“We Will be Relegated to State Serfs.”

Franklin Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 42, 8 April 1938, Page 5

“We Will be Relegated to State Serfs.”

MR COATES’ CONTENTION. REGIMENTATION CONDEMNED. .NATIONAL FREEDOM PREFERRED. Slating Iliiil. R' the electors followed the policy ol' the Labour Government, they would be relegated to State serfs, the Ef. lion. .1. G. Coates, speaking at a gathering held at the residence of Mr E. A. Urquhart, Karaka, on Tuesday afternoon, attended by over 300, contrasted the policy of the Labour Government of regimental ion and that •of freedom of the National party.

The forthcoming election, he said, could only be won with the gloves off. Politics in New Zealand had taken a definite and dangerous turn. The electors were being rold in smooth and honeyed words that the needs of the people would he, provided for. Were the electors going to ne dictated to by a team of bureaucrats? asked the speaker.

Socialisation. The one slogan of the Labour Government was the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange. The implication rf such was that the right ot ownership was taken away from the producer and •complete control was vested in the State. The State was '.lie Deity. Today by Order-in-Councii every ’tern of primary production could be brought within the ambit of the Marketing Act. The farmers were not, as had been promised, called together and the committee set up was never consulted. The dairy farmers had lost 1 heir right of ownership and os a corollary the right of bargaining power as well. The weapon of the producers against becoming serfs on the land v\t>s the ownership of their pro luce. Referring to the socialisation of distribution. Mr Gonies criticised the control which was exercised by the bureau of Industries and said 'sLu*i was the risk of the Dominion degenerating to the dead level of averages. Transport was cited as having been forced into the position of having to set 1 out to the State. “The Government extra vaganfly claims that it is the cause of the improved conditions in the Dominion.” Mr Coates continued. “How do they account for the prosperity in Australia and the United Kingdom? Is it not 1 more feasible that the revival of industry in Great Britain has set up a demand for the produce sent overseas by the Gommonw r ealth and New Zealand. The man who is producing goods for overseas consumption is the .jackhone of the country. Mr ‘Paddy’ Webb, though, would have you believe that the farmer is not, and through the prices lie receives is responsible for the conditions ruling in the Dominion.” The Means Test.

Dealing with the Government's national health and superannuation proposals. Mr Goal.es stated til a*. !l v.as purely a Government .scheme and he deplored the introduction of a m ans test in deciding whether members of the community who contributed to Hie fund should be allowed to draw the pensions to which I hey were entitled or. reaching the retiring age. Mr Coates contrasted the proposals with superannual ion schemes applied in private firms, where no means tesl was employed. Surely all those who were contributing to Me scheme should be entitled lo draw all they had paid in and whatever the Government chose to add. The scheme should be founded on a broad basis of this kind. It need only ;,e moderate and, in fact, any ambitious scheme infant taxation, to which Micro would be. very considerable objection. Reference was also made by Air Coates to election pledges, the labour Government had failed to Uilfil. been increased. Unemployment was still rampant and the soles tax was Taxes instead of being reduced had still in existence. Mr Coates alluded to defence measures. He considered it was a. time when the ranks of defence-should he 'filled up. Unanimous voles of thanks to Mr Coates and complete confidence in the ■National Party were carried. Cheers were also given and enthusiastic musical honours accorded the speaker.