"Birth control by economics"

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33068, 8 November 1972, Page 19

"Birth control by economics"

The National Party's ad- 1 ministration in New Zealandl had brought about "birth con-! trol by economics,* the Social; Credit candidate for the Lyttelton electorate (Mr J. Pounsford) said at a meeting! called by the Sumner Residents’ Association. A young couple today wasi saddled with a heavy burden | of debt, Mr Pounsford said. I He quoted the case of a j young couple who had to pay' $23 a week in interest alone: on their house and land, and! had decided they could not! afford to have children. Un-1 der a Social Credit Govern-] ment the couple’s interest | would be $ll a week less be-1 cause of lower interest rates. I If the Labour Government’s taxation increases in its term | had been described as "the! seduction of the innocent,”! the National Government’s! taxation under Mr Muldoon; could be described as “the rape of the masses,” Mr Pounsford said. During the last 30 years,! taxes, the cost of living, the number of unemployed and the indebtedness of people always continued to increase regardless of whether Labour of National was in power. With local bodies, one of the biggest costs was inter-! est, Mr Pounsford said. The l

; Government had lent to the j Dairy Board at 1 per cent interest, and loans should be advanced to local bodies at a similar rate of interest. i If the high interest rates I could be eliminated, then ;; there was every chance of ] holding, or even reducing I rates. i Social Credit would pay I universal superannuation to men at the age of 60 and to! : women at the age of 55, Mr ; Pounsford said. Telephone I rentals would be free to the elderly, and television and radio licence fees would be I abolished. Reserve Bank credit would !be used to hold the cost of \ basic foodstuffs, and worker ! participation and sharehold- • | ing in industry would be en- ! couraged. Money would be ■ ! made available to workers to ’ I buy shares, with part of the ;! dividends being used to repay i! the loan. A worker should be able ■ to enjoy a reasonable standard of living on a 40-hour . week, and people would be ■ helped to set up businesses I by being made loans. The biggest problem in law’ ! and order was that the Gov- ■ emment had taken away the local policeman, Mr Pounsf | ford said. The police should •iaiso be given more leeway in !' dealing with offenders.