LABOUR PLATFORM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 520, 2 May 1933, Page 5

LABOUR PLATFORM

BOROUGH ELECTIONS PARTY NOMINEES SUPPORTED * BY DOMINION f j SECRETARY LAST NIGHT' S MEETING The Lyrie Theatre was well filled last evening. when the Dominion secretary of the N.Z. Labour Party (Mr. J. Thorn) addressed Rotorua eleCtofs ' in 'connectibn with several que'stions of the- party's policy and iri support of the Labour ticket, comprising Messrs T. R. Power, G. J. Tuck arid J. McK. .McLean, for the Rotorua Bor- ' ough- Council elections to-morrow. The chair was occupied hy" Mr. P. Cronin. In his openihg remarks Mr. Thorn discussed the alleged mis-statemeiits of the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in cbnnectioh with the question' of cuf- : rency and later also - fully discussed the party's view on the reparatioris problem. It was the opinion' of the party that curreney must of neceB- ! sity be controlled by the State and i: made to ser've a public service. I Following the municipal elections t in Rotorua on Wednesday Mr. Thorn | ass'erted that one of the first quesj tions of importancethe borough coun- ( cil would have to consider would he j that of unemployment. The Labour 1 Party advocated the aholition of the present board and proposed hy their system of national control of bariking to place credits at the disposal of councils in order that they might undertake approved works at adequately remunerative rates. Unless this was done any system would not he 'Of benefit to the community. The only local' authority controlled by Labour ih New Zealand was Christchurch City Council and its record demonstrated the successful policy of the party. The council had refused to ae- * cept the decree of the 10 per centreduction hl "Wages and ;as a result . the council employees were on' their previous rate of wages. Out of its own funds it subsidised the relief rate of pay for married men by 2s a day in order to bring the wages' up to award rates. The council had also re~ duced the general rate to ratepayers hy 25 per cent. despite this expense. He therefore appealed to elect'Ors'to support the three Labour candidates at Wednesday's elections. IT Labour was represented on the council it* was reasonable to assume that the council would give greater consideration1 to questions such as unemployhient:' Candidates' Addresses Mr. C. J. Tuck, a Labour nominee for the borough council said that if elected he would endeavour to" carry ;out the promises in his manifesto which included the better lighting of streets and better administration of the borough. It was no use making rash promises at the present stage. Other than the points previously mentioned he had nothing further to add. 1 " Mr. T. R. Power said that as a pomparative new arrival in the town he f elt honoured at his selection as a Labour nominee. He promised that if elected he would call his supporters together in three months' to report. At the present time too much seerecy • v was being maintained concerning the business of the council. Mr. J. McK. McLean said that the • "tickets" platform included the better maintenance of footpaths, the use of ' i borrowed finance, the general administration of the borough and a scheme of lay-out for the lake front. In the latter case the candidates had been accused in some quarters of stealing the plank of others hut he said -that the Labour nominees were prepared, if elected, to fight for the immediate prosecution of this necessary work. Replying to questions, Mr. Power said that he favoured the unimproved system of rating and he also advocated the aholition of relief work and I the payment of sustenance to the unemployed. At the present time many cases of residents utilising the relief system for purposes such as the painting of houses and other work were prevalent and this he contended was proving a serious aspect to the unemployment problem. If susten- ■ ance were paid he thought that an early improvement in the unemployment problem would be noticed. Another questioner, who asked if the candidates would oppose the . mayor talring the position of chairman of the Unemployment Cmtee. received a reply from Mr. Tuck that it appeared that the may oi* held that •position automatically. If possible, however, he would oppose- Mr. Jackson holding that position.

At the conclusion of the meeting Mi\ A. Mitchell moved a hearty vbte of thanks to Mr. Thorn for his able .address, confidence in the policy' Of the Labour Party and in the party's ' nominees" for the council elections. The motion was carried unanimously.