Labour's Record Reviewed By Mr. J. Mathison

Chronicle (Levin), 23 April 1948, Page 4

Labour's Record Reviewed By Mr. J. Mathison

There was an atten'dance of some 32 people in the Century Hall, Levin, on Wednesday night to hear Mr. J. Mathison, Labour M.P. for Avon, speak. The Mayor; Mr. H. ls. Burdekin, presided and introduced Mr. Mathison to the gathering. This was the first time he had had the pleasure of speaking in Levin, commented Mr. Mathison. He had come from Scotlan'd 25 years ago and had never had much opportunity to travel around the North Island, although he knew the "Mainland" fairly well. The speaker described his earlier years in New Zealand and the difficulties he ha'd eneountered in learning to tpeak English correctly. The political history of New Zealand was extremely interesting. The eountry had had its ups and down-s ever since 1854, although until 1935 it had mostlv been down. The Labour Party had then set about to setile the disequilibrium the working class was placed under. In those days thousan'ds had been unempioyed and starving, thousands were going or had gone through the bankruptcy eourts and fhere was a. great deal of suffering and privation," declafed ' the speaker. Families were starving because they did not have the money to buy meat which the farmers ha*d to sell to live, and so the vicious circle eontinued. The speaker went.on to describe the manner in which the Labour Government had set about to right the terrible wrongs existing. He tOld how the old people had been cared for; social securitv introduced and education an'd health facilities made the finest in the world. A guaranteed price had been introduced for butter, the cost of imported wheat from Australia kep"; to a low rate and farmers had been helpe'd financially to make their farms pay. As one who had taken the trouble to study New Zealand politics, said Mr. Mathison, he could say that these things were the direct result of the Labour Gov-

ernment. Unfortunately, the great mass of people had short memories. Psychologically this was very good but politically it was not, for people tended to f orget the great amount of good the Labour . Party had 'done since it ~had come into power. They also tended to f orget the _ wrongs done while the National Party was In power. The Government had provided some 60,000 homes for the people of New Zealand. Had it not been for the war, 37,000 more would have been built, as this figure represented the materials put into defence work throughout the country. Very shortly a great many more' homes woul'd be ready. Mr. Mathison told how the RehalDilitation scheme helped the t returned men. It took a personnel interest in each man and helped him to regain his .skill as a workman. In conclusion, he expresSed a wish to see the Otaki electorate returned to Labour at the next elections. It was, he said, only through per-' sonal contact that the people could be told of the good. Labour had done for the people. ■ Votes of thanks to - the speaker :and the chairman were carried unanimously.