MR. FRASER'S TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 55, 2 September 1943, Page 7

MR. FRASER'S TOUR

LABOUR ACHIEVEMENTS

P.A. NEW PLYMOUTH, Sept. .1. | Addressing at least 900 electors of New Plymouth tonight, the Prime Mm- ] ister (Mr. Fraser), who received a cordial welcome, made his initial reference to the various party manifestos issued, since the opening of the, election campaign.

"I havei.read those.of the Nationalists, Democratic Labour, and other parties, whose number is so great that it is impossible to remember their titles with interest and pleasure," he said. "Most of them, as was the experience in Australia, will have vanished by election night. Mr. Holland, in supporting the Nationalists' manifesto, is making, the speeches we as the Labour Party made eight years ago. He is only eight years behind us in policy, but 80 in . sentiment. The Nationalists, however, have at last reached the kindergarten stage and in time they will go on to the primary stage. As a matter of fact, no party dare come out today and challenge Labour's achie^2£>nts." Mr; Fraser then recounted the. efforts and results of the Labour Govrenment's reconstructive ""programme and social welfare policy from 1935 when, he said, it had to act as a social Red Cross or ambulance administration till the country had been restored to prosperity. He reiterated official statistics which he said .were facts that could not be challenged. The list included the following comparative figures:—Wages and salaries increased from £66,000,000 to £ 155,000.000; * aggregate private income from £106,000,000 to £260,000,000.

A vote of thanks and confidence in the Government was carried with one dissentient.