LABOUR POLICY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32316, 20 September 1943, Page 5

LABOUR POLICY

ADDRESS AT NETHERTON

LIEUT.-COL. ROBINSON

CONTEST FOR HAURAKI SEAT

The policy of the New Zealand Labour Party was fully outlined by Lieut.Col. E. C. N. Robinson, Labour Party candidate for the Hauraki seat at a meeting held m the Netherton Hall on Thursday afternoon. Mr H. E. Hill presided. “This is an adequate reply to my opponent who said that production had not increased under the Labour Government,” added Lt.-Col. Robinson. Lt.-Col. Robinson opened his address by stating he was very pleased to have been chosen as the official candidate of the New Zealand Labour Party for the Hauraki electorate. So far, said the speaker, the contest had been a very easy one and his opponents had been very kind to him. This election, he said, will be between the new order and the old. The Labour Party stood for the new order and the National Party the old order, He then traced the origin of the change from 1 the old to the new. “We have been accused,” said the speaker, “of referring too much to the slump, but it is necessary to refer to the slump in order to show the difference between the old and the new. Now, our opponents call this new order by many names but I maintain the acid test is, does it work? I maintain, ladies and gentlemen, it does work.

There were many records for which the new order could claim it had worked and worked well, and one of the principal was this country’s war effort. The simple motto of this new order was the ethical control of selfishness. This old bogey of socialisation was no new thing. It was used against Seddon over 40 years ago.

Production Increases The speaker then gave the great increase in the production of New Zealand in both primary and secondary industries. This amounted to £239,000,000'. The Government could not have done this without it had taken over the Reserve Bank. Since 1934, factory production had nearly doubled and had now reached the large sum of £71,000,000. Dealing with the war effort of New Zealand under Labour, the speaker quoted Mr Churchill, who told the Hon. F. Jojnes that this country had played a great part in the Empire’s war effort, and New Zealand had never put a foot wrong. In Canada, the Montreal Star recently stated that New Zealand was ahead of many other countries in their war preparations soon aftei’ war was declared, and the spirit of the Government was a model for the United Nations. Rehabilitation The candidate then spoke of the Government’s rehabilitation proposals. The Government intended not to make the mistakes of the 'last war. He wished to make it quite clear that in this matter he was not attacking the men but the system. He believed the late Mr Guthrie, who was then Minister of Lands, was quite honest. He carried out the system' according to his lights as he saw them. The speaker warned his hearers a’bqut .allowing a similar boom to take place when the boys came back after this war. He said that already land values had increased. In‘the last seven months it had risen 32 per cent, in the country, and land transfers had gone up almost a third in number. As there had been considerable criticism of the Land Settlement Bill, the speaker* 1 explained the principal sections of the Bill that had been the cause of the criticism.

Dealing with the guaranteed price and the recent rise in the price to the farmer, and the opinion of men like Mr W. Marshall and others that the price was a fair one, the speaker said if the Government agreed-to the demand ‘from some quarters that the increase should have been 3d instead of Id per lb. butterfat, it would cause inflation, and everybody knows that once the spiral of inflation starts it is very difficult to control.

Other Matters Dealt With

The 'candidate then showed how the sheepfanners had been treated by the Minister in regard to the 15 per cent, increase given by the British Government to both Australia and New Zealand. Another matter dealt with was education, and the speaker maintained that the money spent on education was a good investment. Housing and social security were also reviewed, and the future policy of the Labour Party was then dealt w'th at length.

Lt.-Col. Robinson then dealt with the platforms of the Real Democracy

Movement. Its main platform was monetary reform and full control of currency and credit. The Labour Party already had' full control of all money going out and coming into the country.

The Democratic Soldiers’ Labour Party wanted the- Government to take ovei’ the Bank of New Zealand. “I wish to point out,” said the speaker, “that the banks are doing a good service, and when the private banks failed to do the job the Government would take them over.” A vote for the Democratic Soldier Labour Party or the Real Democracy Movement in the Hauraki electorate would be in reality a vote for the National Party, said Lt.-Col. Robinson. As regard the National Party, continued the Speaker, Mr Holland had altered' his opinions on many subjects during the last few years and was now saying that, if returned, the National Party would not only adopt the Labour Party’s policy but would improve it. In conclusion Lt.-Col. Robinson asked for support on Saturday, 25th., emphasising that he was a farmer, resident in the electorate who would sincerely look after their interests if returned to power.

Several questions were asked and answered.

A vote of thanks and confidence was moved 'by Mr P. Ryan and Mr J. McKain and "* carried'by acclamation. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting. GOOD ATTENDANCE MEETING AT KEREPEEHI There was a good attendance at the political meeting held in Kerepeehi Hall on Wednesday night when Lt.Col. E. C. N. Robinson, the New Zealand Labour Party’s candidate for the Hauraki electorate outlined his party’s policy. Mr E. Stansell presided.

At the end of the address several questions were asked and answered and then Mr Vivian moved a vote of thanks and confidence to the' speaker. This was seconded by Mr D. Shilton and carried.

MEETING AT TURUA • PATIENT HEARING RECEIVED Speaking to an audience of about 40 electors at Turua on Tuesday evening, Lt-Col. E. C. N. Robinson, the Official Labour Party candidate, was given a patient hearing. Mr P. J. Murphy presided and introduced the speaker. In reply to a question whether Mrs Dreaver’s remarks about the officials of the Post Office was correct, Lt.-Col. Robinson said he could not say, as he had not heard the remark. From what he had been told, Mrs Dreaver was misrepresented.

’Miss A. Hill asked if the speaker could inform the meeting what Mr Holland meant when he spoke of ceiling prices for butterfat. Lt.-Col. Robinson replied that he really could not say what it meant. “In fact, I don’t think the Nationalists know themselves. It may mean that they would go back to the open market,” said the speaker.

Mr Stewart asked if the speaker thought it right that the taxation on the farmer’s income did not allow anything for maintenance or replacement of stock after the war? The candidate said this l was one matter that must be rectified. If elected, he would not stand for any injustices.

After other’ questions dealing with the deed of gift and the Land Settlement Bill, and what is to happen to the returned men whose jobs, had been taken by temporary hands, Mr R. Flynn moved and Mr E. G. Bond seconded, that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded the speaker for his interesting address and that the meeting had entire confidence in him and the Labour Party. The motion was carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.