UNITED PARTY'S POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 82, 17 October 1928, Page 7

UNITED PARTY'S POLICY

FINANCE AND PUBLIC WORKS VIGOROUS LAND SETTLEMENT POINTS FROM LEADER'S ADDRESS (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") : AUCKLAND, This Day. s Sir Joseph Ward has every reason to feel gratified with the reception accorded him at the Town Hall last evening, when he opened the campaign on behalf of the United Party. The meeting was one' of the largest seen here for some years. Long before 8 o'clock the hall was filled, and those who arrived after about 7.40 found the doors closed against them. Whether the . name of. the ex-Prime Minister is still something to conjure with . is possibly open to question, but there was ample evidence last - night that it is still capable of attracting a large audience. The disappointed ones, numbering nearly a thousand, found some measure of consolation in standing outside the hall and listening to the speech, which was clearly delivered through two powerful amplifiers. ,■■.;■ , . Sir Joseph Ward had an enthusiastic reception.," He was frequently applauded, and at the close of the speech received an ovation. There was very little in the way of hostile interjection. No doubt there were many opponents present, but they were obviously .disposed to accord Sir Joseph the courteous hearing due to one who in the past has occupied; a distinguished; position in the counsels of the State. Sir Joseph spoke well, and to those who ' remember him of yore it seemed that his articulation was now slower (a good point) and more distinct. He drove home his points well.

Sir Joseph s,uminarised the main points of the party's platform as follow:— Increased money supplies for business peoplo, farmers, and homes for workers, both in town and country. The completion as eaily as possible of main railway lines now authorised. Sevonty million pounds to be raised -/in ten years in regular amounts. Sixty millions to lend to settlers at. 41 per cent, and 1 per cent, sinking fund for 32 years; and ten millions to complete authorised through lines of'railways; and ' construction of short, isolated lines to cease. Secondary industries to be fostered by subsidy, rather than by a high pro-' / tective tariff. . Government requiiements wherever ' • possible to be procured locally. Electoral reform to < ensure that successful candidates represent an absolute majority by the adoption of preferential voting. Closer settlement upon more liberal conditions and the prevention of aggregation. Acquisition of estates, voluntary if possible, but where compulsory owners to be paid by Government bonds. Financial assistance where the na-" tureof the land renders it desirable. A vigorous roading policy designed to assist in opening up settlement. A more expert valuation of laus. w based on its productivity. " An extension of the rural credits and intermediate credit systems. Assistance for the irrigation of certain areas. A revision of the scale of income tax, making the tax more equitable in , its incidence. > ■■. . y .. Company taxation to be reduced. ..; and finally repealed. , - ,: Customs tariff, to aim at reduction in cost of living; and food supplies, not locally provided, to be free. State trading for profit is not a legitimate function of the State, and should be aboliohed. Non-interference in private enter- !, prise. . ■ .'■'., '■', Government by regulation and: .: Order-in-Council to cease.' : , Taxation of commercial motor "traffic to. be reduced. Present system of education to, be maintained. Defence: To honour our moral obligations to the Motherland. Encouragement of the tourist traffic. RESPONSE IO CALL OF DTJTY, "I would like to say a few words about my own position," said Sir Joseph Ward. "I have, as you know, been in the public life of this country since 1887, when I stood as a Liberal, and when elected was returned as a Liberal. I was unable to see my way when the party, who formerly were associated with me, changed the name from Liberal to that of National, and when requested by tho conference which took place recently in Welling, ton of the United Party, I felt that ; complete freedom to them in their considerations ana decisions should bo given. I was not a member, and I elected not to interfere in any way with that conference. Later a unanimous request was made to me to become the Leader of the United Party, and after full consideration I came to the conclusion that if I could be of any assistance to the country at this juncture to accept the position, and I am now here in that capacity. "It comprises members of all former parties in this country. There is no need for any of the different sections to change their political creed so long tfs they conform to the intentions of the United Party to stand in the general interest of the whole of the people la the Dominion. lam still a Liberal W is every other section of the party to whatever political creed he formerly pelonged. J "What the mission of tho United ? arty is, is to represent the interests of Whatever party they formerly belonged |P under the banner of the new name We are out for the good of the country and to help it forward along, the ttnes that it is now my pleasure and fluty to submit to the people. "ONLT TWO PARTIES BOGY." "I notice that the Prime Minister recently made a statement that there were only two political parties in the country, Beform and Labour. The in- , tention was to divert the people from : the party that I am at the head of, to support him and his party on the ground that if they supported . the United Party they would be helping , Labour to gain a majority at the polls. If anyono will take the trouble to read' the Reform Party's journal, the. 'Newsletter/ they will find there, under date 28th November, 1925, that the following was the result of votes polled 'at the election during that year; Reform in 67 constituencies total 815,688; Labour in 55 constituent cies total 183,201; Nationalists" cum Liberal Party contested -50 Beats and obtained 143,291 votes. tl£ will be noticed that this latter party contested 17 seats less than the Eeform Party and five less than the Labour JJartyj that is 22 seats less. There was p large Liberal vote in 22 electorates

that had no candidate. The Liberals and Nationalists there had to give their vote either to Reform or Labour. The average vote recorded at the election for the National-Liberal in each "elector-.. ate was 2865, so that added to what they polled represents a total vote that no party need be ashamed of, so that the ' difference in the total of the National-ists-Liberal votes recorded there, had there been a candidate for each electorate, would have given them a much larger total of votes than is referred to by our'critics. The Reform Party has had some seventeen (17) years of office, aiuU-'in-.the opinion of many the time is .tfipe for a change. However, lam willing to trust the people. '_ . ' , WILL BRING ORDEE OUT OF CHAOS. "Anyone who has studied the finan- : cial history, of the Dominion must, ro- , cognise that. if.we are to progress at a. reasonable pace there must be a departure;, from1 the present policy, which .each1 year is bringing about a condition of" chaos that, if perpetuated," will Soon '. er or later, probably soon, result in either a deadlock or a curtailment of public requirements in the Dominion : that in my judgment would be detrimental not. only to the development of the country, as a whole but to both people in the towns and cities, as well as in the country. It is no figure of speech to say that a supreme effort should be made to prevent this, and a departure from the present' and old methods is essential to enable this to be effected. ■. „ , iV ,, :.; ■' ; „•.,"■ v"«*|60,000 ) 000 FOR •SETTiiBBSi'•- - ■-■^t-'tfa^liinow^'.W^^cftioinary Jolr ; '.' some people to attack the banking institutions and to endeavour to-transfer-to them the cause of their inability to get what is absolutely essential, finance requisite for their own needs, whether it be people on the land or people in business. I say for them such a task is impossible.,, I-have neveiyruor do I now; entertain the least'doubt as to the; financial stability of. the country as; a 'whole, but it is a wise and-indeed/: necessary procedure to examine closely the several important matters that, taken together, temporarily effect tho progress of individuals and call for a change to insure permanency of progress^ The plain fact is that a system of providing some millions more money for loans, for people on land is a pressing need and has been for some time. I do not think the commercial banks are -. to blame for the trouble at all. An examination of' tho results show to my mind that they are doing their part. I am of the opinion that this 'country requires £60,000,000 of capital to lend largely:on settlers' landed securities during the next eight or ten years. MQNEY FOR WORKERS' HOMES. 'I suggest sincerely', with this object in view, that we effect material but practical change in the way in which .we obtain this money. My proposal 18 that we take steps to have money for advancing chiefly to settlers on the land and a portion for workers' homes of from six million to eight million per annum, by the issue of Government bonds at 4J per. cent, interest, saleable at .£95 per £100. Further, that we put ail end to the construction of any new short lines of railways in any portion of-,the Dominion, and that we lay down, definitely, by Act of Parliament, what, for convenience, I term 'authorised long lines of railways' in both islands, and provide for an expenditure of ten million total, and that these railways be pushed on by co3itraet, in three or four sections of the railways at a time, until the total amount named has been expended, and that they be paid for by 4-J per cent. Government bonds at £95 per £100. "I propose therefore to raise £70,----000,000 spread over eight to ten years for the purpose of providing £00,000,----000 to lend to settlers on their landed interests, and ten millions for tho completion of the main railway lines of tho Dominion. PRESENT PIECEMEAL POLICY. "These should be put in hand without delay, and instead of taking a fractional cost by a small annual vote on the Public Works Estimate, the estimated, cost of the whole line of railway should jbe definitely ascertained and a fourth'of the whole provided for annually by Government bond or stock at 4J per cent, interest, and be available for -issue.at £95 for every £100, and all contracts be let on this basis of payment. The same system should be applied for tho .balance of all moneys required to complete all the hydro-elec-tric schemes. The sum mentioned may appear to -be. large. My reply is that whilst the country is responsible for the' principal and interest to the lender, that no taxation whatever is required to ;enable this undertaking to be made -as it is in every caso payable by the borrowers, and their security is held by the country against any sum that within the limits of law is loaned for these purposes. Tho money should be •lent to settlers and workers at 4J ppr cent, plus 1 per : cent, sinking fund, and tne term of loan be for 32* years with the right to pay off earlier. "MY JUDGMENT WAS EIGHT." ■•'■.-:■ "-I-: would ,remind the.,pe.ople; of the Dominion that when I introduced the Stato Advances to Settlers system, there was an outcry by interested people that tho scheme.; was an■■ impracticable one-and that'heavy" losses would "be1 made. History has shown that my judgment was right and theirs was wrong,. as- the sum of- over £40,000,000 haß-been advanced ..under..that system, and the sinking fund has made provision for the repayment of all loans, and the

State has'not been called upon, excepting in odd cases, to'boar either'tho loss of the principal or repayment of interest, as well as tho full payment of the loans i whon they have matured. ■■• RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. "Tho question "may be raised as to the quality of the land through* which these railway linos would penetrate. Similar conditions have applied to all main trunks or long lengths of lines already in existence, and if the actual quality of the land adjacent to. the railway tracks had beon a consideration in the past, few, if any, of the Trnnk lines would ever have been constructed. When tho North Island Trunk iailway to Auckland was in course of prosecution people in all parts of the country declared it would never pay. I was not one of them, and anybody who refers to my remarks upon the night I arrived in Auckland, after having connected the last link, will see that I predicted success for it. This has been fully demonstrated. After all, it is the country that a line'serves, and the linking Up of different places, that have been a great.factor in the past and would bo so to-day. ■ ■ , A GLANCE BACK. "My ' opp.onents naturally will say, Can this be done? When I introduced the .State Advances to Settlers they declared everywhere that it could not bo done. The fact remains that all the important' and difficult methods in the past that were put into execution have allbeen accomplished successfully.. The State Advances Department and Adyances to Workers have advanced all told some £40,000,000. The former was referred to as a State pawnshop. "CAN BE READILY ACCOMPLISHED^ "It was declared publicly^ time and again that we could not get the money, and if we did that heavy losses would be sustained. Not one of the predictions came true, and I tell the public of New Zealand now that what I am urging here in the change of the system of finance can be as readily accomplished as the former one. lam not speaking without knowledge, as I have more than, once inquired of important financial men and they have assured me that what I am now urging can most certainly be accomplished. "What I am proposing about constructing railways has these important recommendations: Fixes definitely the total amount we have to spend and the 'period in which it is to be spent. END OF UNEMPLOYMENT. 'The works unquestionably provide for large employment, and tho unemployed- cry should not be heard in this country while they are in the course of prosecution. In any ease, what is the alternative? The whole of tho £17,000,----000 of: surplus that I left at the end of tjie war has.gbue, and in the last Budget delivered in the House the Minister of Finance has provided for a surplus this'year of £173,000 only, and £13,----000,000 has been borrowed in two years, Would any man in private business feel safe if he went on like that1? No sane man would feel safe, and I affirm my belief that men of experience in this country must recognise the two courses suggested by the, Minister of Finance— viz., to provide no money for land purchase during the next few years; and ■the Minister of Lands, who is more concerned in looking after people on the. Jand than by putting fresh people on to it,'suggest a most serious position. I want this country to avoid that serious position. REMEDY TOR UNEMPLOYMENT. "As a permanent solution of the unemployment, problem a progressive land settlement policy and railway construe-tion-'Cpdlicy will be pursued, together with;a,;steady development of the Do.minipujs. economic secondary industries. .For.:»the..'inimediate reliefi of unemployment, a vigorous national policy of completing all main lines should be inaugurated, financed on lines I have indicated. To assist our young men who are leaving school into useful and proraising employment rather than to allow them to drift to other countries, a system of apprenticeship,, an agricultu-- ; ;fal;taiii|::vo;eational training will be insUtutod,''and co-operation with various r tra(lea''andLasSoeiations. By this means training, with the addition of small subsidies, or bursaries, will be made ■available to hundreds of young people ,who. are finding the present economic, stress a great-strain and hardship. '-The;drift of these young people to-day, into idleness or unsuitable em--ployment is a national loss. '"'The Flock House system will be applied to New Zealand boys. "The United Party favours drastic restrictions of assisted immigration during winter, and employment on authorised main railways. HUMANITARIAN AND SOCIAL. "In view of the anomalies and unfairness that exist under the present statutes, the party will promote the social and moral welfare of the people, protect the young, and provide for the necessities of old age; and will undertake a revision of the pension system to remove restrictions on the thrift and earning power of the individual." TAXATION. "The present system of taxation will be immediately revised to reduce the maximum amount and make the tax equitable in its incidence. The present high rate of company taxation will be reduced and finally repealed. The revenue raised by Customs tax constitutes half the total taxes raised in the Dominion. The tariff should aim at a reduction in the cost of living and those food supplies not locally provided will bo put on the free list. STATE TRADING. "Tho eneroaehmeut by tho State on the field of legitimate private enterprise is detrimentally affecting all commercial progress, and causes a feeling of insecurity in tho minds of those engaged in business. The United Party holds that trading for profit in these enterprises is not a legitimate function of the State. Trading by the Slate should be undertaken only to prevent exploitation of the public by private monopoly, or to supply a necessary public service not supplied by private enterprise. The party's policy is that of non-interference in private enterprise. , SECONDARY INDUSTRIES. "Secondary industries, natural to the country and likely to become'an economic success, will be fostered by subsidy rather than by a high protective tariff. By this means there will bo increased avenues of employment for a great number of young New Zealanders leaving our schools every year. EDUCATION. "The free, secular, and compulsory system of education will be maintained. What should be aimed at is bettor accommodation .on modern openair lines; reduction in sizes of classes; extension of special classes for retardate children; the maintenance and encouragement of secondary and technical education; the extension of the farm-school system and., demonstration plots, to stimulate the interest of youth iiijho primary industries; and to foster theCpractical side of agricultural education by offering every encouragement toVjstudents'to attond the Massey .Memorial and Lincoln Colleges at a minimum, expenditure; the revision and consolidation of the Education Act by tho removal of existing anomalies; the opposition to centralisation in administration arid the provision for improved local control; consolidation of country schools where economical and practic■al)le,"and'the provision of free conveyance ofVchildren; the extension of the school medical .ami dental services, especially in the country districts; the,

education of the Maori children, ns far as possible, under tho same system as tho European. TOURISTS AND MAILS. Sir Joseph proceeded to advocate development of tourist traffic as a business. This traffic could be made very valuable, particularly if it were possible for tourists to include tho attractions of the South Island in their tours with greater convenience. "The. South Island, fifty years ago, had a .weekly steam and passenger service, the point of arrival and departure of which was the Bluff. Since the war-that has ceased, and one substituted for it that is irregular and less frequent. It is, in the opinion of myself and many other well qualified people who recognise what one might' almost call a 'withering' has followed in the wake of the present steam service; \uisatisfactory not only on account of. its irregularity but its bad effect is felt generally by people who have watched the course of events and believe that this is largely responsible for the adverse change. In my opinion no part of this country can be hurt or kept back without .injury to all parts of it, and 1 strongly urge that tenders should be called for a suitable weekly mail and passenger service from the southern port of the South Island to Australia, via Melbourne, similar to what it had fifty years ago." •■ > "TO ASSIST THE COUNTRY." "I have no personal ambition to serve,"concluded Sir Joseph. "Iwant neither place, position, nor power; my object in responding to a call to step into the arena is to assist the country that.l love and to which I have devoted a life's work. "There are unquestionably good men standing in .the interests of the United Party, and if the people entrust, us with a majority at the coming election, as I believe they will, I pledge myself with a majority in Parliament to effect these reforms or to return my trust to the people." At the conclusion of the speech, tho j following motion was proposed: — "Whereas this representative assembly of Auckland citizens has listened with pleasure to the exposition by Sir Joseph Ward of the United Party's policy, it is hereby resolved that the speaker be cordially thanked for his statesmanlike address, and that he be assured of their confidence in him as leader of the party; further, that this meeting pledges its support to every effort for the return of his party to supreme political power in New Zealand." Tho motion was carried with great enthusiasm, only a few of tho audience voting "No." > Three cheers were given for _ bir Joseph, and.a number of people joined in singing "For He's a Jolly Good l(el"I shall always remember with pleasure my return to Auckland Town Hall," said Sir-Joseph in briefly returning thanks. ■