NATIONAL PARTY'S OBJECTIVES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22308, 24 January 1938, Page 10

NATIONAL PARTY'S OBJECTIVES

"Unfettered" Arbitration Court Wanted MR S. G. HOLLAND SPEAKS AT AUCKLAND Craiss assocuti'j* txi.igramJ AUCKLAND, January 23. The proposed policy of the National Party was concisely summarised by Mr S. G. Holland, M.P. for Christchurch North, at a largely attended garden party arranged by members of the Tamaki branch of the National Party at St. Helicrs. Mr Holland said it was neither possible nor desirable' to have a wholesale wiping out of the Labour Party administration. Rates of wages and hours of work would, he said, be left to the decision of a free, unfettered, and uninstructed Arbitration Court, which New Zealand did not have to-day. Pensions and annuities would be preserved, compulsory unionism would have to go, and guaranteed prices would be replaced by a system of assured minimums.

One of the first acts of the National Party would be to restore to property-owners the right of access to their own property, and compulsory arbitration would be retained and given a sympathetic trial, continued Mr Holland. Youth employment laws would be overhauled, with particular reference to the apprenticeship laws. . "We stand for private enterprise and private ownership," said Mr Holland, "and we stand by the thrifty man to see that his property and savings are preserved." He spoke of the great progress being achieved in South Island constituencies, referring to the Mataura, Nelson, and Waitaki seats as certainties for the party, and the prospects in Mid-Canterbury, Invercargill, Kaiapoi, and Oamaru as being very favourable. In criticising the Government for having added £17,000 to the public pay roll, Mr Holland said there were now 213,000 State employees or pensioners drawing £27,750,000 annually, and these with their dependants meant that one in three of the population was now dependent on the State. Mr W. P. Endean, M.P. for Rerriuera, who was the other speaker, said he had been visiting various parts of the provincial district of Auckland, and he was convinced that the tide was turning in favour of a sane and sensible Government, which would be put on the Treasury benches at the end of the year.