LABOUR’S IDEALS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 507, 9 November 1928, Page 7

LABOUR’S IDEALS

LIBERALISING LEGISLATION MR. H. G. R. MASON’S ADDRESS “The United Party claims to be the successor of the old Liberals, but it is a vast mistake to think the Uni teds are animated by the same spirit as the old Liberal Party,” said Mr. H. G. R. Mason, Labour candidate for Auckland Suburbs, during his address to a large audience of electors in the Foresters’ Hall, Birkenhead, last evening. Air. W. B. Darlow presided. “Their actions in the past are eloquent.” declared Mr. Mason. “There is no doubt they are Government supporters. That is perfectly clear. We have tried them out time and again, and the pages of Hansard record what they did ” In touching on the necessity for money for land improvement, the candidate maintained that the State Advances Office should be permitted to accept the people’s money just as the Post Office Savings Bank does. The money could be lent out cheaply to the farmers. The department should not be run as a revenue-producing scheme as it was now. “We believe in retaining our hospital system as we have it at present,” said Mr. Mason. “The institution of the private ward system which is being advocated now would undermine our democratic system.” Dealing with pensions, the speaker said the Government asserted they had increased payments, but that was not true. The increase in the amounts paid was due t.o the Increased cost of living. The anomalies existant in the scheme had not yet been removed, and the Government deducted the earnings of widows from the amount of tlie pension. The Workers’ Compensation Act. would also be broadened to provide full pay for those laid aside by sickness or injury, because the Labour Party considered a man needed full wages at such a time. The question of immigration would be closely investigated. Though it was the speaker’s opinion that New Zealand could support a very much greater population, the influx of immigrants should be regulated by the requirements of the time. Continuing, the speaker said the Labour Party would support the League.* of Nations in an endeavour to secure peace. It was only a matter of time before war would be rendered out of the question. Mr. Mason said the salary of £3,500 paid to the new general manager of railways had been followed by increased salaries to the heads of all Government departments ranging from £SOO down to £25. At the conclusion of his address the candidate answered a number of questions satisfactorily and was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.