NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 21 March 1919, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY.

MR FRASER, M.P., AT OTAKI,

A SYMPATHETIC MEETING. '

There was a capital attendance of about 150 persons at Brights' Theatre. Otaki, on Wednesday night last, to hear Mr P. Fraser, M.P., of Wellington, deliver an address on the aims aird objects of the New Zealand Labour Party.

Mr Byron Brown (chairman of tho Otaki Town Board), who occupied tho chair, introduced the speaker, and risked tho audience to carefully consider the matters to be brought forward-by him. ►

Mr Fraser said the Labour Party was out not only to win the sympathy; of tho people of New Zealand, but also their co-operation. There was much ignorance as to the real aims of Labour, and the present campaign had been undertaken with the object of letting the people know exactly what they were' seeking for. So far, the results of meetings had been most gratifying, far exceeding their expectations. Mr Fraser asked his hearers to carefully consider the platform he would lay before them, and, if they felt so disposed, to lend their assistance in the movement.

Dealing with his subject, Mr Fraser said the world had just passed through perhaps the most important period of its history. They had seen a great uprising of democracy as one result of the war. In countries where the people had been kept under, where they had had little liberty—as in Russia—it was not to lie wondered at that when the people got power into their own hands they'would use it rather harshly, and, unfortunately, there had been bloodshed in certain parts of .Europe. Last election in (treat Britain showed (hat Labour had increased its vote by millions, and had multiplied its vuto four times over. If they even doubled this at next election, they would have a Labour Government in r/oww in Britain.

In a country like New Zealand, said tho speaker, where wc had a fair amount of liberty, and universal suffrage, it was not necessary to resort to violence to effect reforms. The Labour Party believed that by means of legal legislation all its ideals could be established. Labour's idea of political economy was simply Nation-wide Housekeeping.

'• We should conduct tho government of tho country just as a household' was conducted—utilising everything to tho best advantage—and that was not being done at present. Mr Fraser quoted extensively from figures to show that the lam 1 wan being held by the few. The wj Of (he land in New Zealand was held by only -10,400 persons. Laud aggregation was undoubtedly going on in the Wellington district. He quoted figures showing that there were actually 416 less settlers on the land now than Jive years ago. This they did not consider a good thing for the national household. Mr Frasesr also gave figures regarding land values, showing that during the 15 years from 1902 to 1917 our land values had increased by £150,000,000, or at the rate of about ten niillioas a year. These values were created by tb6 whole community, and not. by the individual. (Applause.) If he secured Sand in. a rising township, and did absolutely nothing, he could not help getting rich. That was absolutely wrong in principle. The speaker said ho wait glad to nee that the people of Otaki had recognised this, and had recently carried a poll to rate on the unimproved value of land.

Mr Fraser said he would quote St. Paul and say that the Labour Party, wished to put into operation the principle that

"He Does Not Work Shall Not Eat."When peornc icai in the press wild statements about Bolshevism, he asked that they should remember that Labour was only Asking what our Saviour had agitated for. Unequal Distribution of Wealth.

-Mr Fraser spent some time in dealing with this subject, and quoted many figures, which, he said, proved that the pcoT.de who produced the wealth of the country received nearly a million less than those who actually did nothing towards getting it—the money lenders. In 1817 only 30,25 p persons out of tin adult population of about half a million paid income tax, which meant that only that number received more than £3OO per annum. Considering the high ' cost of living—and the three main items of essential food commodities had j increased in cost by 52 per cent since I the war started, to say nothing of the ! high increases in cost of clothing, etc. —he failed, to-see how any fcotMfihßjGT could live decently, giving a reasonable education, on less i'cM £3OO a year. The speaker claimed that" every family should receive as high a wage as i that paid the Civil Servants, and yet the latter body wcra crying out that they could not live on £304 a year. (Applause.) Mr Fra*ef stated that the average wage of operatives io New Zealand was leas than S 3 a week. How they lived on such a pittance he did not know. As a matter «i fact fhey merely eked oat an existence. 3fr Fraser said if the wealth of NewZealand -trere equally divided, ,e~ity. family of five would have £ls<>% vrhere-

as, according to figures he quoted CI persons possessed nearly half the whole wealth of the country. Tbw uneqtsa.l distribution of wealth should, not b& alicrwea, - - ,„f;

The speaker stated that: the recent epidemic" had "revealed the existence of depths of poverty in New Zealand that were a disgraee to the Domsnios. It-took a terrible epidemic to : open the people's eyes, -and they t«ek to remedy "this -"Blatter.' :-;- : --: . Widows'; Tensions. - Mr. Fraser contended that the pre»eat Ti-idows' pension* were totally in* adequate. He nxge4 that tnees tarfcif

tunate women should bo tlic special caro of the State.- The speaker roferred to the sordid condition of affairs, especially in 'the cities, revealed by the epidemic, and expressed satisfaction with the way in which all classes had worked together for the common good at that time. The Government, in face of public opinion, had not dared to throw the widows and orphans, caused by the epidemic, to the care of charity, and had promised to make liberal allowances to all cases of distress, without- any taint of charity about it. The Labour Party now claimed that if the country could make adequate provision for dependents of soldiers, and those bereaved as a result of the 'epidemic, it could do so for every widow and orphan in tho land. That claim would be brought before Parliament at its nest session, (Applause.)

Exploitation, Dealing with war profits, the speaker said the Government extract of statistics proved that during the war period I'2 millions had been forced out of the people of Kew Zealand, and no less than 2S millions from the people of Great Britain. This exploitation he roundly condemned. Mr Fraser proceeded to give instances of how this exploitation had been carried out, notably in regard to sheepskins, sheelite, etc. Mr Fraser scathingly denounced the Govcrment's action in conscripting men's lives for the war, and yet giving interest free of income tax on war loans. This meant that in 18 years those who had lent money would have their money back again, but the country would owe it still.

The speaker devoted some time to explaining what had happened in Queensland, under a Labour Government. He pointed out the Queensland Government had not the power to fix juices—that was in the hands of the Commonwealth Government. The Queensland Labour Government had established meat depots, and had found it necessary to go further and also breed and feed stock for the meat supply. Thus they had reduced the price of meat by about one-half. A Stale meat shop had been started in Auckland, but it was a poor attempt, and had only lasted a month. He suggested that a Government that could not run a meat shop was not lit to run the country's business. Mr Fraser added that if meat and other products could be commandeered for the Imperial Army, they could be so taken for tho benefit of the people of this country, and this should be done, and so reduco the cost

of living. Electoral Reform. Mr Fraser said tho Labour Parly aimed at effecting many reforms — educational reform, repatriation, electoral reform, the abolition of the Upper House, etc. He urged that preferential voting should be introduced,! and advocated the right, of referendum on 10 per cent petition, with the right of recall.

Regarding education, Mr Frrfscr said our schools were badly constructed, badly ventilated, (ho buildings overcrowded, and teachers overworked. He could not help but believe that there was one law for the wealthy and another for tho masses, as regarded education, and urged that all classes should have equal opportunity. School books should be supplied -free, and subsidies should be given to enable children to continuo their education .after passing the primary schools. ' The speaker emphasised tho need of improving the housing of tho people, and said Labour stood for comfortablo homes for every family as a right. AVe had become used to thinking in millions, and if millions were available for war—for the destruction of life —millions should be available for peace purposes—for the preservation of life. (Applause.)

In conclusion, Mr Fraser, who was accorded a most "attentive and sympathetic hearing, said he hoped his hearers would consider the matters he had brought forward, and if they approved of the policy he had enunciated, asked that they should give their support to tho-Labour Party. Questions. Replying -to Mr Jensen, Mr Fraser said other planks of-tho Labour Party's platform were: State bank, State shipping, graduated income tax, rating od unimproved values, orphans and widows' pensions, increase of old age pensions etc. In reply, to another questioner. Mr Fraser said Labour approved granting maternity bonuses, and would give every assistance to prospective mothers. On the ' motion of Mr Evelyn Mac-, donald, seconded'by Mr C.'Bramley, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Fraser, and a similar compliment to tho chairman concluded the meeting.