"Primary Aim Is Achieved"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 169, 4 August 1937, Page 6

"Primary Aim Is Achieved"

LABOUR PLATFORM Mr. Barnard's Review oi Legislation REDISTRIBUTED WEALTH "The primary aim of the new Government was to iacrease the purcliasing power of the people, 3 and I put it'to you that to a very great extent we have achieved that ©bjective," said the Hon. W. E. Barnard, Memher for Napier, in his pre-sessional address to electors at the Foresters' Hall last evening. The Mayor, Mr. C. o. jviorse, precided, and there was an attendance of more than 100 people. Mr Barnard elaiined that during tlie 18 months tlie new Government had sbeen in power it had increased tlie •pending power of the people by som® ' £14,000,000 or £15,000,000. This had heen aecomplished in & variety of ways, ke said, and he proceeded to outline the more important methods adopted. Tfaere had been the necessary legislation to have the wages increased on the basis of the 1931 level Existing pensions had been increased and new forms of pensions, such as the invalidity pension and that for deserted wives, had been in- - troduced. The temporary reduction in interest ynd rents of 25 per cent had been inade permanent. Substantial Ghristmas bonuses to unemployed men and increased sustenance payments had been granted. The Public Works programnre had been expande'd very considerably and the Government had seen to it that the men received a decent wage. Salary cuts had been restored to the Civil Service. Exploitation of house rents by land* tords had been prevented by the Fair Rents Act. There had been fixation of certain commodities so as to ensure a fair fetnrn to the producer as well as to Ihe consumer-r-such commodities as I wheat, flour, bread, timber, onions, oranges, and petrol. A guaranteed price to the dairy farmer had b"een fixed -bo that his position might he more definite and certain. Increased powers had been taken to control finance through conversion of Ihe Reserve Bank into a State institution and the extension of its powers. The rate of interest payable onder State Advances .loans had been reiuced. Buying-Power Increased •*AU these measures have been earried out in just one session of Parliament," he said. "In these and other ways the buying-power of the people 'generally has been widely increased, and a greater degres of comfort, security and cheeriulness has -been brought about anong the rank and file of the people. 1 think we may justly claim • to have made an excellent start for u better distribution of the wealth of this Rominion." Mr Barnard went on to point out that psnaily prices went up and wages slowly followed the rise, but the Government had reversed the process by putting up the wages first, and now prices were slowly following. The poorer people would have had, and still had, the benoiit of the increased wage and the lower priees. He went on to say that it was fully appreciated that wages were a part of ihe production costs and that if wages were increased, then so would be the production costs but he contended that though a rise in costs was now appearing it was far less than opponents to the Government would make it out , to be. The big increase in turnover, he contended, was a great help in recknning up how much increased prices were due to higher wages and shorter hours. After declaring that "old Liberalism is gone forever and has no place in modem civilisation," Mr Barnard said that there was a new order in which there was a growing centralised control of the economic and social system. It took many different forms, but the choice was not State direption and control versus private enterprise, but the partieular form of State control. Be pointed out that Communism, Fascism and Demoeratic Socialism all involved centralised direction and control, and sometimes the methods used were not dissimiiar. "There is one essential difference between Communism and Fascism on the one hand and demoeratic Socialism on the other, and that is that the people have the power to change their leaders, or modify the form of Government, where there is demoeratic Socialism, but not so where there is Communism or Fascism," he said. - Pledg&d to Three-Year Term Under demoeratic Socialism there was a regular periodical reference to the people by means of the election, so that, whatever the Government- did, it , was necessary to carry the goodwill and confidence of a majonty of the people from election day to election day. "The present Government is pledged to deiiiocracy," said 31r Barnard. "We wili not extend our own political existence without reference to the people. We are entitled by legislation passed by the old Government to four years, but jire told ihe people that it would be jthree years, and we intend to keep ©ur Word. In the plain, honest words of the Prim© Minister on election night : Tou've nothing to fear,' and I say further that you have "nothing to fear from tbe present Government so long il rpgular.

portunity given to you to express approva] or disapprova] by means of election." Referring to the industrial Efficiency Act, Mr Barnard said that this had been passed at the earnest request of the manufacturers wbo were now coraplaining. it was necessary lor the internal trade and commerce to be reorganisd and stabilised, othervvise the system would crash ; and he contended that it was better for the Government to do it than that a few big mercliant tirms should do it ruthlessly and without a thought to the welfare of the smaller tradespeople. At the conclusion of his address Mr Barnard was aocorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence on the rnotioh of Mr . J. O-. Murphys