PEOPLE'S RIGHTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 213, 8 September 1943, Page 7

PEOPLE'S RIGHTS

NATIONAL POLICY

MR. HOLLAND SPEAKS

The leader of the National party, Mr. S. G. Holland, received a most cordial reception in the Town Hall last night, when he addressed an audience of some 3000 people. Every seat in the hall was occupied and there was strong applause when Mr. Holland walked on to tne platform, the audience rising in a body to bid him welcome. Throughout his address he was loudly applauded when he made any telling point, or when he scored off inter jectors, who seemed to be organised in a sraa.l group in the middle of the hall close to the side door. . , t Despite the interruptions that at times came from the critical section of the audience, the speaker received a splendid hearing. _ He spoke distinctly with a clear ringing voice ancl left no doubts as to the meaning of his words. , . , Mr. Holland's address, which covered most of the planks in his party's policy, lasted two hours, and he afterwards answered a number of questions. He was then accorded a vote of thanks "for the masterly wav he had presented his policy, the motion being moved by Mr. G.. W. Hutchison and seconded by Dr. Hilda Northcroft. There were a few dissentient voices when the motion was put. Tumultuous applause greeted the carrying of the motion. Ihe Mayor, Mr. Allum, presided. "Throughout New Zealand there has been an awakening of public interest in the political questions of the dav," said Mr. Holland. 'People are realising as never before that some of the great principles of British democracy are slowly but surely being taken from them- —the rights of individual freedom and personal liberty." (Applause.) He believed there was also an awakening to the fact that at the present time the Government was using the war situation as a cloak to camouflage its real intentions and to pass legislation to impose on an unwilling people a policy of socialisation and nationalisation. (Applause.) Freedom to Vote Mr. Holland said he stood for every member of his party being f* to vote on every question according to his conscience and judgment, ine Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, n acl , however, said that voting in that wav would reduce Parliament to an absurdity and that it was sheer humbug. Amid laughter, Mr. Holland said Mr. Fraser had stated that under such a system the Government might oven be defeated. The National paity was determined that outside dommation of Parliament should cease (applause) and the only way that that could be brought about was by giving every member legislative freedom to vote according to his own conscience. After four years of war New Zealand's rehabilitation plans were only now beginning to take shape, Mr. Holland continued. It was important that men should go back to their civil employment, and no law should interfere with a returned servicemen getting a job. (Applause.) The objectionable features of centralisation, with their heart-breaking delays, would have to be done away with With a Rehabilitation Ministry and advisory councils, decisions would be made on the spot without reference to Wellington. He proposed a nation-wide training scheme for returned men in order to fit them for trades and professions. Eight to ten thousand men would be needed for house building, and for every man so trained there would be required two and a half men to service him. Under such a scheme 25,000 men would be employed m building homes for ten years.

Home Building No military defaulters would be allowed to have anything to do witn the rehabilitation of servicemen it the National party were returned. (Applause.) The party would also restore the right of individuals to build their own homes in their own way. The cost would be brought down by at least £100 for a _ fiveroomed house. Building societies would be asked to lift their advances from 75 or 80 per cent to the Government level of 90 per cent. The National party would also introduce a sensible scale of priorities. While there was a shortage of houses there would be no commitments for radio premises or Internal Marketing Department buildings. (Applause.) They would also give every State tenant the right to acquire the freehold, and the payments would not exceed the present rentals.

One "of the first responsibilities a National party Government would undertake would be a complete overhaul of the country's manpower -resources and commitments, said Mr. Holland. They would also introduce effective oversight of war expenditure. His experience had shown him that businesslike methods had been lacking. He aimed at seeing that public money was properly expended for the purposes for which it was raised. He objected to money raised for war loans being spent on the building of houses. An overhaul of domestic expenditure was also necessary. Secondary Industries

Mr. Holland said full support must be given to manufacturing to absorb manpower. Secondary industry had a great future, but there must be protection against the commodities of countries with low standards of living. Preference should be given to New Zealandmade goods. There was great scope for new industries. He advocated profit-sharing schemes of co-partner-ship and payment by results on the basis that the worker should receive a fair share of his increased production. He believed that at least 95 per cent of the working people were decent and honourable, who would do a fair day's work for a fair day's pay. It was the others who were the trouble-makers. He would rely on an industrial har- | mony bureau to take the trouble ! away from industry and bring about a better understanding between employer and worker. More selfreliance was necessary. There had grown up in New Zealand an intolerable system of bureaucratic dictatorship and State Departmen- j talism. _ , Referring to the Reserve Bank, Mr. Holland said New Zealand soldiers could not have money transferred to them overseas. It was held in New Zealand by people who had never seen a shot fired in war. "ne National party would give the soldiers freedom to do what they liked with their own money. (Applause.) Men returning from the war tc-day had to go cap in hand to the Government for a permit to carry on a business they had fought for. That was not right. The Internal Marketing Division was the greatest monopoly in the country. He askeci the audience whether it had given them cheaper commodities, and a rousing "No!" was the response. The Department had failed to justify its existence.