MEETING AT TIMARU

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 89, 12 October 1938, Page 22

MEETING AT TIMARU

LABOUR AND TAXATION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

TIMARU, October 11.'

A big National Party rally was held at the Timaru showgrounds this afternoon, there being upward of 3000 present. . '

The leader of the party, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, addressed the gathering along the lines of previous speeches. He said the country had a wonderful heritage and it was the duty of electors to preserve it. Vital principles were at stake, and if electors returned Labour, then it would be an endorsement of the policy of Socialisation of the country.

He dealt. with guaranteed prices, pointing out that dairy farmers had gained nothing, and also instanced the huge increase in taxation in the last three years. When Labour went in they said the country was overtaxed, but they had not reduced one tax and never would. Their policy was to secure as much as possible by taxation and for the State to be the provider, but the National Party policy was that the State should have only sufficient to meet the requirements of the central authority and for people to retain as much as possible for their own benefit.

Mr. Hamilton criticised the social security scheme, stating that doctors were opposed to it and friendly societies feared extinction. He also touched on the country quota, stating that Labour had not answered his challenge, and silence meant they were determined to take away the rights of rural electors, who produced 95 per cent, of the wealth of the country.

The South Canterbury and MidCanterbury National candidates also spoke, and a motion of confidence in the National Party was carried enthusiastically.