NATIONAL PARTY POLICY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13065, 6 February 1943, Page 2

NATIONAL PARTY POLICY

STATEMENT ISSUED BY LEADER Pledges On Industrial and Social Issues Criticism of Government's Manpower Plans In a'speech on Thursday night at the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, in the Christchurch East by-election campaign, the Leader of the National Party, Mr S. G. Holland, gave the following general outline of the National Party's policy:

"Every person capable of and willing to work shall have the right to well-paid employment under good conditions; every person incapable of work shall be guaranteed the essentials of a decent life and freedom from the fear of old age, want or sickness; industry, enterprise, thrift, self-reliance, moderation and decency will be encouraged and rewarded; restoration to every person of the maximum measure of personal freedom with the minimum of State interference; private ownership of the people's homes, the factories, the farms and other means of production, distribution and exchange will be encouraged and aided; cooperation, goodwill and harmony between employer and employee will be encouraged and promoted; Trades Hall domination shall cease; profitsharing, co-partnership and co-opera-tive management will be encouraged. _ "The total number of strikes since 1936 (to Sept. 1942) had been 436," Mr Holland said. Strikes under Labour to the outbreak of war (four years) had been 212; strikes since the war (three years to Sept. 1942) 224: a total of 436. The total in the previous seven years (1929-35) were 181. •■Producers and manufacturers will be encouraged and helped to undertake the marketing of the things they produce," • Mr Holland continued. "Home life, and the raising of families will be encouraged and aided. Work-saving devices for the home will be greatly cheapened and schemes for providing help in the home will be promoted; special assistance will be made available during confinement period; boarding allowances will be provided where required to enable country children to attend high schools; special assistance will be made available for young couples to acquire homes and furniture; a greatly increased population will be , planned , for —first, New Zealanders; second, by common-sense immigration. We will aim at 5,000,000 people within j 10 or 15 years after winning the war; every person, especially young people, will be encouraged and aided to attain a high standard of physical fitness, good health and enjoyment of life. Everything possible will be done to provide young people with opportunities to get on in life, to give of their best and to be successful. Housing for the people will be revolutionised and every tenant of a State house will be given the option of becoming the owner of his own home if he wishes to' do so. Those who prefer to rent State houses will be free to do so.

"The small trader, shop-keeper, farmer and professional people will be encouraged and protected from monopolies. Advisory councils consisting of the best-qualified men and women in their respective spheres will be attached to the various ministries to aid in developing and administering government policy. Particular attention will be given to representatives of women's and returned services' organisations. Exservicemen will be given a major share in the great task of rehabilitation, post-war reconstruction and generally in running New Zealand. Democratic government will replace bureaucratic officialdom. Parliamentary Acts will ' replace Orders-in-Council. Acts of Parliament 19361942 inclusive totalled 346; Orders-in-Council 1936-1942 inclusive totalled 1709. Parliament was not consulted on: Conscription; the 2nd Division to the Pacific; change from family to age group for ballots; return of N.Z. Division; calling up 40 to 46-year groups. Parliamentary Government will be made the servant of the public and not its master.

"New Zealand must play a much more important part in ensuring the future peace of the world," Mr Holland added. "It seems to me that we always play our full part in winning wars, but beyond sending representatives to some very pleasant conferences now and a Tain we seem to fade out of the picture as far as foreign affairs are concerned. We should quite defini ely have a much wider .diplomatic representation in foreign countries, and in addition,

we should have a permtf Zealand representative at* eign Office so that our poW can be constantly put M our influence, felt hi PW« ! it is in war. "The Government's i» the manpower of New:.« been a long record of ■* mismanagement. There been any clearly defined after three years of war *. bigger muddle than ever great improvement in W ' tion there is not the W fication for the continue d * ance in New Zealand o ions. There is no JujM|l ever for keeping the M one-year-olds They should be iod of training to &> industrial and business the army can afford, weeks' holiday to »«» shows clearly that** more men than tney have been so many it has been announfi* called in the ballots sarily be taken into , naturally wonders *n t 0 the 41-45 age * Christchurch Eas. W of the way. ne^ -I have not cluding experts, wno 0 sible for New &&*#* ent population to m* tf ions overseas in ad ,•• and Air Force J-J ,/ withstanding this, has, without even c ment, committed ' second overseas eiP i The matter becomes , when it is have no more men the end of next 40,000 single rue > exempted from * ,; withdrawn from at ,e so over-committed j/ out of men at a v just begun to win tB