"EMBARRASSED"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1938, Page 22

"EMBARRASSED"

LABOUR AND FINANCE

MR. BARKER'S CAMPAIGN

Mr. W. L. Barker, National candidate for Wellington East, met the electors of Seatoun for the fourth time in the present campaign, when he addressed an audience at. the Picture Theatre last evening. In the main he dealt lightly with the political issues facing the people today, and was for a time accorded a mixed reception. Later Mr. Barker turned to serious topics and was given an attentive hearing.

Mr. Barker devoted some attention to certain statements made at various times by his opponent for the Wellington East seat, the Hon. R. Semple, who, he said, was one of the political stars of the day. "But the difference is," Mx\ Barker said, "that the real star moves through the heavens without making any noise. (Laughter and applause.) It moves also of its own volition and without political pressure." Describing Socialists as "those who put unsuccessful men into business by legislating successful men out of business," Mr. Barker said that was why there were so many men hanging around the Labour Party today. Mr. Scrimgeour was a true-blue Socialist —one who appealed passionately for the underdog while in receipt of £1500 a year. In response to a patter of interjections, the chairmaij, Mr. E. W. Kellow, intervened and warned interjectors that their turn would come at question time. One man who persisted was warned by a constable, and the candidate mentioned the possibility of prosecuting obstructionists. A voice* You wouldn't do it. Mr. Barker: Oh, wouldn't I? You carry on, my friend, and you might find out for yourself. A voice: You are protected now. Mr. Barker: If it were not for the fact that we have to retain a certain amount of dignity as candidates, I would soon show you the way out. THE CREDIT STRUCTURE. Turning to the more serious affairs of the country, Mr. Barker reiterated his previous assertions that the Government was financially embarrassed and the credit structure of the country was already undermined as a result of the present policy of spending extravagantly upon huge public works and' drying up the productive capacity of the country. "They have dissipated the country's credit —that is all they have done," the candidate added, "and anybody could do that." As a result of the Government's policy men had been diverted from productive enterprise, bringing as a consequence the necessity for higher taxation. Had the workers' efforts been directed through productive channels the national income position would have been more secure, and the strain upon the taxpayer could have been considerably eased. Mr. Barker asserted that the Labour Government was piloting New Zealand towards the absolute State, under which, he said, conditions of tyranny would certainly prevail. Freedom should not be confused with licence. Freedom carried with it responsibility, but the Labour Cabinet was according licence to some of its high-paid officials —the "unofficial minister of broadcast propaganda" was an example—and were calling it freedom. The speaker warned his hearers that the next leader of the Labour j Party would be Mr. J. A. Lee, now: leader of the left wing group within the party, whose expressed philosophy was the advocacy of State absolutism. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Barker answered questions and was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.