LABOUR CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 September 1938, Page 7

LABOUR CLAIMS

OUTLINED BY HON. P. C. WEBB ADDRESS AT FEATHERSTON LAST NIGHT. LARGELY ATTENDED MEETING. “I have been up and down the country and I am convinced that the Labour Government will be returned by a greater majority than we have at present, not because of any promises we might make but because of our deeds and accomplishments,” declared the Hon P. C. Webb, Minister of Mines, in an address in the Featherston Town Hall last night. “The fight at the coming elections,” added Mr Webb, “will be between democracy and progress on one hand and the power of wealth and mammon on the other.” The Mayor of Featherston, Mr J. W. Card, presided and Mr B. Roberts, members for Wairarapa, was also on the stage. The Minister was given a most attentive hearing by a large audience and at the conclusion of his address was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation. After Mr Roberts had briefly addressed the meeting, Mr Webb said he did not intend to defend the Government, but was going to explain some of the things it had conquered and some of the things it had done to bring prosperity to the people of the Dominion in such a short time. In urging that a continuance of the Labour Government was both necessary and desirable, Mr Webb said the only way to ensure that in the Wairarapa was to return Mr Roberts with a thumping majority (applause). Observing that he had no apologies to make for the Government, Mr Webb went on to deal with Labour’s efforts to alleviate unemployment. Some 8,000 to 10,000 men, who were positively unable to work, had been registered and were receiving sustenance, whereas under the past Government they were dependent on relatives or on charity. Contrasting the conditions prevailing during the depression years with those existing at present, Mr Webb said it was a crying shame that starvation and distress should prevail in the midst of plenty. RAILWAYS CONSTRUCTION. Mr Webb said the past Government had spent £7 millions on uncompleted railways. Labour had decided that every man who could work should have a job and five of the uncompleted railway undertakings had been recommenced. Over 55 ramps had been built over level crossings and another 50 were in the course of construction. Before long every dangerous railway crossing would have a ramp over it. About 2| millions had been spent in making the roads safe, which was an expenditure that could not be said to be a waste of money. The unemployed army had disappeared, the railways were fully manned, and 22,000 men were engaged on public works, every one of whom was doing a useful job and one that would leave New Zealand better off for its completion. After referring to the Government’s milk in schools scheme, Mr Webb passed on to deal with housing construction. When Labour came into office there were 20,000 houses short of bare requirements, yet the mills were idle. Labour set out to fill the want, but it was faced by a shortage of dry timber and skilled tradesmen. Over 300 private contractors were engaged in the State housing scheme, which proved that Labour had not interferred with private enterprise. A cheaper type of house could have been built, but the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) had said: “If the houses are not fit for a Cabinet Minister to live in they are not fit for the workers.”

SHORTAGE OF£ TRADESMEN.

A comprehensive survey had indicated that some £lB millions were needed for Government buildings, but the Government could not push ahead with its building programme because of a shortage of skilled labour. Some 10,000 more skilled builders were needed, although 5,500 were engaged on State houses alone. If all the State houses built since Labour took office were placed side by side they would form a street stretching from Wellington to within about seven miles of Masterton. At the rate they were going it was hoped to double the number in a short time. Six thousand new houses were needed every year to meet normal requirements. All the building works put in hand by Labour should have been done during the depression years by the past Government when there was such an army of unemployed.

Labour’s guaranteed price scheme had brought about stability in the dairy industry. He was satisfied that the great bulk of the dairy farmers would vote solidly for the Government that had brought about security for them. There had never been a Government that had done so much for the working farmer as the one now in office. Defending guaranteed prices, Mr Webb said: “No intelligent farmer would dream of going back to the rafferty rules that prevailed formerly as far as the marketing of his produce was concerned.” USE OF MACHINERY. A large amount of the world’s goods was produced by machinery worked by girls, while their fathers were out of work. Machinery had taken the tradesiman’s job. Forty hours a week were too long for the little girls working the machines and Labour believed in shortening the hours so that the work would be spread out more and greateiemployment created. “At this time of the year,” added Mr Webb, “when seasonal work is finished, we can provide a job for every man who can work. We have created a comparative paradise out of an industrial hell in the last three years.” By taking over the Reserve Bank and paying out about £2O million under the guaranteed price scheme, the Government had saved the farmers about £lOO,OOO in interest. Under the Government’s housing scheme some £5 million had been spent or committed and the

money had been secured from the public credit of the country. Not one penny had been borrowed overseas to finance the schemes or to balance the Budget. Labour believed that New Zealand could live on its own resources and on its own economy. Any other policy seemed insane. They were not fanatical cranks, but believed that a proper use could be made of public credit. INVALID PENSIONS. As the result of Labour’s pensions scheme, 10,000 invalids who could not help themselves were living in an ease and contentment they had never known before. Referring to the Social Security Bill, Mr Webb said: “We are laying the foundations for a complete superannuation scheme that will give economic security for all in the evening of their lives.” “I want you to join with us in this humanitarian march towards a higher brand of civilisation,” declared Mr Webb in making an appeal for support for Mr Roberts. “Labour is in step with the requirements of the Wairarapa,” he added, “and you will get what you are entitled to and no more. And that is more than you have ever got in the past and this Government is going to give it to you.” The following motion, moved by Mr C. C. Kenward and seconded by Mr J. Henderson was carried unanimously: “That a hearty vote of thanks be extended to the Hon P. C. Webb for his magnificent address here tonight, and that we record our complete confidence in the member for the district, Mr Ben Roberts, who has served all sections of the community faithfully and well during the past three years; and further that this meeting of Featherston electors pledges itself to do all possible to again return him to the House of Representatives at the coming general election.”