NATIONAL PARTY'S AIM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1938, Page 20

NATIONAL PARTY'S AIM

JUSTICE AND FREEDOM FOR ALL

HON. ADAM HAMILTON'S ADDRESS

"RESTORATION OF NATION'S HERITAGE"

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

/ , CHRISTCHURCH, September 23. A'refusal to believe that any propaganda, no matter how cleverly, camouflaged its exaggeration, could convince the New Zealatliier; to depart so far from the principles of his forefathers as to accept Socialism, was voiced by the Leader of the National Party, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, in his broadcast .address tonight. He stated that the National Party would legislate throughout on a basis o^vfreedbm, opportunity, and justice for the individual and for his family,, arid; appealed to all, young and old alike, to provide the party widi the opportunity of restoring the nation's heritage. Mr. Hamilton again drew attention to the fundamental differences between the two contending parties. On the .one hand, he said, thd Labour Party was out to break down and destroy the existing economic order, and substitute in its place a system based oh the philosophy of unadulterated revolutionary Socialism, with State ownership of property and of industry and trade, and direction of: its operations by the workers themselves^ Labour sought to desttoy! private investment in industry by taxing it out of existence and removing all incentive to invest money in. industry. On the otKelrlhand, the National Party believed in'the present system of private enterprise and sought to develop it in accordance with the philosophy of personal freedom, initiative, thrift, and private ownership of all property;, with the right of investments to earn a reasonable return commensurate with the nature of the investment aricbthe risk involved. •■ ~;- , ■■.".-. ■■■:■.

. .The National Party regarded the Government as the authority to see that reasonable conditions were observed, in the conduct of trade-and industry, and that abuses inimical to the public interest were not permitted...Wherever possible the Government; should cO-operate with private enterprise, with, a view to providing an. even better service to the people. . x . The real issues, Mr. Hamilton reiterated, were private ownership or State ownership; individual freedom or State dictation. The St. James Theatre, where Mr. Hamilton spoke, was packed with 1300 electors. The building was filled nearly half an hour before the meeting began, and an overflow of about 500 people heard the National Leader through amplifiers. Mr. Hamilton was given an ovation as he rose to address the assembly. He was in fighting mood, and spoke for more than two hours. He was given an excellent reception, and, apart from a noisy minority, he had his audience enthusiastically with him. A vote of confidence in Mr. Hamilton and the National Party was carried with prolonged applause and musical honours, dissentient voices being drowned by the cheering.