TEST OF CONFIDENCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 961, 2 May 1930, Page 11

TEST OF CONFIDENCE

POSITION SAME AS IN HUTT ELECTION

MR. VEITCH’S IDEALS “The Reform candidate persists in saying that the Government is controlled by the Labour Party. That is not so. Reform’s attitude is exactly the same as in the Hutt election, when the Labour member defeated United, but had it not been for Reform, the Government would have won the seat. That may happen again. They say, what a disastrous thing it would be to have Labour in, yet Reform is the one party which will put it there.” In these terms the Hon. W. A. Veitcli, Minister of Labour, explained the cry that his party was at the guidance of Labour, at Mr. Alan .Donald’s well-attended meeting at Kohimarama last evening. Mr. S. White presided. “I was much amused at Mr. Wright saying at one of his recent meetings that there would not be another general election. Hew does he know? I don’t think he is in the know with the Labour Party’s inner secrets.” A Voice: He was once. Mr. Veitch: Yes, well, men of balance stay in the centre, that is with United, while those unbalanced start at one end and finish at the other. But anyhow I don’t think the electors of Parnell will be carried away by a foolish issue. Continuing, Mr. Veitch said that the by-election was a test of the confidence of the people in the Government. “We gave out our policy at the last election and the people approved of it because they put us in,” said Mr. Veitch. “We have only been in one session and there has been much opposition and in spite of the sad state of finance we have achieved a good deal of what we promised already. And given reasonable time that policy will be fulfilled. It takes more than a few months to bring a policy inlo operation especially in a country like New Zealand which has suffered 16 years of conservative treatment. Our legislation has not yet had time to have its effect.” “I remember Mr. Coates saying once, ‘Who wants to go on the land, anyhow?’ That remark resulted in farmers actually turning their backs on the land and also farm hands, who went to the city to swell the ranks of the unemployed,” continued the speaker. “But with' us we have people inquiring to go on the land. With that conservative Government, Reform, you had a few big landowners who controlled the land, and consequently prices were exorbitant. When we got into power we found land prices very high, and there was only a very small amount that we could purchase at a reasonable cost, but those settlers we did put on the land we bought, did well.” Unemployment, the financial depression, and other such problems could all be overcome by United’s land policy. The country had an enormous debt which it could not pay off. but it could outgrow it, and this could be cone by increasing production. The last Government put too many men on the land who were left to struggle, and perhaps finally to give up. United gave those settlers financial assistance in order that they could get the best out of the land. The unemployed farmer, for one, must be returned to the land. “When Reform came into power it inherited a credit of £15,000,000, but when it went out it left a debit of half a million, and within one year our leader has managed to change that debit into a surplus. As for unemployment, I can say with confidence that once our policy is established the problem will be solved.” In continuing, Mr. Veitch said that there had been too many accidents in coal mines lately, and he had already placed a new inspector on the West Coast for the purpose of making regular inspections of the mines. His party would not rest until 100 per cent, of the coal used in the country was produced here. “PENSIONS FOR EVERYBODY” In outlining the legislation which he proposed to introduce during the coming session of Parliament, Mr. Veitch said that one of the chief items was the possibility of introducing “pensions for everybody.” While Civil servants were provided by the system of superanuation. the ordinary taxpayer, who contributed toward the superannuation funds, did not have a pension. As yet, the scheme was not possible, but when the country became a little more prosperous it would be possible to have the scheme extended to the extent of enabling everybody to participate. The financial position at present was such that the Government must condentrate on 'the improving of he general economic conditions, and for one thing, to eliminate unemployment. After answering a few questions, mostly concerning the unemployed and the land policy, Mr. Veitch gave over to Mr. Donald, who had spent the earlier part of the evening giving ail address at the Public Works camp. Mr. Donald only spoke for a few minutes. “Reform wants United out, because the longer we stay in the more apparent it will be to the public the good work which is being carried on.” he said. Voice: Well, if you get in will you have a look in at the Labour Bureau and shake things up? Mr. Donald: Yes, there is quite a number of things I would like to shake up.”