PROUD HERITAGE TO BE GUARDED

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 151, 23 March 1938, Page 12

PROUD HERITAGE TO BE GUARDED

Electors As Trustees ADDRESS BY NATIONAL PARTY LEADER Large Audience At Wanganui Meeting Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, March 22. On his first official visit to Wanganui, the leader of the New Zealand National Party, Hon. Adam Hamilton, addressed to-night an audience which packed the Opera House. The mayor of Wanganui, Air. AV. J. Rogers, pre sided, and with the exception of some interjections Mr. Hamilton received an attentive hearing. He outlined the present political situation in New Zealand and explained several points of the National Party’s policy. It was the largest political gathering held in Wanganui since the last election campaign. Some time before 8 o’clock every seat was occupied and when the meeting opened even standing room was not available in the hall and a large number of people were congregated round the doors and outside. Air. S. G. Holland, AI.P., for Christchurch North,, was associated with Air. Hamilton and also addressed the meeting. He criticised the Government’s socialistic tendency and dealt with certain aspect's of its legislation. Air. Holland, also compared . some of the Labour Party's election promises with subsequent measures. Air. Holland also was subjected to interjections. On two occasions the mayor made strong appeals for fair play, once on behalf of Air. Hamilton and later for Air. Holland. , On the motion of Air. N. G. Armstrong, the meeting expressed appreciation of Air. Hamilton’s informative and convincing address,! fully endorsed the criticism of the present Government and voiced support for the National Party’s policy. An amendment of no confidence in the National Party was not accepted as it was a direct negative. Air. Hamilton commented upon the large audience and expressed pleasure at the increasing interest now being taken in politics in New Zealand. The Opposition had a part to play in politics, but it was not only the duty of Parliamentarians to be ini erested in politics. There was also a duty on all sections of the community because in the last analysis the people governed the country. Consequently I he electors had a responsibility which carried with it a necessity of knowing the politial situation in the Dominion. At the last election the people made a drastic change, but All-. Hamilton said he was convinced they would make another change at the next election.

"We have had bur politics in Ndw Zealand fairly easy, and in the past it did not make a great deal of difference whether Liberal or Reform was in office. Both were progressive and their policies were" reasonably sound. The publie life in this country has stood the test of time very well and left a heritage to be proud of, but the present situation calls for more serious consideration.

■ “Pace Bather Fast.” •‘To-day ive have a new set of circumstances and some people are afraid that the. pace is rather fast. We believe in progress. We believe that the country should be built up step by step and on a sound basis. The present Government’s policy is fairly advanced, if not revolutionary,” Mr. Hamilton added. The people of to-day were trustees for generations to come. The people in the past bad done their job well and had left a wonderful country and a proud heritage. The trust was such, however, that it carried a responsi-, bility of good government and must be operated efficiently. The people of today, as trustees, must therefore be sure of a sound. Government and see that all gained in the past was preserved and further progress made possible. “Unless we do our. duty, not only for the present generation but also for generations to come, there will be a black mark against us when history is written,” Mr. Hamilton asserted. "With all the faults of the past, the country has be6n reasonably well governed. Self-government' is a wonderful privilege. 'Not all countries have it. and we must make absolutely sure it is preserved. New Zealand must make certain that a Divine Hight of State does not replace democracy. We must defend and improve the heritage we enjoy.” Mr. Hamilton added that the people of the present generation were experiencing the best standard of living ever known in New Zealand, and the Government seemed to be basing the success of its legislation and administration on the prosperity of last year. The _previous Government had laid the foundation and had more right to take the credit. If the Government claimed that prosperity was the result of its legislation, it was under-estimating the intelligence of the people of New Zealand. The success and prosperity now hewing enjoyed by-New Zealand had been created by the industry, initiative and thrift of the people. It had taken many years to build up this position, but the whole thing could be lost in a very short time. Consequently a good political conscience and good political undersftmding was necessary. “We believe that people have a right to rule, and we want to see them rule. Dictators are not far away. They are in a lot of countries now and we want to watch that they don’t get here” said Mr. Hamilton, when stressing the value of the majority vote. Through no fault of the present Government, which w;as legitimately elected, the majority voice of the people was not correctly registered at last election. The two-party system was the only efficient way of ensuing a majority vote being correctly recorded, and when more than two parties were in the fight the system did not register properly. Recent Legislation Criticised.

The National Party stood for the progress of New Zealand, but criticised the very advanced type of legislation of the present Government. The National Party acknowledged that some evils in society required removing, but in removing these evils the whole system must not be overthrown. The party believed in helping the weak and encouraging the strong. Progressive men should and must be encouraged, but, Mr. Hamilton said, he was afraid men and women with initiative might find [heir energies stifled. People must have the right viewpoint on the political question. They should fight for a cause, not just to try to put somebody into power. The State was interfering more and more in people's private affairs, and people must increase their interest in the

State to see that these things were done to their liking. The present policy of the Government was killing initiative and enterprise, and it was obvious the Government was spending too much money. Air. Hamilton agreed that it was easy to spend freely in good times like the present, but people must see that the spending was not being done in such a way that it would make further progress impossible. Party Not Sectional. Referring to the National Party’s policy, Air. Hamilton said the party was a national body, as the name implied, and did not represent any sectional interests. It was out to help farmers, industries and all sections of the community. Air. Hamilton said he had always been against the Country Party idea. While political parties were necessary, the country needed a Government which represented all sections of the community and not one particular 'section, as would be the case if a Country Party, for instance, were returned. The National Partv also believed in full co-operation witli Great Britain. The Motherland had always been a great friend to New Zealand. "She is turning us down,” said a woman interjector. Air. Hamilton: AVell, if she is, we shall blame the Government for it. The speaker added that Air. Nash went away to make agreements ■ with other countries and came back with only one, an agreement with Germany. New, Zealand’s interests were best served by standing close behind Great Britain. "She takes more from us, than we do from her.” Mr. Hamilton added. Belief In Private Ownership. The National Party believed .also in private ownership and was opposed to State control and ownership. The rights of private property should be respected and the party stood for a policy which allowed the farmer to own his own farm and the citizen to own. his own home. At present a gradual elimination of private ownership was taking place. Private enterprise, said Air. Hamilton, was the cause of New Zealand being built up to its present condition. The farming industry was one of the foundation industries in the Dominion, and the speaker said the National Party considered the farmer was entitled to a standard of reward comparable with others. I-t believed also in building up secondary industries, provided they were reasonably sound economically. Land settlement was another question which would receive consideration, and Air. Hamilton said that if more people could be settled on small areas of land it would be an advantage to the economic life of the country. People were still drifting into the cities but, in a country'which would be rural for many years to come, this was not a good sign. The National Party aimed at establishing farms for farmers’ sons, farm workers and other suitable persons. It was a very costly business today for a farmer, to divide his property among his sons, -but the National Party, if returned to office, would make the procedure easier and capable of being operated quickly. The party was also anxious to prevent the cost of living rising too high, but advocated wages at the highest rate industries could afford and the cost of living .somewhere in relation to the wage rate. Importance of Defence. The question of liefence was another important item mentioned by Air. Hamilton, who declared that the National Party approved the Ideals of the League of Nations. The League had splendid ideals. The party believed with Great Britain that the best security for 'peace was a strongly defended British Empire. “We consider New Zealand should do its best in this respect. Other than the*Alaori Wars, we have not had welfare on our'soil, but that is not to -say we never will. I’m not an alarmist, but the war clouds hanging over Europe are ominous and we have got to take notice. AA’e firmly believe that adequate defence is necessary.” Referring to transport, Air. Hamil ton said an efficient railway system wa? very useful to the Dominion, but pri-vately-owned and properly-regulated motor services could be of great supplementary value to the Railways Department, The National Party wanted to get the best possible service for tiie people. ' Air. Hamilton touched on various other' aspects of the National Party's policy, which includes reduction in taxation, free and unfettered administration of justice by the law courts alone imd the leaving of as much spending power as possible in the hands oi the people. In spite of a reduction in taxation being on? of the election promises of the present Government, taxation in New Zealand had increased by £10,000.000 in the past two years.