ISSUE CLEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 139, 15 June 1938, Page 16

ISSUE CLEAR.

AGAINST SOCIALISM. STRONG PARTY NEEDED. OPPOSITION LEADER'S PLEA. | TTia-t the issue before voters at the I forthcoming general elections was a I choice between the freedom of the capitalistic system as against State domination and the inevitable nationalisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange advocated by the Labour party was the contention advanced by the Hon. Adam Hamilton. Leader of the National party, at a meeting addressed by him in the Star Theatre, Papakura. last night. An audience of over 1000 people attended, and at various stages of the address there were interjections and a running commentary of criticism. The Mayor of Papaknra, Mr. S. Evans, was in the chair, and 011 the platform were j Mr. K. B. Tennent, National candidate for Otahuhu, and Mr. J. N. Massey, who has been chosen to contest the Fianklin seat for the party. Appropriations Rise. Criticising the Labour party's spending policy, Mr. Hamilton said that the amount appropriated by Parliament for commitments had risen by £23,000,000 in two years. It was the people's money and steps should be taken to see that no more was collected unless it was wisely spent. Though democracy was the finest form of government, however, one of the greatest drawbacks of democratic rule was to get public opinion correctly recorded and the Labour party had been successful in getting a majority representation with a minority vote. "Two parties only offer the best means to that end," said the speaker. "A government without an opposition is no good to the country but more parties cloud the issue. We are organising now and have succeeded in building a political force superior to anything in our history. It is the duty of all of us to mould it and assist it to became victorious." The Labour party, he contended, had never denied that their objective was complete socialisation and the complete elimination of private ownership. The Government were actually maiutaining that it was wrong to accumulate money and property. "It is my duty to point out to the people what is the object of the legislation," said Mr. Hamilton. "They don't tell this to the public. They hide their real aim by talk about other things but they really intend to eliminate capitalism, which has served us so long, and in spite of some shortcomings, so well." As far as the guaranteed price was concerned, it had been operating for some years in New Zealand before the Labour party came to power. It was well known in the fruit industry and it was thought that the same principles would be operative in the dairy industry. The Government, however, had commandeered at a fixed price all the butter and cheese manufactured in the country. They had become the legal owners and control bad passed from the hands of the farmers. Compensated Price. Advocating the compensated price system, Mr. Hamilton said it worked on the assumption, practically opposite to the "insulating" theory put forward by Mr. Nash, that New Zealand's general prosperity was largely dependent on export prices, or on conditions and price levels in Great Britain, where we sold our produce and bought most of our exports. This being so, it was neces- | sary in the general interests of NewZealand, as well as of the farming community, that internal costs should not get out of a reasonable comparison with export prices. For that reason it was claimed by advocates of the compensated price tliat the living standards of farmers should be protected against rising costs, otherwise protection against price fluctuations was lost. The Government's socalled guaranteed price stabilised the gross income, but did not control the expenditure necessary. After criticising various phases of the Government's activities Mr. Hamilton answered several questions. A vote of thanks and confidence, moved by Commander D. A. Bingiey. was carried by a large majority, but a strong opposition element expressed its disapproval.