Hamilton By-Election National Candidate Opens Campaign

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28869, 14 April 1959, Page 16

Hamilton By-Election National Candidate Opens Campaign

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, April 13. Any doubt that there might be lack of interest or com- 1 placency in the Hamilton by- ’ election was dispelled tonight when the campaign was opecied by the National Party candidate, Mr L. R. AdamsSchneider. He spoke in the Whitiora Bowling Club pavilion, which for the first time in its many years of use as a venue for political meetings could not contain the crowd. Inside, 150 were seated, and at one stage more than 50 were listening at the door. Only three questions were asked, two of them by the chairman of the Hamilton Social Credit Party, Mr R. G. Young. The Labour Government, fully aware' of its terrific decline of popularity since its last Budget, would do everything in its power to gain the Hamilton seat, said Mr Adams-Schneider.

“It must do so, if it is to survive as a government,” he said. “A crushing defeat for Labour in this by-election could spark off a General Election, for no government, however determined to cling to power with a very slender majority, could hope to survive a crushing defeat.

“And I am sure you will agree that the sooner this country has a General Election the better,” said Mr Adams-Schneider. “Fantastic Promises”

“In all the fantastic promises made by Labour during the last election campaign, and there is no doubt they were the most promising political party New Zealand has ever known, there was not one hint of increased taxation to pay for all the amenities,” he said. “For months after the election the Labour Government was highly popular with every taxpayer benefiting from the reckless income tax bribe, but on the night of June 26, 1958, the people of New Zealand realised to the full how they had been fooled and humbugged. “Mr Nordmeyer increased Income tax by a third and reduced the exemption for single men from £375 under the National

Government to £3OO, which meant more than £ll more tax. Voters will remember sales tax on motor-cars was doubled, Customs duty on petrol was increased by Is a gallon, the execise duty on cigarettes and tobacco was more than doubled, the duty on beer was doubled, there were drastic increases in death and gift duties and far-reaching changes in income tax legislation relating to limited companies. “Pay, Pay, Pay”

“The people were offered the moon without cost, but found in fact that they had to pay, pay and pay.

‘The plank of the National Party is that we will reduce all the forms of taxation that have been increased by the Labour Government,” he said, “People will face heavy taxation if it is necessary, as they did during the war, but there is no adequate reason for so heavily increasing taxation at the present time. “It is true the cost of Labour’s promises have to be met. The people voted for them, and they have to pay for them, but there is ample evidence that they are paying now for not only Labour's reckless promises, but much more in addition.” said Mr AdamsSchneider.