“RUSHING ALONG ROAD TO SOCIALISM”

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 2, 28 September 1937, Page 11

“RUSHING ALONG ROAD TO SOCIALISM”

Labour’s Action Examined

MR. MAZENGARB’S ADDRESS AT BLENHEIM

Dominion Special Service.

Blenheim, September 27.

Less than two years of Labour in office had sufficed to convince the people of New Zealand that its policy was to rush pell-mell along the road to Socialism even although in doing so the cost of living was raised beyond the benefits of the so-called improved buying power, declared Hr. 0. C. Mazengarb, of Wellington, in a public address at the Blenheim Town Hall to-night in continuation of his platform campaign on behalf of the National Party. The -meeting was held under the auspices of the Marlborough branch of the party. Mr. Mazengarb quoted from retail price lists and dockets to show that wood and coal had advanced 20 per cent, in price and general groceries by more than that. Jam from England, he said, was now selling for twopence per pound less than local jam. Meat had this week advanced by yet another penny. He predicted that bread would go up by another halfpenny a loaf within the next few weeks unless the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, succeeded in disguising the increased manufacturing costs by a further substantial contribution from the Consolidated Fund to the wheat pool. Economic Forces. The Government had found that threats and artificial restrictions did not prevent the operation of economic forces, Mr. Mazengarb declared. It was obviously getting out of its depth financially. Many of its supporters had now lost faith in trade union leadership and in Cabinet, which, according to the Hon. P. C. Webb, contained “five miners and two waterside workers.” People were looking now to the National Party to provide a remedy. Mr. Mazengarb explained that the policy of a political party was a settled and definite course of action to be followed. It was grounded on principle and had the attributes of permanence. When Labour speakers asked for the poljcy of the partj- they were merely wanting something “to shoot at” in order to divert the attention of the people from rising costs and higher taxes. Other people; however, were genuinely seeking a statement of the main principles which would guide the party in dealing with problems as they arose. It had to be remembered that prior to the last election there was no National Party, but merely a coalition of the Reform and Liberal (or United) parties. The political questions which had previously divided members into these two groups were no. longer troubling the country. The last election hi d, therefore, been fought more on' matters of administration than on principle. But now other great questions had obtruded themselves. Socialism, common ownership and nationalisation, which had previously been regarded as too idealistic, had become main issues, Having obtained control of Parliament, the Labour Party wanted to usher in the day when the State would control everything from the cradle to the grave, and everybody would have his particular status as a servant of the State. Self-Reliance and Thrift. The National Party believed in individual and co-operative enterprise, in self-reliance and thrift, Mr. Mazengarb said. It considered that the true function of a Government was to help industry when help was needed and not to take it over or run in opposition to it. The National Party also desired to conserve the savings of the people and to avoid anything in the nature of a ‘‘class war” operating in this country. The leader of the party would in due time announce how that policy would be implemented in the next Parliament, the speaker continued. At a time like this there was a great temptation to ‘‘buy votes" by making grandiose promises. He hoped and believed that when the platform was announced it would be found that the party had taken its stand on principle. The little experience which the people had had of political opporttfnism had convinced them that they could not rely on the promises of politicians who, like one of the leaders of Labour, defended the party’s failure by declaring that political promises were often like promises between husband and wifei—incapable of fulfilment

Mr. Mazengarb concluded by saying that In the policy and platform of the National Party the electors would find safety, security and reasonable betterment of economic and social conditions.

The mayor, Mr. J. Stevenson, presided over the meeting, at which more than 40C were present. Mr. Mazengarb was given an attentive hearing. His address occupied nearly two hours, and at its close, after he had answered a number of questions, he was accorded, on the motion of Mr. L. L. T. Bush, a hearty vote of thanks.