LABOUR POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 September 1943, Page 3

LABOUR POLICY

ADDRESS BY MINISTER OF FINANCE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PLANS. DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION. About 500 electors were present at the State Theatre, Masterton, last night to hear an address by the Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Finance. Although there were some interjections during certain portions of his address, particularly from one elector, Mr Nash received an attentive hearing. At the conclusion of his address, a vote of thanks to Mr Nash and of confidence in Mr Robertson as the member for Masterton was carried unanimously. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, presided, and Mr J. Robertson, Labour candidate for the Masterton seat was also present. Mr Nash, who was greeted with the singing of "For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” said the Government had done as much in eight years as had been done in any previous generation (applause). There was going to be a great development in this country. The old idea of building big cities should go if they were to have the type of world they should have. They should build up to a maximum-sized city only and spread industries all over the country, instead of in one or two big cities. That had to be done if they had to get a balanced economy in the future. OVER-COMMITMENT DENIED. Referring to the country's war effort, Mr Nash said what New Zealand had done had brought it credit in the United States and Britain. The country had not been over-committed. No nationals had done better than their men. Its war effort had become a beacon light to the world. There had never been a government of this country that had had a greater concept of freedom and of what freedom meant. New Zealand had tried more than any other country to get rid of the conditions that brought about war. Mr Nash went on to refer to the steps taken by New Zealand to prepare for a war situation and dealt at some length with the international situation prior to the outbreak of hostilities. He thought, he said, there had been some unfair criticism, that New Zealand was overcommitted. Every commitment made by this Government in sending men overseas had been submitted to Parliament, which had agreed to it unanimously. There had never been a vote, because all had agreed. The parties who were making that criticism were were responsible with the Government and were criticising themselves. New Zealand was not and never had been committed to two divisions, but to two forces—the Middle East force was a division but the other was not. GUARANTEED PRICE. New Zealand could not afford not to have a guaranteed price, said Mr Nash. There had never been anything introduced that had given greater stability to the daily industry than the guaranteed price. An extra payment was being made this year for the purpose of meeting increased costs incurred since 1938. They could not find a dairy farmer who was not better off now than he was in 1935. No dairy farmer who had vision wanted to go back to the pre-guaranteed price system.. Mr Nash stated that the basis adopted for the payment of the price was scrupulously fair. Referring to a suggestion that the farmers should market their own produce, he drew attention to the difficulties likely in the postwar period and said he did not see, taking the condition of the warstricken countries into account, that credit could be found except through the Government. New Zealand would have to find a way of supplying those countries, which would not be able to produce commodities. Referring to Lend-Lease, Mr Nash said in the agreement between New Zealand and the United States there was not a word providing that anything was to be paid by either side. Up to April this year, the United States had supplied £3,300,000,000 worth of goods to Britain and other countries without thought of charging. SOCIAL PROVISIONS. Detailing the more liberal and new] benefits obtainable under the Social Security scheme, Mr Nash said some of the benefits were not obtainable in any other country. He made special reference to the maternity benefit and to that for deserted wives. No Social Security Act in history was comparable to the New Zealand scheme. (Applause). As to housing, the Government had let State houses at rentals at which no private builder could compete. Mr Nash quoted figures to show the huge defence works undertaken, which had necessitated the temporary cessation in the building of State houses. Now that defence work was easing off, the building of State houses would be resumed. PURCHASING POWER. Referring to finance, Mr Nash said that every year the Labour Government had been in office the Budget had beep balanced. Allowing for all taxation paid in 1935, in comparison with 1943, the net sum available represented an increase of purchasing power equalling 112 per cent. In 1934-35, after all taxation had been paid, the sum left to individuals totalled £81,800,000, whereas the same figure last year showed a net purchasing power, after paying all taxes, of £173,200,000. Ini the same period, 1935 to 1943, retail prices had advanced by 32.6 per cent, so that £ll2 was available to pay increased prices amounting to £32 12s. New Zealand’s overseas debt was £11,412,000 less than it was when Labour became the Government. The Government had complete and absolute control of the monetary system. No country had raised its money for the war on sounder, safer and more economic lines than had New Zealand. The Government had a clean, straightforward and honest approach to the financing of the war. Post Office Savings Banks deposits at present amounted to £84,000,000, which was £24,000,000 more than at any previous period. Yet it had been said that Social'Security would make the people thriftless. ■ REHABILITATION. Mr Nash detailed what the Government was doing to rehabilitate men returning from service in the forces. There had never been a Bill more misrepresented, he said, than the Service: men’s Settlement and Land Sales Bill. There was only one compulsory provision and that was to take land for returned service men where the area concerned had two or more economic units, one of which was retained for

the owner of the land and his family. There must be a lot,of land in the Wairarapa suitable for soldier settlement. If land were taken, the owner must be paid a fair value. Inside the Atlantic Charter principle, said Mr Nash, they were definitely committed to raise the living standard in every country and they had to give social security to every country. They had to free every country from fear -and want, victor and vanquished too.