SOCIALISM ISSUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 271, 15 November 1935, Page 10

SOCIALISM ISSUE.

GOVERNMENT TREND.

AIMS OF THE DEMOCRATS.

MB. W. G. CLAVIS IN ROSKIUD.

Two dogs slept at the feet of their masters for the greater period of the address delivered by Mr. W. G. Clavie, Democrat candidate for Roskill, so quiet was his meeting at the Mount Roskill pumping station last evening. A vote of thanks was passed. "I am confident that the Democrat policy will bring this country out of ite difficulties into prosperity," said Mr. Clavis in opening. "The Demoerat party is a young party, and we have been criticised because of that, but youth ie what is wanted to lead the country. For too long men with old political habits have misguided the destinies of thie country. There hae been a cry for youth, and in answer to that call the Democrat party has come forward. The name Democrat is no cheap label. It indicates the principles that for eo many years our forefathers fought for and won. "Both the National party and the Labour party resent the intrusion of the Democrats into the field," continued the candidate. "They each complain that we are vote splitters. They claim that the real ieeue is between Labour and the Government. It is pleasant to eee them in agreement on one subject at least. But they belong xo one camp — the camp of socialism. The National party has proved its standing by its actions. It has a definite trend towards eocialiem. The Labour party does not make any great show of socialism election time, but it is a queer thing that neither party brings forward those principles as we display oure—our principle of democracy."

"Religiously Undermined." The Democrat party was proud to show exactly and on what principles it wae founded. The issue boiled down to a fight between socialism and democracy. That was one of the chief reasons why the Democrats were in the field. During the reign of the National Government democracy had been religiously and insidiously undermined. There were three main reasons why the Democrats were fighting the Government and Labour. They were opposed to socialism, but they were out to restore self-govern-ment. They were tired of the inefficiency and bungling of the Government in the paet four years. "The raising of the exchange was a slipshod remedy, applied in a panic." <loclared Mr. Clavis. "The exchange is like the old-time kiddiee'. lolly scramble —the lollies were thrown out and the strongest «rot most. There is something about the rise in the cost of living which the housewife will never tolerate. She will object strongly to paying 1/4 per 11) for butter in New Zealand while it is being sold in England,for 1A It is not tho policy of the Democrat party to pause any financial uproar by abandoning the'exchangc immediately. It will be done gradually without being detrimental to the farmer." Abolish Mismanagement. The Democrats would abolish mismnnagemcnt. In cases where it might seem tho Democrats were making wild promises, the candidate pointed out that all the Democrats intended to do was to give back to the people of New Zealand what had been taken away from them. The Democrat* proposed to abolish the sales tax, which wae a direct consequence of the manipulated exchange. They also proposed to abolish the gold export tax and reduce income tax by 10 per cent. "The civil service cuts should have been restored in full," concluded Mr. Clavis. "They were the first called upon to make a sacrifice in the days of the depression. If you are committed to socialism, your choice is between Labour and the National Government. But the Democrats know that their policy right."