LABOUR’S RECORD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1943, Page 3

LABOUR’S RECORD

SURVEY BY HON. J. O’BRIEN

ADDRESS IN CARTERTON. POSITION OF THE FARMER. A survey of the administration of the Labour Government during its term of office and a criticism of the National Party’s announced platform, was made by the Minister of Transport, Mr O’Brien, in addressing a public meeting in Carterton on Saturday night. The Mayor, Mr D. L. Taverner, presided.

Mr Ben Roberts, Labour candidate for the Wairarapa seat, also gave an address. He said New Zealand’s war effort ranked with the best in the world, and the Labour Party’s platform at this election was whether or not that war effort should be continued.

Mr O’Brien said he was proud of Labour’s record. He complained that the Press was pouring out propaganda 'against the Government. The farmers, he said, were hard working, but their natural discontent was easily exploited. Contrasting the dairy farmers’ position i at present and prior to the Labour administration. Mr O”Brien said that in 1935 the individual net income was £75 per annum, against £361 during the 1941-1942 period. Several millions had been wiped off by the Mortgage Adjustment Commissions, and in the first year of the guaranteed price 18 farmers were insolvent against well over a hundred in the previous year. “FUNK-HOLE OF CAPITALISM." “Land speculation is a funk-hole of capitalism,” said the Minister, referring to the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act as being one which stopped land gambling. Mr O’Brien said the National Party’s manifesto was issued by men discredited in politics and bankrupt in ideals. It was a policy that was never intended to be carried out. The men who financed the National Party would never allow it to be carried out. The manifesto was hypocrisy of the worst nature. For the National Party to say that outside interference would not be tolerated was unadulterated bunk. The National Party platform was the Labour Party’s policy to which Mr Holland and his party had been converted. Mr O’Brien said that New Zealand’s war effort was the best in the world, and the people had made great sacrifices. He doubted if the National Party could do any better, and referred to the criticism the Government had had levelled against it from the National Party. The Minister quoted figures relating to the manufacture of munitions, etc., in the Dominion, and gave a brief survey of the Social Security legislation.