MR. APPLETON AT BELMONT

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 109, 4 November 1935, Page 4

MR. APPLETON AT BELMONT

Speaking at the Churph Hall, Belmont, on Friday evening, Mr. Will Appleton, the Independent candidate for Otaki, said that -it was idle lor the people of New Zealand merely'to look at the matter of unemployment in the light of pick and shovel jobs. Mr. H. Bennett presided over a good attendance of electors. "

i The candidates traversed the economic history of New Zealand, and explained that tinder present circumstances it was needful that our policy should tend towards diversified production. He stated that although local manufacturing might prove more costly than importations in certain cases it would prove less harmful than unlimited production of primary products. "No doubt," said Mr. Appleton, "the economic ideal is to expand internationalism and specialisation but the facts of the day and the indications of the future run counter to this I ideal. It is impossible for this Domiri- j ion to cling to the old order while other parts of the world are cultivating selfish, exclusivcness. ■ The- time has ceased when, the markets of the world are wide open to us, and it is needful now to devise ways and means of balancing our economy. The trend towards economic nationalism will not be reversed overnight, and there is little hope for any immediate renascence of world trade. "We shall have to depend more on our own resources, and the best way to do this is to build up our local industries and to go in for more diversified production." ' One of the needs of New Zealand was to increase the population in order that they might absorb more of their own primary products. Because of the changes that had now to be faced, Mr. Appleton.said that the time had come when a leaven of .experienced and capable business men should be returned to the House; men with broad vision who would not legislate purely on the idea o£ New Zealand just being one big farm, but would bring into effect a more balanced stata of affairs designed to assist the community as a whole. While under existing conditions it would be unsound to bring into the country a large number of

immigrants while our own people arc unemployed, the candidate did suggest that every possible avenue should be explored to employ -our own young people in useful occasions. Mr. Appleton outlined a constructive programme for the absorption of the unemployed, and advocated a comprehensive housebuilding plan, the encouragement of economic local industries, and a subsidised plan of training apprentices, making special provision for those youths who had lost their opportunity during the last three or four years. Tho speaker also dealt with the matter of vocational training for those m camps.

Answering questions Mr. Appleton said that while he was not in favour of the abolition of Alsatian dogs, he did think that they should be kept under proper control and not allowed to roam the streets to the danger of women and- children. He also stated that he was in favour of a school being; established at Belmont because it was uhfair that little tots should have to go two or three miles to the nearest school.

Mr. Appleton, who received a most attentive hearing, 'was warmly thanked for his address.