A "SERIES OF BACKFLIPS"

Chronicle (Levin), 26 November 1946, Page 5

A "SERIES OF BACKFLIPS"

NATIONAL PARTY POLICY AS SEEN BY MR. THORN The National Party had "precious little" to offer New Zealand and he was going to prove it, said Mr. J. Thorn, Labour candidate for the Otaki electorate, when making his final plea to the electors of Levin in the Century Hall last night. What little policy the Nationalists had, consisted of measures originally introduced by the present Government, and repudiated by Mr. Holland and his party. What they were advocating now they had strenuously opposed yesterday, he said, and were engaging in a "series of backflips."

"On Wednesday the issue is very clear," he said. "You vote for Labour with its record of service, or you vote for the other party and haVe the Government back in the hands of moneyed interests." Such governments, he contended, operated economic systems which inevitably resulted in slumps, unemployment and bankruptcies. It had happened in every case and would hqppen again if the party Mr. Holland represented was elected to power. It was in the people's own interest and the interest of the country that the Labour Party be returned to power. His opponent had opened his campaign in Levin by stating, according to a report in "The Chronicle," that he "was particularly interested in the supply of milk to school children, and was anxious that the scheme be enlarged. If his party was returned at the elections this would be done." This surely was an extraordinary statement for Mr. Maher to make, said Mr. Thorn. He had all due respect for Mr. Maher's connec'tion with the Town Milk Supplies Association. The Wellington Milk Department provided the best supply of milk in the world. Mr. Maher deserved the thanks and congratulations of the whole community. He must point out, however, that the party to whom he belonged had had ample opportunity of introducing the system of supplying milk to schools, yet had n&ver thought of it in spite of the fact during the period they were in office the need was even greater than it was today. Thousands of parents were on relief work and were unable to provide proper food for their children. Had they thought of it then, they would not only have considerably beneflted the children, but also extended the market for milk. "Mr. Maher was so keen yet he had to wait for the Labour Party to put it into force," added Mr. Thorn. "Mr. Maher is eleven years too late with his scheme. What he says should be done was done by this Government in 1935 — three or four days after it was elected to office on the recommendation of the then Minister of Education and Health, Mr. Fraser. "Now Mr. Maher says his party intends to enlarge the scheme. Labour has been continually enlarging it since its inception till now 95 per cent. of the school population is benefiting by it." "The greatest Minister of Education in the history of this country" was how Mr. Thorn described Mr. Fraser, when commenting on other legislation introduced by the former minister during th.e period he held that portfolio. In addition to the scheme for the distribution of milk to school children, Mr. Fraser had been responsible for the expansion of the school dental treatment and the training of school dental nurses. He referred to the training centre in Willis Street, which had been responsible for the training of hundreds of dental nurses. Over 100,000 more children were being treated than in 1935. Rehabilitation "Extraordinary comment" was how Mr. Thorn referred to a paragraph in "The Chronicle" in which Mr. Maher was reported to have said that "some4thing drastic would have to be done about the whole question of rehabilitation. The National Party was determined to cut out the intolerable delays which returned soldiers had to put up with." New Zealand's method of rehabilitating service men and women was taken as a model by all other countries in the British Empire, and countries outside of it. Everything that could be done, within New Zealand's economy had been done. He reviewed the achievements of the Rehabilitation Department, together with a detailed account of the scope of its activities, substantiating it with figures. New Zealand's rehabilitation had drawn the highest commendation from overseas and yet in the face of evidence such as that, Mr. Maher had said that "Something drastic would have to be done," he said. Land Settlement Act The Land Settlement Act had been brought in to prevent a "muddle such as existed after the 1914-18 war." The Nationalists had always opposed that legislation. He quoted a Hansard report, which attributed Mr. Holland with saying that such legislation, if introduced, would result in the nationalisation of the land. Social Security Again, according to a report in "The Chronicle," Mr. Maher had said that his party had never been opposed to social security. "I think it strange that any member of the National Party should make such ?. statement. They bitterly opposed the Social Security Act, both before and after it was placed on the Statute Book. When the Bill went through in August, 1938, it was condemned by Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Holland and every member of the party. Mr. Maher had said that his party would maintain social secur-j

ity, continued Mr. Thorn. "If he had said other than that it wouid be political suicide." Mr. Thorn contended that had the 1938 eiec tion been won by the National Party, the legislation would never have been passed. "If you want to make certain that social security will remain there's only one sure way and that is to keep in power the party which put it on the Statute Book," he said Housing x The present Govex-nment had been left a legacy in the shape of the housing shortage, contended Mr. Thorn. "The Government we. defeated in 1935 was responsible for the disintegration of housing in this country." He accused the Nationalists of putting young men into camps instead of teaching them how to build houses. Experienced men were dismissed from their employment. A housing shortage was a natural experience after a war. No nation could concentrate on both at the same time, and many men from the building trade were called to the services. Since the Labour Party had been in power, 63,000 houses had been built. It was the policy of the party to continue building as fast as possible. Thousands of workers were already being trained in special trade training schools. It was 'also intended that encouragement be given to settlement in the bush country. There were 90,000 men, women and children living in State rental houses, and they were proud and happy to be living there. This did not suit Mr. Holland, who was anxious to sell these houses. "I think there's going to be some very p^eculiar financing done in this connection," he stated. He said he was of the opinion that the whole scheme was a trick to catch a few votes, and some dodge would be found afterwards to evade their obligations. Fair Rents Act Though the present Government was not responsible for the introduction of the Fair Rents Act, it had considerably strengthened it, the speaker continued. It was a necessary measure in view of the housing shortage, and the fact that the law of supply and demand had caused prices to rise. The Nationalists had been against its continuance, and had called it an "unfair piece of legislation." Now Mr. Holland was reported as saying that till the housing situation improved control of rents would continue. "It appears he's done another backflip. If the National Party wins this election the Fair Rents Act will be administered for a very long time," contended Mr. Thorn. "This policy is typical of this election. What they once condemned they now approve." The Stabilisation Fund was another instance of the natural wrong headedness of Toryism," said Mr. Thorn. It was now proposing to continue this fund though they had previously condemned it and accused the Government of "stealing the money from thc farmers." Mr. Holland had blamed Govern,ment policy for supposed inflation. said Mr. Thorn. He claimed that the Leader of the Opposition had no case for that contention. Undcr Ihe present Government the people had enjoyed prosperity. The people were well aware of the situation which always. arose when goods were in short supply. They withheld their purchasing power and that helped put a curb on any inflation tendency. The Gpvernment's stabilisation policy had also had its effect, and there had been less inflation than anywhere in the world. He warned the audience of the results of the National Party 's proposal of lifting controls, drawing attention to the situation existing in America, where prices had soared overnight. "This would be a sure result if Mr. Holland's policy were adopted here," he said. Mr. Holland was reported to have said in. Levin that one of the greatest catastrophies was when the price of butter fat went down to sixpence, and it was .an equal catastrophe when it went up to 2s" 6d, said Mr. Thorn. "I agree. The farmers are in danger when there is fluctuation. That was why control , was introduced," said Mr. Thorn. "Mr. Maher then goes on to say that his party proposed to . establish a price below which it will not be allowed to f all, and that again is precisely the policy of this Government," he continued. "If they are going to do what we are, why bother to change the Government," he queried. At the close of the address, which lasted for nearly two and a-half hours, a vote of thanks only was proposed on the suggestion of one of the audience, who stated that there was no need to express a vote of confldence. This .was carried unanimously. When replying, Mr. Thorn said he appreciated the gesture. "After all there is only once place to express confldence in me, and that is in the ballot box. He called for a vote of thanks for the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, who presided over the meeting. ;