

WORLD NEEDS LEAD

New Order Based On Policy of Live and Let Live mr. semple speaks in levin The world was in need of a lead from a country which would act as a torch bearer and trail blazer of a new order based on the policy of live and let live, said the Minister of Works, Mr. R. Semple, speaking in the Regent Theatre, Levin, last night. Mr. Semnle said he believed New Zealand coulcl become that torch bearer. Already many of the countries in the world were copying us. , . ,

Mr. Semple's address, wnicn was on the lines of those delivered by him at Otaki on Saturday, was weli received by the large audience. There were onjy occasional interjections and these appeared to come from two persons at the reai jf the hall. An atmosphere oi cheerful goodwill prevailed. Many of the audience came sxpecting a night's entertainment. and "got it. Mr. Semple began in a -:erious vein, but it was not long befcre his ready wit and colourfui oratory won tloe hearts of his hearers. Mr. Semple entered-, the ha.ll to the tune of "Waltzing Matilda,"' provoking considerable mirth among many who had doubtless heard tell of the occasion when Mr. Semple had sung that song as a duet with Mr. Peter Dawson at a oublic concert in Napier recently. Last night, however, he mnfined himself tc merely humming Ihe tune. He was introduced to the audience ■ by the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin. Others on the stage were Mrs. Semple and Mrs. Burdekin. . Public Works "For the ftrsc time m history a real effort has been made to develop this country, both regionally and nationally, along considered lines, said Mr. Semple. Everything necessary for the construction and reconstruction of New Zealand. was contained in regional plans, which had been accepced without dissent from the North Cape to the Bluff. The projects would be t.aken in order of precedence and national importance. Regional • councils had been set up to co-operate with the local bodies. Everything had been svstematicallv planned. In years to

come, Mr. Semple -said he visualised a population in New Zealand of seven million people, and for that reason it was the duty of the Govmnment to be at least ten years ahead of itself. New Zealand's population was already on the increase, said Mr Semple. He considered the best type of immigrant was that born in i this country.- "This type of immi-| j grant is coming," he said,f "don t make any mistake about it." Treatment of Mothers This Gjvcrnmcnt had done more' I than any other for the mothers, . i eiaimed Mr. Semple, and he added ( .hat a lot more was going to bes dcne. There were going to be more maternity hospitals, and rest rooms would be built where mothers could jget flt and well again after their I period in the hospitals. Where, under the previous Government a. mother was given a meagre 2s forj jeach child, thev now got 10s. i The wages for girls had been as j low as 5s a week under the National j I Government, said Mr. Semple. He. quoted several advertisements from an Auckland paper. j ! "I think the young people of to-; !day are gctting a far better spin j than ever they got before." One| ! girl he had spokcn to recently had j | said she was earning £3 a week ; i and she was under 20 years of age. ; Another he mentioned was earning £5 a week. "If they are doing worthwhile work, surely _ they are entitled to ,'. a. dgoent livjpg," hg fi.rided. •. 1 *•-/' ' f

Mr. Hollsnd had intimated quite clearly that he would carry out.- a "sackmg match" within the Public Service. '"He had said he would also nft import control," said Mr. Semple. "1've got it all here," he added, lifting a pile of papers. I always carry pienty of evidence with me. I've been too long p,t this game to be caught." "Just let Mr. Holland lift import control and see what happens. nvpr 40.000 neonle would be on the

street looking for jobs, people who are working in factories which are a credit to New Zealand." The Government had been blamed for the shortages of goods in New Zealand, but it should be remembered that the whole world was in the-same position. Famine stalked Europe, and in Russia 50,000,000 people were homeless and living in holes in the ground. "New Zealand's shortages are only a flea bite when compared with the rest of the world. In my opinion we are darned lucky to be living in a country like this," said Mr. Semple, adding that he would rather see_ the people with full pockets and a little security in the bank for use when better days came. "What does it mater if Mr. Holland says we can't get ariy elastic?" he queried. Mr. Holland had also referred to the number of queues he had seen, but there was no mention made of the queues for the pictures, the totalisator, boxing, wrestling and other entertainments. Price Control The Leader of the Opposition and his team were opposed to price control in this country, and had said so ever and over again. If price control were lifted the same thing would happen here as was happening in America. He had on his flies applications for timber ihvolving £40,090,000. All 'of these had been carefully examined and only from £15,000,000 to £19,000,000 worth of timber was approved for release. Seventy-five per cent. of this yvas

for the building of homes and the balance for schools and hospitals. If Mr. Holland lifted the coiurol of timber the big men would get in and grab the iot, and the housing scheme would colxapse ov&rnighc. If there was a scarcity of a cercain item the only decent Christian thing to do was to impose restrictions. Social Security From the mtroauca^n of social security legislation, the National Party had fought it and there was ample evidence available to prove this, said Mr. Semple. Mr. Holland had denied that he had called the scheme "applied lunacy," but he had heard him say it. Mr. Holland, he said, had also claimed that its introduction would encourage laziness and discourage thrift, and that was inAvriting. The "answer to that one was the fact that the Post Oflice Savings Bank deposits had increased by one hundred and flfty per cent. On resuming his seat, Mr. Semple was Ioudly acclaimed. Outbursts of clapping and cheertng- accompanied many of his remarks. There were only two or three dissenters when a vote of confidence in Mr. Semple was asked for. When replying, Mr. Semple asked the audience to give *all the support they cou)d to the local canrHdotp. Mr. -T. Thorn.