LABOUR PARTY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1938, Page 8

LABOUR PARTY.

MASTERTON BRANCH MEETING SOURCE OF NATIONAL INCOME A special meeting of the Masterton branch of the New Zealand Labour Party was held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms last night. The vice-president, Mr E. J. Esler, presided over a record attendance. The secretary reported that the membership of the branch was steadily increasing. Thirty-eight new members were nominated; their nomination being endorsed. Mr George Hansen, Labour candidate for Pahiatua, who was present, was accorded a hearty welcome. Mr Hansen said that he was receiving a very enthusiastic response from the people in the Pahiatua electorate, and he was confident of success at the coming election. Mr J. Robertson, M.P., briefly reviewed the activities of the Government over the past two and a half years and then dealt with some of the problems that were at present being widely discussed. Mr Robertson said he wished to point out that the idea that New Zealand derived its national income from abroad was a fallacy. Sixty-one per cent of New Zealand’s

production, said Mr Robertson, was consumed directly in this country, and the balance, 39 per cent, which was exported, was exchanged for imports, which were also • consumed in this country. In actual fact, said Mr Robertson, New Zealand consumed all of its production with the exception of approximately 91 million pounds that was required for debt services overseas.

Dealing with the shrinkage in overseas credits, Mr Robertson said that some people believed that it was a good thing for exports to exceed imports by large amounts, but he could not see how it could benefit any country to send away more wealth than it received back. He pointed out that in the very worst year of the depression. 1933, exports exceeded imports by 15J million pounds. A discussion on economic and social problems took place and Mr Robertson answered several questions. On behalf of the members of the party, Mr Robertson expressed regret that the branch would be losing one of its staunchest workers, Mr Esler, who was leaving the district, and the members wished to express their appreciation of the good work that Mr Esler had done for the party, and to wish him every success for the future.

A vote of thanks to Mr Robertson for his address concluded the meeting.