FIGHT AGAINST SOCIALISM

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 190, 10 May 1938, Page 12

FIGHT AGAINST SOCIALISM

Leader Of The Opposition Replies To

Prime Minister

WHAT THE NATIONAL PARTY STANDS FOR Will Encourage And Protect Private Enterprise And Rights of Individuals Points made by-the Prime Minister, Kt. Hon. MJ. Savage, in :■ •recent speech, were replied to by the Leadet of the Opposition, on. Adam Hamilton, in an address before a crowded audience in St. brancis Hall, Wellington, last night. He received an ovation as he approached the platform and his speech was punctuated with frequent bursts of sustained applause. Mr. Hamilton outlined the fundamental differences between the objective of the Government and that of the National Party, and concluded with a brief reference to the National Party s future policy. “This is not the occasion—and. in any case, time does not permit unto speak to you concerning the future policy of the National Party at any length,” he said, “but I want-in just a word or two-to state where we stand. When the full details of our policy are released, they will be found to be progressive and sound, and based on proved principles that have built this country up to what it. is to-day. “1. We will govern in the interests of the people as a whole, and not .. for sections or classes. ' fn “2. We will co-operate and collaborate with Great Britain to the tulle.. extent. Britain is« our best friend. “3. We will encourage and protect private enterprise, and present* tin , ‘ right to private ownership of homes and property. “4. We will take a special interest in the small shopkeeper, the sinal . farmer and the small trader. “5. We will encourage and assist the subdivision ot classified tai lands, to enable farmers’ sons, farm workers and other qualified persons to obtain suitable farms. “6. We will see that our great manufacturing industries are encouia„(.d. We understand their problems and we will help them to solve them. “7 We will establish a new Ministry of Social Welfare which will be specially charged with the responsibility of co-operating with those splendid voluntary/organisations, having for their object lie the interests of women and children, and the social and economic welfare of the youth of the community. There are many organisations ro dav doing magnificent work for the community, but they have no official contact with the Government, and the new Ministry will provide that long-felt need. "8. We will cut out all extravagance in Government expenditure, will extract the smallest amount of taxation necessary to carry out the functions of Government efficiently and economically, and we will abolish the unemployment tax on women. . "9 We will take such actipn as will assure to the farmer a just ami comparative standard of reward, compared with other sections ot the community. ’ “10. We Will leave the question of hours and wages in industry to an entirely free, non-political and unfettered Arbitration Court. Com- . pulsory arbitration will be retained. Compulsory unionism will be wiped off the Statute Book. Pensions will not be cut. Civil Service salaries will not be cut. “11 We will see that homes are provided for the people. We will en- . ’ courage building societies. We will give people the right to own their own homes. We will curtail restrictions on the right ot access to people’s own property. "12. We will provide more adequately for the defence of our country, and work in close co-operation with Great Britain. “What this country needs to-day is a proper sense of balance, and an appreciation of the heritage we enjoy. Let us move forward with care, prudence and foresight, for which our people have long since been

Mr. C. H. Weston, K.C., president of the National Party, who presided at the meeting, said he did not think the Prime Minister would blush when he and his colleagues were given the credit for the unusual interest that was being taken in politics to-day, be cause it was their Socialist and Com niunist policy which was the cause of that interest. It was their Socialist and Communist policy which was the cause of the birth of the National Party. (’Applause.) That policy had led, to all who were anti-Sociallst and anti-Communlst uniting under one banner. “The objects of Socialism and of Communism are the same,” continued Mr. Weston. “The only way in which they differ is in the methods to achieve those objects. When we hear that Mr. Savage, to achieve his ends, has stated that he is bound by no traditional methods we know where we are. .. “That explains why every month the membership of the National Party is increasing in its thousands. It is the explanation also why our branches and committees throughout the whole of New Zealand daily are receiving voluntary offers of assistance from all classes of society. It is the explanation why men and women who have studiously avoided politics in the past are to-day lending a hand to save New Zealand from chaos. Confidence In Leader. “To-nighP,” said Mr. Weston, “the Hon. Mr. Hamilton is going to compare the policy of the Government with that of the National Party, and I am quite. sure that his comparison will be listened to with deep interest by the people all over New Zealand. It is not quite two years since Mr. Hamilton was elected leader of .the National Party, and that very little time, short though it is, has proved the wisdom of our choice. (Prolonged applause.) Under his direction we have achieved a unity that has been unknown In any party on our side of the political fence.

“His fellow workers have found that respect and affection and trust in him have come very easily and they are quite contentsto follow his lead, and f, say those are the real tests of leadership. (Applause.) “We go to him for advice, and his good judgement and common sense have found a solution for all our problems. His training and experience have equipped him well for the position lie now holds. (Applause.) He was one of a family of ten, of pioneer farming stock, and I note with a great deal of respect, and a good deal of envy, that both his parents art l Scotch. (Laughter and applause.) He was brought up on a farm, and at the age of 25 went to the Otago University and paid his way by his own effort. (Applause.) I think that should appeal to my friends iti the corner .who no doubt like independence of that kind. (Laughter.) Mr. Hamilton afterward followed a business career, and at the same time managed his own farm, and all this was done by him well and honestly. (Applause.) Some of his political detractors say he is dour, but that is a picture we who know him cannot see. The picture we see is of a very lovable character and a great patriot. (Loud applause.) “In the next Parliament .Mr. Hamilton is going to have a very comfortable majority,” said Mr. Weston amidst renewed applause. “I have no doubt that after, the election the people of New Zealand, including a great majority' of the Labour people, will very happily and with a great deal of confidence, hand over the direction of the affairs of this country to Mr. Hamilton.” Sustained acclamation greeted .Mi. Hamilton as be took bis place on the platform. He thanked Mr. Weston for his kind introduction and the audience for their welcome and enthusiasm. Mr, Hamilton said that there was a growing interest in politics throughout

New Zealand. Never before had there been such keenness so far before the election. Labour was returned to office at last eleftion,at a time when the world-wide depression was past. Prosperity had returned; export prices of farm produce had risen 20 per cent; the money at credit of depositors in Post Office Savings Bank of over £51,000,000 constituted a record in the history of the post office; the amount to the credit of depositors witlj trustee savings banks of over £11,000.000 was also a record for those banks; practically every department of State was in credit; interest rates were the lowest on record for New Zealand ; two restorations of wages and salary cuts had been made; all reductions in old-age pensions had been restored, and pensions were at the highest level on record; a Reserve Bank had'been established for the control of currency and credit; the Budget was balanced and the stage set to obtain the full benefits of returning prosperity. Such was the position when Labour became the Government. Real Cause qf Prosperity. World conditions bad since improved, and overseas prices for New Zealand’s exports had increased, largely owing to Britain’s expenditure on rearmament. Such facts had made the lot of the Government incomparably easier than the task of the previous Government, which had to adjust conditions to the low prices obtaining during Hie depression years. • The main theme running right through the Prime Minister’s recent speech was that he and his colleagues had completely revolutionised the trade of New Zealand. They had increased production. They had brought, new money into being. They had raised prices to unheard-of levels. They had made the people happier. Unemployment was a thing of the past. The sheep grew more wool. The birds sang again. The cows had their tails up. And it wasn’t going to rain no more. Practically his whole appeal for the continued support of the electors, was ’that he and his colleagues caused all this prosperity. And that the past Government had been the cause of the depression. Never before bad such a boastful attitude been adopted by any Prime Minister, especially when one considered the argument upon which it was based.

“We have only to prove the falseness of the base of Mr. Savage’s argument, to show the falseness of his conclusions. This can readily be done,” said Mr. Hamilton. “It would be much more correct to say that past Governments, with their sound, progressive policies, had much more to do witli the present prosperity than had the present Government. The real cause of returned prosperity was Hie general rise in I lie price level of commodities, especially of the goods we export. It would be much nearer the truth to say that 90 per cent, of the prosperity of these l.ist few years was the result of causes over which the Prim Minister and bis colleagues bad nothing whatever to do. Any credit due to him. is freely given, but. if he think> that the electors of New Zealand will swallow his statement of the case, he is sadly umierestimating t Ite Ir‘ i n tell igence. “The Prime Minister and some of his colleagues never cease to lay claim to all the credit for any good that comes along, and also never cease Io blame past governments for al) that goes wrong. If they can’t blame the last Government for some unfortunate happening. then they call it nn act of. God. “It was Hie increased income arising from Hie price of our exports that caused our present prosperity. When we consider that our income from exports during three years of depression averaged only £37.000.000. compared with about £66.000.000 for last year, it .-an readily be seen l ow the difference abou t.

“We were all pleased to hear the Prime Minister say that there would be ti substantial surplus at the end of last financial year. But I. for one. was sceptical when he also stated that the

National Debt would be less than it was at the beginning of the year,” said Mr. Hamilton. “I am going to take a risk and issue a challenge to the Prime Minister. I challenge the accuracy of his statement, which was very emphatic, that the national debt will be less than it was at. the beginning of the year. “The previous year more than £5,000,000 was added by this Government to the National Debt. I*or the year under discussion, the Government took authority last session to borrow many millions, and 1 shall be surprised if they don’t do the same this coming session. The public should have the fullest information, and I leave it to the Prime Minister to say whether my challenge is right or wrong.” Referring to unemployment, Mr. Hamilton! said that, the Prime Minister had stated: “The registered number ot unemployed in March, 193(1, was 5-1,500. In Marell, 1938, it was 6095. Added to that has to be taken into account 8000 men totally unlit for work of any description that were fed by the hospital board before we came into power —look at the drop in the figures, in the change from 54,000-odd to something under 15,000, including the men who are not lit for any .employment at all. Then we have 20,000 men on public works. In 1933 there were 6773 men on public works. “Of the 54,500 stated by Mr. Savage as being unemployed, no fewer than 22,510 were not unemployed at all, but were in full time employment in industry and were not registered as unemployed at all,” said Mr. Hamilton. “It is difficult to believe that such an important omission could be accidental. Mr. Savage would have us believe that there were only 6695 unemployed hi New Zealand to-day. The last occasion when the full figures were shown was in the ‘Monthly Abstract of Statistics' of December 22, 1937, which disclosed that 36,450 persons were receiving payment from the unemployment fund, and of these 18,110 were receiving sustenance without doing -i hand's turn.

“In addition to all this, the PublicWorks have —in these times of great prosperity and high prices—a record number of employees, totalling, according to the latest official statement, 20,205, which is 7000 more than when Labour came into office. Furthermore, there are 10,000 more in the various Government departments than when Labour came into office.

“'if unemployment is so slight today, one is naturally prompted to ask why is it necessary to extract over £5,000,000 from the wages and incomes of the people, to relieve a problem which, according to the Prime Minister, lias already been solved? The answer, of course, is that the problem has not been solved, and that is why the Government is determined to hide the correct figures.

“The unemployment tax was put on to meet an emergency. The Prime Minister says that the economic position of New Zealand is now better than it has ever been in New Zealand's history. Yet none of the unemployed appear to be absorbed back into ordinary industries. Why did he not tell us frankly where the £5,000,000-odd of unemployment tax is being spent? To say that it is being spent on less than 15,000 people is ridiculous: this would work out at over £3OO a year for each unemployed person.” Post Office Savings Bank. Mr. Hamilton said that the Prime Minister never erased to accuse his .op ponents of misrepresentation, but the following example would show the length he himself would go to try to put his opponent off-side. Mr. Savage stated, in his Town Hall speech, that during- the first two years of his (Mr. Hamilton's) period as Postmaster-Gen eral, rhe number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank dropped by 81,000. His reply to that was that, in actual fact, the number of accounts did not drop at all. The Prime Minister was here guilty of one of the most unfair forms of misrepresentation. It had often 'been stated that half a truth was the worst, form of falsehood. But the Prime Minister’s statement was scarcely half a truth. What happened, was that the law was amended in 1932, to transfer 80,000 “dead” accounts from the Post Office into the Consolidated Fund. Those “dead” accounts, with average deposits of under £l, represented accounts that had not been operated on for 25 years, and were treated as unclaimed money. That was asked for by the authorities to save' book-keeping. By the amendment to the Act, those 80.000 accounts were dealt with in that way. That information was on the same page (651) of the 1938 Year Book, as the table, from which the Prime Minister got his figures. "The Prime Minister is hard up indeed for arguments when he adopts such tactics.” said Mr. Hamilton. “As a matter of fact, it would be correct to say from the nearest figures available that deposits were greater by over £8,600.000 during my last year of office compared with my first year. How can we excuse a Prime Minister who so grossly misrepresents his. opponent and misleads his. listeners/ Dearer Living. “The Prime Minister made a great parade of statistics—even’ totalisator statistics —in his endeavour to prove that prosperity is here, and has come to stay. Two or three hou.-.ewives could show him in a few minutes that his arguments are just about as stable as a house of cards. MT. Savage, of course, cannot be expected to know much about, household budgets, but any man who makes his wife a liberal housekeeping allowance, will tell him that hardly a month goes by witbiut his wife coming to him and saying that extra money is needed to square the household accounts. This is no exaggeration. and it is the reason why the women of New Zealand will not support the Labour Government. “A case arose in Auckland' recently which demonstrates how the womenfolk have learned to fear Labour rule. A woman, rummaging through some old household accounts, found a grocer's receipt dated ebruary. 1936, for goodsof a total cost of 11/2. She took the receipt with her. went to Hie same grocery store ami - ordered Hie same goods in the same quantity. The cost was 15/4. I do not think.any further comment is needed. “The housewife to-day limit, that food, clothing and rent are ali costing her more than was the ease three years ago. Is it likely that she will lie hoodwinked by Mr. Savage's line phrases, and his quoting of the totalisator tig tires? Women probably have a greatei sense of money values than the majority of men, and they know th.it a pomn! note to-day will not go nearly as rar -as it ditl three years ago They ire the financiers of the nation— not tit Nash —and they deserve far more >n .sideration than lias been shown them by the present Government.” ! abour's Aim. "Til,. Labour Governim-nt - and- to Stale ownership of all properly 111 stand for the riglq of citizens Io ge a satisfactory lease or own lite freehold of ibeir property, flu- ltrs, and mosi cardin.-il plank of the Labour Partj s policy is Hie socialisation of Hie.means

of production, distribution, and exchange. What does socialisation of these three items mean? In plain language, it. means the public ownership of all three. It means the elimination of the right of anyone to own private property of any kind. That is the Labour Government’s objective, and their legislation is being shaped with that end in view. “The Prime Minister told ns that the Government had no intention of socialising Hie farms. Within two days he was flatly contradieled by the Minister of Lands, Hon. F. Langstone. In an address f o the Labour Party conference. Mr. Langstone proclaimed that it is still the Government's policy to wipe out the freehold tenure of land. Large blocks are to be taken over by the Government, developed by the Lands Department, and then farmed by men who will be paid as employees of the State. No body of farmers can have any faith in a Government which

adopts such a policy. “We know Hint Labour aim.< at the socialistion of the means of production, but to the farmer the land is everything. It Is his livelihood and his title* to it is the measure of his independence and his self-respect. The National Party will uphold the rights of the farmer and townspeople to the ownership of their own land. '“The State to-day will not even sell any of the houses they are building. The policy is to eliminate all private interest in any property. They are rapidly getting all property possible into the hands of the Slate. On the other hand, we stand for the right of any person to own the freehold of his own home, or his own farm, or bis own business. We do not agree with Mr. Langstone that people desire the freehold of property for the purpose of gambling with it. or to get away with the plunder. “We believe that private ownership of property encourages people to improve it, and look after it, better than if they had no interest in it. In fact, the right to obtain a piece of land that they could call their own was one of the great incentives to our parents to come to New Zealand. And the rapid and successful development of New Zealand lands is proof of the wisdom of this policy.

Control of All Businesses.

“They stand for the extension of the State in business. We would encourage and foster private enterprise. There are services in the community that it is wise for the State to own and control, such as the Post Office, a national monopoly. And, from the success of the Post Office, this Government argues that the State in business should be extended until it absorbs all industries and all services.

“This Government is, therefore, setting out to get control of all sorts of businesses. It established a housing department of State, to -build houses dgainst private enterprise. It is gobbling up private transport services all over New Zealand. It took aifthority to establish a steel and iron industry, at an estimated cost of £5,000,000. They placed £92,000 on last year’s Estimates, to establish and operate State sawmills. Already at least one mill has been erected. Regulation, domination and inspection of private ‘businesses, are the order of the day. In fact, this Government's objective is to make it impossible for private enterprise to carry on. “We say that It is the State’s function to lay down the rules, in the public interest, by which business shall be conducted, and then so long as business people obey the rules the State should not only keep out of the business, but also exercise the minimum interference. Private enterprise developed New Zealand, and is capable of giving a better service and greater freedom to the community than the State in business can ever give. Crushing Individualism. "They stand for mass psyeliolgoy. We emphasise individuality. The Prime Minister’s speed) was a typical example of Labour's method of appeal to mass psychology. Their policy is to encourage. and develop, this mass-mind psychology, even to the point of coercing tiie minorities into submissionThey would crush individual initiative until men and women become only a cog in the great State machine. Compulsory unionism is a typical example. “We stand for the wisdom of democracy, and majdrity hilo, in the sphere lof polities. This does not mean that majority rule shall control and dominate~all 'branches of social and private life. 1 Minorities have rights that must be sacredly safeguarded. For example, the majorly i lils no right—in our opinion—to dictate what clmrcli we shall attend. Make no mistake, when Hie mass-mind psychology dominates society, the rights of the individual become very circumscribed. Attitude Toward Thrift. “They emphasise and encourage spending. We encourage private thrift. In the 'Standard’ of October 21. 1936, Mr. Savage said: ‘This scratching, scraping, starvation system of individual saving strangles the economic freedom and well-being of a nation. We have got to stop that.’ “Mr. Savage is constantly harping on his theory that spending is belle'than saving. Here, again, we see tinencroachment by the State in its endeavour to get savings away from private people into the hands of the Stale. Private savings ar,- to be discouraged. The Government superannuation proposal. which withholds any benefit from those with reasonable private savings, is a typical example of the Government's plan to discourage private thrift. Everything must belong to the State. "Electors must realise that these pro posnis are not accidental —■they - arc designed to tit in with th< Government's ultimate objective. In the eyes of this Government, private saving is the beginning of capitalism. The moment a person lias any savings laid by he is a capitalist even in in small" way. And to them, i he capitalist and Hie capital ist system are anathema. “The Prime Minister would have us believe that every person who is thrifty, freezes liis .savings, oi tliai he buries them in a tin in the backyard. He. of course, does nothing ot the sort. He deposits those savings, or that share of his income that lie can do without in the meantime, witli the Post Office or other savings bank. The falsity of this is readily seen, when we realise that savings in the banks are Imiug continuously used. "Tax, Borrow and Spend.’' They hold Hml piosperity is ca'i-ed by spending. They know, in a democratic country, that spending is popular. One is sometimes forced to conclude Hml their objective is to lax. I borrow mid spend until mu system ! breaks down " ••iihl not nmst of them I lie Imppy il I ere were a -ollapM- of i ..ui- s\ : m ii I.- 1l:< misei .» no zood 1 io an.one. mil even iiiniseli Id ' ilml tile rigid Io lay oy privuie savings I for one’s •>wn-l:ilri ise. is a wise. -rosision in society. amt should '■< -Il , -iii-aged not discoiira red i H have >/iid before, mid I -aj again,

that thrift is one of the very cornerstones of this country’s whole economy, and her prosperity,” said Mr. Hamilton. “The thrift, and the initiative of our pioneers, Ims made this country what it is to-day. New Zealanders are by nature a thrifty people—they believe in it—they practice it, .and many of the blessings we enjoy to-day are the result of thrift—and even sacrifice of our parents.

"The encouragement of thrift, and private savings, is one of the valuable virtues of our people. Today, under this Government, work anil thrift are at a discount, while spending and idleness are at a premium. If democracy responds to this policy, we shall then have to learn our lessons through bitter experience.

“They hold that New Zealand’s past has all* been a failure. We say that New Zealand’s past has been a huge success. The Prime Minister, in his speech, said that all we had got out of the past was mortgages. Mr. Langstone said the whole 100 years of New Zealand’s history had been all wrong. Mr. Webb stated that Labour took over New Zealand as an ‘industrial hell.’ New Zealand's past, they say, has all been wrong. Liberals, Reformers and all past Governments have failed. Now, 4 the saviours have arrived. Hail, Savage and Co! “It would likely be too much to say that all that had been done in the past had been right. But it is correct to say that the pioneers and past legislators —pursuing a sound, progressive course —brought New Zealand through until we, in our generation, have enjoyed the best standard of living of any -people in the .world. And yet they say that it has all been wrong.

“And they say, also, that I am the man with an umbrella. If that means that I move with care regarding the future, I make no apology. I would prefer to be out with an umbrella and my feet on the ground, than —like the Prime Minister —up in a balloon on the road to the moon, with the sky the limit.

“It is easy to scoff at the oldfashioned systems of the past, but our predecessors have handed us a magnificent heritage—a heritage equalled by few and excelled by none. “We say, let us hold fast to that which experience has proved to be good. Where the past has revealed weakneses, let us remove them. We wil help to do it. We say, let us pause, lest we dissipate in a few years what it has taken a generation to build up. Many businesses that have been built up over the years by sound and careful management, have been speedily wrecked by mismanagement under the false guise of progress. Successful experience of the past is a wiser guide than the experimental recklessness of this Government. Insulating New Zealand? “They say they can insulate New Zealand against the consequences of a world fall in prices. We hold that. New Zealand’s economic conditions are largely affected by our export prices. New Zealand taxpayers have now got to note that the annual public commitments have been increa I'd by this Government, by something in the vicinity of £10,000,000. It is easy to increase expenditure when revenue is buoyant it is not so easy to reduce it if revenue falls. “The Minister of Finance, when asked how lie would meet the increased expenditure if his revenue fell, stated that he would insulate New Zealand against any adverse effect. The Deputy Leader of the Government, Hou. P. Fraser, being a careful Scotchman, when asked what he would do if the export income fell by. say, £20,000,000, replied by saying that he was not prepared to say offhand what he would do. We say that the increased public commitments piled up by this Government, constitute one of the greatest problems for the future. "Increased expenditure and rising costs should stir our taxpayers into action —they will have to carry the load. We say that it is wise to keep our internal price level, and costs, from rising so high as to throw both our primary arid manufacturing industries into difficulty. It is wise to keep our costs on a reasonably competitive basis with Britain and Australia. If our costs level becomes artificially high, then some section of our people must suffer. "Again. I would say that the high costs policy of this Government is designed to embarrass the industries affected, so that they will fall into the hands of the Goverifment. "As far as insulating New Zealand against the effects of a general fall in export, prices, we say this is not possible without causing a corresponding evil to some section of our people. In my opinion, those who will suffer under Labour’s policy, if prices fall, are those whose assets are in the form of savings, as distinct' from property. Personal Freedom. “They stand for State supremacy. We emphasise individual freedom. Tin’s constitutes New Zealand’s gravest, moral danger. As one of the important units of Hie British Empire, we have enjoyed a personal freedom from State domination and dictation scarcely to be obtained in any country outside of our Empire. We are apt. to accept this great privilege, together with our high standard of life, as our natural heritage. We sit back and take our ease, while the enemy undermines us. The nfoment we relax our effort and cease to lie vigilant regarding the control or government of our country, that moment we begin to slip, and Hie enemy gets us by Hie throat.

"Democracy has broken down in many countries of the world, and, unless we put up a light worthy of Hie occasion, there is grave danger of complete Socialism being established in New Zealand, which leads to Communism and Hie totalitarian State . State supremacy is their objective. "If the present Government is returned to office at the ii -xt election, it wiTl lie taken by them as a confirmation of their policy. They will then be free to proceed right ahead witli their programme of complete socialisation and Stale supremacy. Remember, the Stai/ can be very oppressive and coercive when those holding extreme views are in command. “On Hie contrary, we stand for the utmost freedom of the individual to work out tils own salvation, ami to lie rewarded for his initiative, enterprise and thrift. Tlieir’s is a process of levelling down —ours is a process of encouraging all to rise by their own efforts—-witli the encouragement and protection of tiie State. “They would til most deify and worship the State. We would define Hie State ns a centralised authority. <elf'-imposed by the people mainly to protect ami preserve law and order and oilier I’linctious for the common good. Iml al'-'o to lay down rules by which those neoplo cojiiprising Hie State shall plax the mime of life in society. And, so tom;' a, individuals obey the laws laid dooii In Hie central authority. Iliej . should then be granted Hie ut-

most freedom to live their lives their own way- And witli the least regulation. domination or interference by the State.

f'fndividua) freedom and self-expres-sion are among the greatest blessings enjoyed by man. Our British history is a history of a fight for freedom freedom of. speech, freedom of worship. and freedom of the Press. Witli tiie recent happenings in Europe before your minds, remember that freedom once lost is difficult to regain. We stand for the utmost freedom for individuals.” It was at this point that Mr. Hamilton made his references to Hie future policy of the National Party that are set out. above. . Mr. Hamilton resumed his seat amid loud cheers. Augiirv for Saner Government. “It is a privilege.” said Mr. Cheviot Bell, chairman of the Wellington division of the .National Parly, “to move a motion of appreciation and thanks -o Mr Hamilton for his speech. History lm< shown that it is a happy characteristic of the British people that! whu'ever they are threatened with difficulties mid' dangers, a strong and abe leader lias arisen to guide their ‘ nies It is my firm conviction that such a man has to-day arisen in Hie person , f Mr. Hamilton to help Neu Zealand through this crisis in its political history. Mr. Hamilton’s speech tonight has impressed as the natural expression of a man patently sincere patently earnest, patently able. * - such it’ should, and will, stand as a warning against Socialistic trend and as mi augury for sounder and sanei Government. Mr. Bell moved:— That this meeting desires to express appreciation and thanks to Mr. Hamilton for his speech, mid to assure him of Hie loyalty, support and confidence of all men and women in this country opposed to Socialism, and to convey to bun our conviction that lie is destined to rank among tiie great leaders in Now Zealand’s political life. Tiie motion, which was seconded bj Mr. James Maher. Mungaroa. was car rietl with long applause.