General Election Last Year “Was Unique”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30452, 28 May 1964, Page 12

General Election Last Year “Was Unique”

The General Election ■ last November was unique in that it was fought without one single national issue being brought to the fore, said the chairman of the CanterburyWestland division of the New Zealand National Party (Mr C. C. A. McLachlan) in his address to the division’s annual meeting yesterday. “It was evident frofn the start that , the people realised they had enjoyed three years of good, sound administration and were not seeking a change,” he said. “In these circumstances, parochial feelings crept in and we did have many local .issues predominating in discussions. “Many strong advocates for tax reductions are the first to become vocal in support of local amenities, regardless of cost or convenience, and do not seem to realise that their advocacy would mean considerably increased Government expenditure. “It is time New Zealanders realised that more consideration should be given to many of these projects before pressure is brought to bear upon the Government. Labour Policy “The clear-cut admission by the Labour leader Mr Nordmeyer, at the recent Labour Party conference, that New Zealanders Would not accept socialism, the statement by the former. Labour Party president, Dr. Finlay, that the Labour Party has not succeeded in producing the answer to our present day problems, and the fact that they are searching frantically for a new look policy proves better than I can hope to do the validity of any' previous statement. Mr Nordmeyer, however, admits that he would like to try what he calls democratic socialism, but demoans the fact that there are not enough Democratic Socialists to support him. I think he is still at heart keen on economic socialism of the type we have already seen him demonstrate so ably in 1958. “It is dur good fortune to live in times of plenty, in an age when science is producing marvels by the score,” Mr McLachlan said. “Automation is already with us. We reside in a land free from

fear and want in the normally accepted sense of. these Words. We are, as a nation, proud of the fact that we have taken away.most of the struggle against the bar of poverty to getting education. It is the same with the health service, and we have again done something for those who have failed in their efforts, or lack of effort, to -maintain themselves. “I db not condemn the legislators, who, driven by the highest humanitarian motives, have brought this about and are responsible for it. All I ask is for a pause, an appraisal of the situation. Are we indeed standing on firm ground? Is this triumphant state of affairs without doubt permanent? It we could sign the word perpetual to the page and retire I think most of us would go home happily and leave it all to the administrators. . “History right down the ages records the failure of men and nature to deal successfully with the problem of ease and plenty. The Greek philosopher Heraclatus, in my opinion, recognised our present day situation in full when he remarked: Everything is in a state of fluxnothing is stationary. Security is an illusion, there is no' security other than in constant change and no progress except through a constant willingness to take risks. ■ National Party’s Vices “This principle, to my mind, is and always has been built into the policy and philosophy of the National Party. We do accept fully the responsibility for- the provision of a floor below which no-one can fall, but we are not obliged to provide the ceiling above which nbone can rise. Constantly, we are being reminded of the virtue contained in-the redistribution of the nation’s wealth, in the sharing of the national cake, but we have almost reached the point when we must quickly focus our attention on the amount of wealth we will have to .redistribute and the size of the cake we will have to share. It is clear to all that our. present rate of production, especially within the primary industries, is not keeping pace with, our needs. Even with prices as they are at the moment, without an increase in production from our primary industries we will face an economic crisis in 10 years. “The key to the increased production problem is economic,” Mr McLachlan said. “High. taxation, death duties, rates and increasing costs are sappiiig the liquid capital away from these producers, to the extent' that the finance which should be available to reinvest in production increases has disappeared. Where are the farms and businesses today who' can boast

of excess liquid cash to expand their activities? They are few and far between and yet it is upon that venture that bur country’s future depends. . “We cannot escape that fact that for some years now we have been channelling our resources towards the coffers of the State and we are slowly but surely knocking the. individual out of the race. The answer we are getting exists in the form of take-over bids and the ever-pressing need for the Government to restrict and protect. The rapid rate at which the maximum rate of tax is reached in this country by the individual is long overdue for revision, even if the normal inflationary trends are the only reason for it, while our companies, subject to a form of direction from Treasury as to their handling of profits, find themselves in a strait-jacket. Parliamentary Seats A year ago I drew attention to the diminishing Parliamentary representation in the South Island,” Mr McLachlan said. “It is most gratifying to find that we are now well assured of actions so far as the matter is concerned. There can be no doubt that the demands made today upon Ministers and members are far in excess of what one would expect or what a member can physically and mentally shoulder without injury to his or her health. “After all surely a Parliamentarian is entitled to some home life and recreation, indeed it is in the country’s interest that it should be so. Any back-bencher today, regardless of party, in my opinion works just as hard and constantly as a Minister of the Crown and in many cases without facilities. A House of Representatives' of 100 members would not in my opinion be in excess of the number that could be with benefit appointed,” said Mr McLachlan;