LABOR LEADER’S TOUR

Evening Star, Issue 19792, 16 February 1928, Page 14

LABOR LEADER’S TOUR

INSURANCE AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT ATTACK ON GOVERNMENT [Pee United Peess Association.] AUCKLAND, February 15. The first of a series of’ addresses in the North Island district was given at Helensville last night by Mr H. 13. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party). A gathering of 300 was presided over by Mr W. E. Barnard, and the speaker was given a very attentive hearing. Mr- Holland criticised the i Government’s land policy. He quoted figures to show that a rise of 200 per cent, had occurred in the aggregate of the amounts on mortgage compared with a rise of only 80 per cent, in the aggregate capita! values since the Reform Party had taken over the government of the country. He also sought to show how Acts of Parliament which were apparently designed to help the farmers had. been allowed to become a dead letter.* Tn this connection he referred to the Rural Credits Act of recent years, that provided for an association to be formed by ten farmers. Although this Act was still on the Statute Book no association had ever been formed. Mr Holland advocated a State bank, which he said would -keep down the rates of interest, and consequently reduce the financial burden of the borrowers. Pie said that the cutting down of wages would not assist the primary producers, but would have the contrary effect. A general reduction of wages in Great Britain had reduced the purchasing power of the people, thus affecting the consumption of our butter, and in the same way a reduction in wages would be detrimental to the farmer here so far as the Homo market was concerned. Mr Holland gave particulars of current rates of wages in New Zealand, and compared them with the equivalent values m 1914. He asked whether men should bo expected to live on less. The speaker urged that the Government should find work for the unemployed on roads, railways, and public works, especially those that had been dragging on for a considerable, time. He "stated that Labor, in addition, stood for a contributory insurance scheme against unemployment. Mr Holland referred to the events in Samoa leading up to the present situation. At the conclusion of Ins address a vote of thanks to Mr Holland and an expression of confidence in the Labor Party was carried unanimously on the voices.