THE GREAT RETREAT FROM MOSCOW

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 208, 18 September 1937, Page 3

THE GREAT RETREAT FROM MOSCOW

-Press Association.)

New Zealand's "Napoleon of Finance"

MR ENDEAN ON SOCIALISM

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON ,This Day. "We, on tbe Opposition benches, have been asked to deiine what we mean by Soeialism. Well, I wonld refer the Government to Mr. Stalin, the gentleman who lives in Russia and who says that Soeialism and Oommunism are the same thing. That is what I say too, and before many moons have gone by the people of New. Zealand will have that definition sunk deep into their minds," deelared Mr W. P. Endean (Opposition, Parnell), during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Endean said that a Government member had claimed that the small farmers wanted Soeialism, but if that member would pay a visit to the Waikato he would soon "discover that the farmers were not only opposed to the Government but were distinctly hostile to it. "I was up there recently, and I Rnow what I am talking about," continued Mr Endean. Turning to the question oi' Ministerial trips abroad, Mr Endean said that the Prime Minister went to London , and told the world that the only solution of its difficulties was to increase purchasing power. Mr Savage: Hear, hear. Mr Endean: Why, the Italians, Japanese and Geraians simply laughed at tbe statement. And after meeting some of the leading men — statesmen, banlcers and business men — the Prime Minister turned round and said: fWe have learnt notbing in the Old Country-." Then we have the Minister of Finance. He went away on some peculiar miasion. He went like a Napoleon of Iinance to Moscow and came back in the great retreat from Moscow. (Laughter.) "Then there was the Minister of Public Works," said Mr Endean. "He went over to Australia, and told the people there that when Labour took office there were 75,000 people out of work la New Zealand, and that to-day there were only 15,000 unemployed, most of whom were unemployable. " Mr Semple: I said nothing of tho kind, Mr Endean: "I saw the statement in the • ilulletin." br.t no doubt the hon. gcnt!en-an will have something to ray about it later. Mr Semple: I certainly shall. (Laughter.) Mr Endean said that the member for Marsden had deelared that so far as interests was concerned the Government was wcll on tbe way to its goai. One wondered whether the goal was tbe day wben uo interesfc would be payable at all. Tbe Government 's cosclass credit philosophy was about tbe most dangerous and insidious tbing that could be inflicted upon auy country. A Labour member had even gono so far as to say that costless credit would be tbe means of preventing wav "I don't know whether tbe people of New Zealand are daft, or whether I am," said Mr Endean. A Government member: You are. (Laughter.) Mr Endean: No argument about it. We will be eharitable to the electors. (Renewed laughter.)