LABOUR MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1932, Page 5

LABOUR MEETING

MR HOLLAND’S URGE FOR RECALL OF GOVERNMENT. .■i_.ii’? (Per Press Association — Copyright.) AUCKLAND, June 29. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland delivered a public address before: an audience that almost filed the Auckand Town Hall tonight. Mr Holland, referring to the Ottawa Conference, complained that the Labour Party had not been given any representation on the New Zealand delegation, with the result that the quarter of a million people who had voted for the Labour members were not represented. Mr Holland contended that wo should seek a definite agreement with Britain, under which she would take r stated quantity of our products, and we would- take a stated quantity of her goods.

Following that, said Mr Holland, we should make a 'similar arrangement with the other British Dominions, and then should seek to arrive at an agreement with any country that, was willing to trade with us on the basis of reciprocity.

The speaker then referred ..to the .P,tit on which the Labour Party is now circulating, calling on the Government to resign, and lie devoted the greater part of his -address to deab”K with the measures enacted during the recent- session of Parliament. He claimed that, as tine Government had put through legislation that had not been mentioned dir. ing the election campaign it should now give the electors the right to sav whether these far-reaching changes should be allowed to go into effect. Among these measures were the flat wages tax without any accompanying income tax steeply graded to catch the higher incomes; the action of Parliament in extending its own life, which he held was undemocratic and unconstitutional; and the reduction of the pensions, particularly the old age and the miners widows’ pensions As other reasons for rccal’ing the present Government, Mr Holland instanced the mismanagement of the unemployment problem and the amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which, he said, had been put through at the behest of the Manufacturers’ Association, and which placed in tho hands of the employers* the power to prevent any case agoijjg Jr/»n , a- Conciliation Council to the Arbitration Court. After further criticising the record of the Government, Mr Holland snid that the Labour Party stood for economic reconstruction; for the rehabilitation in industry of men -and women at standard wages, which would restore their purchasing power, and would mean a financial equilibrium in New Zealand. The speaker touched briefly on tbe rate of exchange, and he contended that there should be no forcing up of that rate.

A resolution was carried which thanked Mr Holland for his acld-c'A ■ and after expressing" indignation at> the Government’s policy and administration, expressed the opinion that the Government’s failure to deal .with vital problems of the Dominion provkLj ed a substantial reason for its nation, with a view to submitting its policy to the electors. BASIS ADOPTED BY BOARD, ‘ WELLINGTON, Jun e 30. A statement as to the Unemployment Board’s responsibility in connection with the issue of rations was explained by the Board to-day, and the following basis has now been adopted to determine the responsiblity as between hospital boards and the Unemployment Board in the ease of single men: — (1) That men who have presented certificates from private * that they ar e unfit for camp work should be examined by a hospital doctor ; (2) If ,a' hospital doctor’s certificate indicates that a claim for exemption on the grounds of medical unfitness is not substantiated, and the worker persists in his refusal, then he should he denied rtelief by either body until such time, as. he withdraws his objection; '(3) f tie following classification by hospital doctors *|tind the definition of responsibility- for assistance has been agreed upon m a basis. Class A.—Men fit for any work in any place. Class A2.—Men fit for camp, provided light work is given. Class B. Men fit for any work in the dtv or town, but no- fit for camp. Class 82.-~ Men fit for camp, but fit for light work in the town only. Class C.—Men unfit for work of Tiny kind. The Unemployment Board will accept the responsibility for Class A, A2 and B, hospitals boards to accept lesponsi bi.litv for Classes B2 and C. The Board state's that there may be cases under ! la-99 B2 where the Board will lv «l>lo | to assist, but the Unemployment Bonn j cannot take responsibility for this class as n