Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1928. THE LABOUR MEETING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3866, 3 November 1928, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1928. THE LABOUR MEETING.

THE Labour candidate unfolded his claims and those of his party to the support of local electors in (he Town Hall on Thursday evening. His discourse in many respects was reminiscent of a juvenile bed-time story. A beautiful country, poor, wretched and enslaved people, the stalking giant and his wicked henchmen bringing destruction and ruination upon all • and sundry, and then the good fairy in the person of the Labour Sociolist Party who, with a wave of the magic wand, destroys the. wicked giant and brings happiness and prosperity to the people. Labour’s magic wand, which is to produce something from nothing, is about as practical as the fantastic bed-time story and just as delusive. iStill there arc some people who still believe in fairy tales. Mr. Taylor’s criticism of the Government was of the stereotyped order —a reproduction, not jquite so harrowing, as the more astute leaders would have made it. There was just one or two points .which need attention. The brave pioneers who settled the country, we were told, ousted the Tories from power and would be found behind the- Labour movement in doing 'so again. There is something vague in this statement. We would like Mr. Taylor to mention the names of any of the sons or grandsons of the “pilgrim fathers” of this country who are in the front rank of the Labour movement or who are in sympathy with its socialisation policy. The Labour leaders are all practically newcomers to New Zealand whose views will never be assimilated by descendants of the pioneers. Re the alleged insurance profits. It is interesting to know that Foxton is deeply indebted to the insurance? companies for the risks taken locally for many years prior to securing a water scheme and the formation of a Fire Board. From information from, a reliable source we learn that it will take nearly 30 years of premiums excluding further losses, to recoup fire insurance company losses in Foxton. This town is debtor to the insurance companies. Mr. Taylor overlooked such matters as the Samoan question, and the failure of the Labour governments in Australia and his Party’s two programmes as the official platform differs materially from the election manifesto. A number of persons in Wellington, including newspaper agents, have applied at the party’s office and asked for copies of the official platform of the party and have been refused. This indicates that the real platform is being hidden away from general view and that fact requires a good deal of explaining.