PRESSING NEEDS OF NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 181, 29 April 1941, Page 8

PRESSING NEEDS OF NEW ZEALAND

Formation Of National

Government

BOLD CONSTRUCTIVE MIGRATION PLAN

"It should not be necessary, and it would not be necessary, to hold such a meeting as this if the Government had acceded to the insistent demand from one end of the Dominion to the other to form a National Government,” said Dr. O. C. Mazengarb, in addressing a largely-attended meeting in St. Peter’s Church Hall last evening, called to form a south branch of the Wellington North National Party committee.

The position, lie continued, was made clear in the official organ of the Labour Party last week, which editorially stated: "There is in the Labour ] Party the greatest opposition to any coalition, because the history of such fusions shows they never have resulted in an improvement of the condition of the ordinary people." “What we are concerned about,” said Dr. Mazengarb, “is the future welfare of the people of New Zealand. During times of peace experience has shown that party Government is the best form of government in Britishspeaking democracies, but when the blast of war blows in our ears it is time to set aside all party differences. The question arises whether the elections should be postponed. Constitutionally, the Government has the power to extend the life of Parliament. There are arguments for and against, but if elections are held let them be held without any rancour or bitterness. The attitude of the National Party will be to form a national government if they are returned as the dominant party.” Emphasizing the need for a national Government, Dr. Mazengarb said that there were many important questions requiring immediate attention. The time to plan for the rehabilitation of returned soldiers was now. Too Much Bureaucratic Law. There were, too, grave constitutional problems to be tackled. Too much law was being promulgated by bureaucrats. People should have the _ right to manage their own affairs without dictatorial compulsion, and there should be a complete separation of the legislative and judicial functions. Non-judicial tribunals were giving directions as to what should be done, and if people were not satisfied they could appeal to the Minister. Touching on the economic position of the country, he said that central banking was only introduced after the slumps and booms in Europe and America in 1935. He believed that it would have been wiser for the Government in power in New Zealand from 1933 to 1935 to have borrowed from the trading banks, even at a high rate of interest, rather than allow the people to suffer as they did on account of the depression. But the Labour Government had gone to the other extreme, and had inflated the currency to the extent of some £28,000,000. On top of this the Government had introduced restriction of imports, which was sometimes referred to as insulation. Mr. Nash had denied that he intended to insulate New Zealand,, remarking that what he had said was “isolate.” There was a secondary meaning to insulation, and that was “to put in cold storage.” “It was then I learnt,” said Dr. Mazengarb, “that Mr. Nash meant us to be placed in cool storage, and do a freeze.”

Ou July 9, 1938, the economic committee of the League of Nations published a report which stated that import restrictions and State control of exchange was no remedy, as their' effect was to prevent capital coming into the country. Tbe League of Nations had advised all countries to this effect. and ye,t the Labour Government of New Zealand had turned round and told the people that the restriction of imports had been the greatest step forward ever taken by New Zealand since refrigeration. Social Security. Touching on the Government Social Security Act, he said that New Zealand had always enjoyed free education, free hospital treatment, and old age pensions. The Social Security Act. had simply consolidated these benefits under one Act. “Our great concern is to see that the people are getting the benefits they are entitled to under this Act,” declared Dr. Mazengarb, "but the rapidly-rising prices are chiselling away many of the benefits. AA ith inflation nominal wages went up, but so did prices. Tbe first thing to do is to stop the rising prices. Th e total amount lying to the credit of all customers of banks in New Zealand has doubled in five years because people are not able to import goods, and because the currency has been inflated. It is not a good thing to have a money boom AVe want money to stand up to its real value. There was a time when a £1 note represented one golden sovereign, and we want to see that each pound issued by the Reserve Bank represents £1 value. Inflation is as insidious as drug-taking; the more you take the more you crave for. Inflation has very much the same effect in the economic life of the community. The late Mr. Savage, when he came into power as Prime Minister, openly stated that he intended to inflate the currency to the extent of £lO,000,000, but he soon told a deputation who wanted more money for social security. ‘lf you can tell me how to turn the tap off, I’m with you.’ “Mr. Nash proposes to finance the war by taxation and the further issue of public credit. We must put a stop to this. My voice will be raised, in season aud out of season, against any increase in public credit. Larger Population Wanted. "What we want in this country is a larger population to develop production aud assist in sharing taxation,” the speaker continued. “The best people are our own people, and we want a bold constructive immigration plan. “After the war millions of people in Great Britain and the Nordic countries who have been through hell In two generations will lie easting their eyes toward such countries as Australia and New Zealand. Let them come here and be good New Zealanders with a real pride in their country.

“AVe were all right so long as we could send our produce overseas, but if we cannot do this we will have to bring people here to consume our products. I don't, see why New Zealand should not have a population of five or six million people.

“Let us keep ever before us the ideals of humanity,” Dr. Mazengarb concluded, “for everything which is wise, just, and humane is right." A vote of thanks to Dr. Mazengarb was carried by acclamation on the call of Mt. H. I. Graves, chairman of the Wellington North branch of the National Party, who presided. A south branch of the Wellington North committee of the National Party was formed at. the meeting, many persons handing in their names as members.