"Promises Indicate Labour Taxation”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31207, 3 November 1966, Page 18

"Promises Indicate Labour Taxation”

The size of the Labour Party's promises was an indication of the size of the taxation voters could expect if the Labour Party went into office, the National Party candidate for St. Albans. Mr H. J. Walker, M.P., told about 40 persons at the intersection of Mays road and Bennett street last evening. “I should not think that with the last experience you had with the Labour Party you would want any truck with them.” he said. The National Party stood firm with the people of South Vietnam in their war against Communist rggression: . . We will not welch on our allies.” The Government had been bitterly disappointed at the Labour Party withdrawing its support for the moves on Vietnam on instructions from the Left wing of the Federation of Labour. Everything the National Government had borrowed overseas had gone into capital development. Borrowing had been criticised by the Labour Party because there were no business minds on their side of the House. In its first year of office, the Labour Government had borrowed £45 million overseas, yet the National Government had averaged only £lO million a year. “Ask the Labour Party what projects they would cut out if they did not borrow, and what they would do with the unemployed they would create.” Voters would have to choose between the National Government and its policy of freedom of the individual and high standards, and the socialist Labour Party which could knot even settle its own interIral differences, and must bow [the knee to the Left wing of I the Federation of Labour, Mr iWalker said.

Trade was the basis of New Zealand's prosperity, and on a per capita basis New Zealand was one of the greatest trading nations in the world. Under the National Party New Zealand had been forging ahead—a different story to the stagnation and broken promises under the last Labour Government, with its crippling taxation.

The country must develop trade and expand overseas markets—under the National Government the drive for new markets was on. The National Government had given incentives and assistance to private enterprise traders, had exhibited overseas, had sponsored trade missions, had expanded representation abroad, and had set up a trade promotion council.

These policies had been successful. New Zealand was now exporting to 80 countries, and compared to 1960, when the National Government took office after the last Labour . Government was ousted, farming income was up by £ll7 | million. Of every £ earned ; overseas 19s 6<j was earned Iby the primary producers. Last year New Zealand’s manufacturers exported goods worth £l9 million. Why was the socialist Labour Party not prepared to hold up its record of exports and production and compare it with that of the National Government? Mr Walker asked. “Because production and exports fell during their term of office, and there was a record number of post-war bankruptcies and record unemployment” The National Government had continued its policy of reducing taxation, and under the National Government oeonle saved 50 per cent more.