NO ASSURANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1938, Page 11

NO ASSURANCE.

DOMINION'S FUTURE.

FIGHT ON PRINCIPLE.

FREEDOM TO BE RESTORED

"Xew Zealand was known as a land of opportunity in the days of our father*," said the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, yesterday, in issuing the manifesto outlining the policy of the Xational jwirty. "Today, under the pervading influence of Socialism, opportunity for young men of enterprise no longer exists.

"We give to the people of the Dominion an ai«suiance of ho[>e for the future. We promise them a restoration of personal freedom in their work and in their leisure, and we promise to maintain the highest standard of family lffe ae the only sound basis for the future of society.

"The issue before the people of the Dominion is simple and clear-cut. There is not an individual in Xew Zealand today who is free from the menace of Socialism. Under the principles which actuate Labour legislators, the State nmet stand supreme and the urge for supremacy muet inevitably be carried to the point where the freedom of the individual vanishes. That is the road which we are travelling to-day and, in our opinion, it leads downhill to national destruction. Against Socialism. "This will probably be the first occasion in the political history of Xew Zealand when an election will be fought on broad questions of principle. To make the fight one of principles certainly the aim of the National party, because we are convinced that no people of British stock are prepared to throwaway their birthright of democracy for the rigid fetters of the Socialist State.

"The divergence in party principles is clearly shown in the legislation passed by the Lalxnir Government during its first term of office. Labour's objective ha* remained unaltered. It i« still 'the socialisation of the means of production, distribution an<l exchange, , and no amount of verbal camouflage can alter that fact. The objective is the State ownership of all the resources of the nation, not only natural resources, but also those other resources of industry, trade, commerce, finance and professional service, which have been built up by individuals. The Real Issues. "An examination of the Socialist legislation will plainly show where we are heading to-day. Our task, when we take over the Treasury benches, will be primarily to divert the existing trend of "Government policy away from Socialism.

"One thing which I want to make perfectly clear is that it will not be necevary to undertake a policy of smashing or cutting. There are points of merit in some of the Labour Government's legislation, and these points will be preserved. However, the underlying l>asie of Socialism will be immediately removed.

"The National party regards the Government as the authority to eee that reasonable conditions are observed in the conduct of trade and industry, and that abuses inimical to the 'public interest are not permitted," Mr. Hamilton added. "Wherever possible, the Government should co-operate with private enterprise, with a view to providing an even better service to the people.

"The real issues are private ownership or State ownership, individual freedom or State dictation."