LABOUR'S PROGRAMME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 47, 11 March 1937, Page 6

LABOUR'S PROGRAMME

What Has Been- Achieved ADDRESS BY MR W. LYON Saying that Labour had taken control of the money system of the Dominion, and that every man, wo'man and child had tlie right to decent food, shelter "and clotliing, Mr W. Lyon, M.P. for Waitemata gave an address on the Government' s policy in Feilding last evening, Mr Lyon recaded that the Labonr party had been described as iliiterate and uncouth and incapable of administering the affairs of State and yet the machiinei-y of Government ivas "working perfectly smoofhly and had even been accelerated.. Where was the horrible fate that was going to befall New Zealand once the Labour Party got into power? The banks had not closed up, nor had there been any of the conhscation that their opponents had foreoast. The paiiy's aim was to apply Cliristian ethics to-the life and concluct of the country — the subordination oi seli in the interests of the eommunity. The Party said every man, woman and ohild had the right to decent iood, shelter, and clotliing. Was there anything bloodtliirsty in thatlJ Tlie philosophy of tho Labour movenient was the brotberliood of man. Tliere were those who declared llie Labour Govornuieiit uas not palriotic yefc there were more returned soldiers 011 the Labour beiielies than there had been iu any provious Governnient since 1,918. Realising the doniinating plaee money had in the eommunity, Labour had decided to take control of it and issue eredit in tlie interests of the people as a whole. This had been the new Govevnineiit's first step and to date somethiiig like £9,C(K),0C0 of ntw eredit had been issued without any eost to the country and without the raising of a loan. And everybody was still willing to take a pound note at its face val'ie. What, now, would I.about''s opponents say to replace thc old cry of where was the money to coine l'rom? Credit was issued iu relation to production.

Pensions had been , promised all who needed them — those people who were unable to look after themselves — and the promise had been fulfilled. For the first time in the history of the world an invalidity pension had been written into a Statute hook. The party' s progressive industrial legislation had re* duced those out of work from 60,000 to' 31j000- An overhaul of the education system had been accomplished. More schools had been built and increased bus servioes provided for the children in the country. They had readmitted the five-yeai'-olds and found work for more teachers. Life had been put into the Public Works programme, the highways had been made safer. These were but a few of the accomplishments • of the Labour Party, in the march of progress. There had been some eriticism because the saies tax had not been abolished but the more important things had been taekled first. 0 Mr Lyon was aceorded a hearty vote of thanks which was aecompanied by expressions of confidence in the Labour Government