NEW ZEALAND WELFARE LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17628, 4 December 1922, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND WELFARE LEAGUE.

TO THE ELECTORS OF NEW ZEALAND. The League desires to point out to you that it is not only the dnty, but 'it is to the advantage of every man and woman, that they should take an interest in the governance of this country, and particularly in the class of member you send to Parliament. For this reason it is essential . that you should carefully consider the grave problems of the day freed from party or sectional bias, and the "Welfare League ventures to place before voa certain aspects of the present political position from a national point of view.

THE MAIN ISSUE. Speaking broadly, the alternatives before the country are on the one hand sound, progressive government recognising the rights of the individual, and on the other, socialistic communism aiming at the abolition of individual property and rights, and controlling (jvery "activity. The Keform and Liberal Parties stand for the first and tho so-called "Labour" Party for the latter.

Do not mate any mistake about thir. aspect of the present elections, and do not allow artificial party divisions, specious manifestoes, and other electioneering devices to cloud the real issues at stake. WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS.

The Great War has been followed bv world-wide difficulties —these can only be solved by good government and sound statesmanship —no quack remedies will meet the case. At the coming elections you are offered two alternative remedies, the Reform and Liberal Parties propose to build up and strengthen —in the interests of all —the shattered fabric of our institutions by constructive measures, while the Red Party advocate the tearing down —in one act —of the whole social and political structure which has taken centuries to build, and to substitute in its place a nebulous-made abomination, which past and present history has proved to be disastrous to everyone outside a few self-interested leaders.

The country needs stability and an opportunity to work out-its own salvation, with all classes co-operating in the national interest. The Red Partyoffers class-warfare, which means ruin to all. TBADE AND INDUSTRY. The prosperity of the country benefits the whole population, and that prosperity can only be realised by allowing trade, commerce and industry to be carried on without the handicap of artificial regulations or compulsory controls. Any legislation which tends to interfere with the natural laws of supply and demand must, as a general rule, result in curtailing the enterprise on which our prosperity depends. New Zealand requires less Government interference and less restrictive legislation.

For these reasons the League protests against the tendency of both Reform and Liberal Parties, in Parliament and in their manifestoes, to extend Government activities and to con tinue restrictive legislation, but we ask you to realise that the Red Party's objective is to absolutely abolish individual efforts and to "socialise" the whole of the country's trade, industry, commerce and production. The lesson of history is that there is no form of government so tyrannical as a bureaucracy, and the Red Party aims at the bureaucracy of the worst type. TAXATION AND EXPENDITURE.

Nothing kills enterprise more than heavy taxation, which also injures the wage-earner and causes unemployment. In order to expand trade and enlarge our industries, it is - essential that a substantial proportion of each year's income should be capitalised and put back into the business. This process increases employment, and by greater production lessens the cost of the product.

The Government now takes bo large a proportion of income by way of taxation that there is nothing left to put back into industry for expansion. The result, if this state of things continues, must be stagnation and unemployment. The only remedy for this evil is further drastic reduction, of public expenditure on sound lines, and we call on you to satisfy yourself that the candidate you vote for will support a policy of overhauling our public expenditure and placing it on a business footing, and a speedy curtailment of borrowing—except for necessary Public Works that will be interest-earning. A little has been done in this direction, .both Eeform and Liberal manifestoes contain somewhat vague general •promises of more, but the Bed Party's manifesto makes extravagant promises which must entail extra expenditure, and must largely increase taxation, and indicates no suggestion of econonJy which the crux of the position. OUR APPEAL.

For these reasons we ask you to "VOTE for the best men, independent of party considerations, and above all VOTE SO THAT YOUB VOTE WILL TELL EFFECTIVELY AGAINST EVERY CANDIDATE WHO IS PLEDGED TO SUPPORT THE DESTRUCTIVE POLICY OF COMMUNISM which means the end of individual liberty of action. For the National Executive, C. P. SKERRETT, President. ARTHUR P. HARPER, Secretary. Wellington, 14th November, 1922.