DEMOCRATIC LABOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1943, Page 4

DEMOCRATIC LABOUR

MR J. A. LEE EXPOUNDS POLICY. STATE CONTROL OF CREDIT & CURRENCY. THE QUESTION Of MANPOWER COMMITMENTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The policy of the Democratic Soldier Labour Party was expounded by the Leader, Mr J. A. Lee, in the Town Hall - last night. An audience of 2,000 gave him a rousing reception and he spoke lor two hours without interruption. A motion expressing thanks for the address and good wishes for polling day was carried with only a few dissentients. Mr Lee said his party had 50 candidates, of whom 34 or 35 had served either in the last war or the present war. Manpower ■ commitments should be realistically revised, he declared. During the recent by-election campaign for the Christchurch East seat he had advocated the return of the New Zealand Division from the Middle East. The industrial life of the country was being broken down owing to he way manpower was being handled. The country was committed disproportionately. He was strongly of opinion that New Zealand should keep only one division in the field. At New Plymouth the Prime Minister had said it was not true that the Labour Government aimed at keeping two divisions in the field, continued Mr Lee. Mr Fraser had made two conflicting statements on that subject within a few days, and no doubt there would be dozens more before the campaign got far. He was in favour of a rest for the men in the Middle East, but as long as Japan was unconquered New Zealand had to remain in the Pacific. Unless we realistically faced up to a revision of our manpower commitment; he said, we would be confronted with a great reduction in our income.

There could be no worth-while new order, Mr Lee declared, until the country had control of credit and currency in the interests of the people. Pledges concerning a utilisation of credit, made by the Labour Party in 1935, had been broken. If money could be issued to destroy life, it was reasonable to use it to create work and homes for the men as they marched back from the war. A new world could not be based on boom-and slump. The Government was building a debt for the purchase of goods, including munitions of war, at 1943 prices, while incomes and values were being stabilised at 1938 rates. If the country continued on those lines it would have 19s 9d in the pound permanent taxation to pay. New Zealand should have a revision of its debt and have it placed on a permanent footing, with a nominal rate of interest, the whole amount to be wiped out over a period on an amortisation basis. Mr Lee said the Labour Party had promised to provide cheap money for people to build homes, but money was still lent out at 4 1-8 per cent by the State Advances Corporation. More houses could not be constructed until the manpower policy had been revised. The State should advance mono?/ for building homes at 1| per cent. It was impossible for the people to pay the present rate. Referring to motherhood endowment, Mr Lee said that if the country could afford £120,000,000 a year for war, it was reasonable to provide in peace time £1 a week for each child, regardless of the father’s income. The lower grades in the Civil Service had not received the consideration they deserved, especially postmen and some classes on the Railways service. The State, instead of keeping up its reputation as a good employer, was degenerating into one of the worst employers.