National Party Preparing For Next General Election

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28950, 18 July 1959, Page 14

National Party Preparing For Next General Election

♦ Neu Zeauina Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 17. The National Party is considering the broad lines of policy on which the next election will be fought, according to the annual report of the party's Dominion council which will be presented to the annual conference at Dunedin on July 25 and 27. The report states that it would be premature to make firm decisions on policy at this stage. Committees to advise on financial and economic policy have been, or are about to be set up, in the various divisions. A thorough screening of all policy proposals in order to determine what is desirable and also feasible will be made. The report goes on to say that in a little more than a year's time, if not before, a General Election will be held, “and our organisation must be ready for this major test.” So far as it is possible to gauge public opinion, the Labour Government is unlikely to survive an election, the report says, “and our Parliamentary party must therefore be prepared to assume again the responsibilities of Government.” “It would .be a great mistake, however, to assume that the result of the next election is a foregone conclusion. The Labour Gov ernment will try to regain popularity by removal of some, if not all, of the financial and other impositions to which New Zealanders have been subjected in the last 18 months.

The report says that, as National Party spokesmen have repeatedly stated, the rundown in overseas funds was just a passing phase, which National, had it been re-elected, would have dealt with promptly and effectively, as it had done before under similar circumstances, but without the panic talk and economic disruption which marked the Labour Government’s handling of the situation.

“As to political prospects, it is already apparent that Labour will endeavour, by means of tax concession and some further modifi-

cation of import controls, to rally its wavering supporters. The public will not, however, readily forget Labour’s cynical breach ol faith. Election promises from that quarter will be more closely scrutinised from now on.”