POLICY DEFENDED

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20991, 19 December 1939, Page 9

POLICY DEFENDED

IMPORT RESTRICTIONS WELFARE OF COUNTRY EXPLANATION BY MINISTER A vigorous defence of the Government’s policy in regard to import restrictions was made by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, when he addressed members of the Hamilton branch of the Labour Party last night. Mr J. E. Martin presided over a fair attendance, admission being by membership card. There was not a vestige of truth, said the Minister, in what he described as highly extraordinary and highly coloured reports that were being circulated in regard to the position of the country. There was much talk about “squander mania,” but the critics should make themselves conversant with the real facts. New Zealand had had to live on

borrov/ed money because there had been no regulation of trade. Previous Governments had aggravated the position by reducing income tax to help wealthy friends, but at the same time reducing wages and forcing people into 10s a week camps. It was utterly impossible to have a free democracy when the country was shackled in debt, and consequently it was most important to make the country free of debt. Complaints of Importers Criticising the complaints of importers, the Minister said that in 1932 imports had amounted to £24,000,000, in 1933 to £25,000,000, and in 1934 to £26,000,000, while in 1937 they had amounted to £50,000,000, in 1938 to £57,000,000 and in 1939 to £56,000,000. “Now, however, we hear of a protest meeting of Hamilton shopkeepers and importers in Hamilton saying that they will have to close up after Christmas. . We shall soon see whether they will close.” New Zealand had to pay its way. but because of the Government’s policy in increasing wages there was a growing demand for goods and importers began to import more and more. Some little importers were making a fuss because they were not being allowed to import just what they wanted to import. Without some control, however, there could be no forward step. There might be some luxury or even some necessary articles that the people might not be able to obtain, and in this case the workers of the Dominion would have to become busy and fill the void. Dairy Farmer’s Position At the recent mass meeting in Hamilton Mr A. J. Sinclair had said that with increased production there would be more income, but past experience had shown that this was not the case. This was why the guaranteed price system had been introduced, for it avoided the fluctuations in the overseas market. Despite what the critics were saying, the average hard-working farmer knew deep in his heart that he was better off. He was the envy of the farmers in other countries. Production in New Zealand had grown inaterially during recent years. The 23,000,000 sheep in 1918-1919 had grown to 31,000,000 or 32,000,000, and while the critics had said there were fewer dairy cows it had to be remembered that fewer and better cows would give more than a big number of poor producers. “We are running this country as carefully and intelligently as we possibly can, and certainly more carefully and intelligently than it was ever run before. There is a higher standard of living here than in any other country and there are no forgotten men,” said Mr Langstone. “Most shops in New Zealand today are fairly well-filled and it is just a matter of getting over the lagging period. It is only with the co - operation of the workers, which include the working farmers, however, that difficulties will be overcome. Dominion’s Prosperity “Today we have only to go through New Zealand to see prosperity written large on the landscape. There are better roads, houses are being built everywhere and there are signs of industrial activity. Furthermore, local bodies are collecting their rates more easily.” After tracing the benefits of the social security scheme, the Minister said that there was not the same demand for farm labour today as farms, like the factories, had become highly mechanised. In some districts it had been proved that there was not the demand for farm labour that was alleged by those who were trying to castigate the Government out of political hatred.

New Zealanders were living in a veritable paradise compared with people living in countries close to the war zone, but privileges brought responsibilities, and this was why the Government was seeking the co-op-eration of the people. The sole aim of the Government was stability and equality of income. At the conclusion of the Minister’s address a resolution moved by Mr W. A. Hayward, expressing the meeting's confidence in the ability of the Government to conduct the system of import control, and endorsing the principle of the system, was carried unanimously.