NATIONAL PARTY

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 October 1937, Page 3

NATIONAL PARTY

OUTLINE OF POLICY LESS STATE CONTROL [per press association.] WELLINGTON. September 30. A general statement of the policy to be followed by the National Party was made at the Dominion conference of the party to-day. by the leader, the Hon. A. Hamilton. In making the statement public to-night. Mr. Hamilton said that it. was intended as- a broad foundation on which a detailed manifesto could be built before the next general election. The major policy items follow: — The provision of cheap money for private enterprise through a strong central bank under national control. Producer control of primary industry, and the control of- marketing by individual industries. The fostering of secondary industries and the removal of bureaucratic control. The extension of humanitarian legislation, social anti health services. The development of a scheme of unemployment insurance. The maintenance of pensions. A reduction of taxation, and progressive reductions of unemployment taxation. The full statement follows: — “Our first objective is to restore to all the people of the country their heritage of freedom, which by legislative and administra'tive acts has bCetf filched from them during the last two years. We believe that a state of affairs has arisen in which reckless and haphazard management of tJLie country’s* activities has proceeded to such an extent that any full in world prices would be followed in New Zealand by a depression cveir’iirore'deviistaiing. in its~effects> than "the’last, “in'tt'tinre of expanding economy nothing is being done to build .up reserves."' Our resources arc being dissipated, and we are now far worse fitted to withstand an economic crisis than we were in 1931.

“To restore and strengthen the best features' of cur iilaional life It is necessary for us to restore confidence and stability in our financial system. State control, as distinct from political control, is the principal’ objective,”and it is" essential that"the dangers'inherent lit The present' 'for'ni' of "js6lifical"cpntrol should 'be removed'. Pl 11 MATE ENTERPRISE “Private enterprise has a legitimate call oir the credit facilities of the'nation. i Through taxiitiou in various forms it contributes-thc'bu.lk-’of the national revenue. We shall aim al a system of financial management which will provide .for private enterprise that steady flow of cheap money which is necessary for its continued expansion and development, and JVliieh cannot b.e made available when colossal sums are diverted to dubious and often unwarranted State enterprises. This can best be achieved by a strong .central bank, nationally controlled and separated from the influences of both pojiTics and coihmefcial profit'." Even in a system of State control, the maintenance of safeguards . against political

profligacy is vital. We maintain that the agricultural industries of the Dominion constitute the backbone of our national life, and we insist that these industries have shown themselves capable of successful co-operative development which cannot be continued under a regimented system of production and marketing. Each primary industry must be allowed to control and manage its own affairs, including marketing, with a definite assurance of Government assistance and co-opera-tion wherever necessary in order to close the gap between costs and prices, and to ensure to the farmer a standard of reward comparable with that obtained in other industries.

“At present, the income from farmers’ production is being used to raise the standard of living of everyone but the farmer. The farmers of New Zealand must not be forced to sell their produce at a price fixed by a monopolistic middleman —in this case a department of State. “It will be our aim to maintain and increase our rural population. We believe that all suitable land should be made available for settlers on farms sufficiently large in area and quality to provide ample scope for the settler and liis family. W’e realise the importance of our own rapidly growing secondary industries; but hold that they cannot perform their proper national service tinder the present system of bureaucratic control. Enterprise and initiative are Hie-life blood of industry, and we shall give industry and commerce the full degree of freedom necessary for Their economic development. although we shall stipulate that progress in industry must mean progress for all those engaged in industry. We insist that labour, as well as capital, has its stake in industry, and if both are to share'in the benefits, both must be prepared to shoulder their responsibilities. The worker is entitled to security of tenure in employment, and the. highest possible standard of wages. These will’lnTsecured for him by a policy of cooperation between State, employee. an'd employer.

“The pu>itiO)) of a married man win, is unde’i'ta-kfng the responsibility of maintaining and educating a family will be lightened by means of such advantages as the extension of the family allowance. HU MAN IT ARI AN AIM S “-We aim, above all, at the maintenance of our traditionally lilial relations with 'the' Mother Country, and promise our full co-operation in matters' of trade.' communication, and defence. While approving"of the ideas of the League of Nations, we regard a strongly defended British Empire as the greatest safeguard of world peace. “We resist strenuously the imputation of our political opponents that jthey have a monopoly of humanitarian iideals in legislation. Any goverment [which does not develop an outlook of broad humanity is not reflecting the spirit of British people; and as such is foredoomed to failure. In the field of social legislation many of our objec[tives are similar to those of Labour, blit whereas Labour is setting out to achieve them by a process of levelling down, we will'achieve them by a policy of building them up. We can imagine nothing more harmful to our iiiational existence than a conscious attempt to reduce social services to a dead level of ‘averages.’ Labour seeks to reduce everything above a predetermined "average to that average. We maintain that the position of the man above the average is that for which

we should strive, and our aim will be to provide opportunities so that more and more of our people can steadily improve their position. “In all our consideration of the future we undertake to provide an opportunity for the rising generation, in particular the young mtln and the young woman who have completed their education and are leaving school. .Unless we aim at the best, and see to it that individual effort is rewarded, we must be prepared to languish in mediocrity. W’e will develop and expand social services to the lull extent justified by the country’s economy and resources. SUPER A N N U AT’ lON. “We shall begin with the returned soldiers, who have been pitifully overlooked during the last two years. We shall develop a scheme of unemployment insurance which will do away with the necessity lor sustenance. Health services will also be a matter of our immediate concern, and we are convinced that the position of the man on the lower income can be materially improved with regard to medical and hospital services by a system of contributory health insurance without the necessity for a grandiose scheme involving further heavy taxation. Much can and will be done in extending hospital staffs so that health services can be provided in the homes of patients, instead of in costly institutions. Maternity services will also be developed on the same lines by the training of additional nurses for noninst.ilutional work. Pensions will be maintained, and where possible, extended. and investigations which were the subject of a report to the last Government. will be made the basis of a scheme of national superannuation. “We consider that expansion in all national undertakings must be properly planned in co-operation with private enterprise and must not lie brought about at the price of further taxation. Already the people of the Dominion tire taxed beyond the limit and with the ini rodm-i ion <>f a scheme of unemployment insurances we shall; aim at progress! e reductions in unemployment taxation. Taxation will be reuticed. and the general incidence will be placed on a fair and [equitable basis removing entirely the disproportionate weight which is being carried by the middle income classes. These reductions will have an immediate effect in bringing down the present high cost of living. “We will encourage the .Maori people to attain their highest possible deyelbpment. and we will assist young Maori people to higher education and technical training, so that they will be fitted to lead and serve their people. We will make provision for those who desire to farm their own lands, as we are convinced that this provides the greatest hope of the Maori race. We are intimately aware of the grievances of a. number of tribes of the Maori race. Jf will be our duty to call them into our confidence, thoroughly to investigate their problem, and to ensure them justice. The traditions and customs of the Maoris will be preserved, and we shall do everything to strengthen the position of the people with whom we are proud to share our nationhood. “We stand for the preservation of the Courts and the judiciary from political interference and pressure. TRANSPORT. “The proper place of the transport service is'- complementary to the State

railway service, and encouragement will be given to private enterprise to undertake and develop this service under ah imparl ial system of licensing find control.

“W e - tire not living in the past, but we hold (hat an historical sense enables a better view of the future. A foundation has been laid in New Zealand which is in many aspects the envy of the world, and it has been laid by pioneers of faith and courage, and by statesmen who in their day reflected these (nullities. Methods may change but principles remain. We will adhere to these principles which have meant the advancement of New Zealand. These principles, we maintain, mean more to the country than blind observance of a Socialist doctrine. “At this stage of our political affairs it is not necessary for us to give a detailed manifesto of policy. We are endeavouring to give only a broad general ’ outline, and’ in doing so we feel justified in calling for the support of many thousands of people thioughout the country who are already experiencing the threat of class dictatorship. A class-conscious government can never .succeed in New Zealand where we have a compact community close knit by democratic institutions. Legislative insistence <>n class distinctions can only result in a breakdown of democracy. “We promise the country progress on lines embodying the essential principles of democracy—directive and not coercive. National interests cannot properly be served by factions clamouring for material gain. Ethical values must count in politics, as they do in national life. Spiritual values must also play their parts. Materialism will be the curse of New Zealand if it is allowed to continue. We will attach full importance to ethical values, preserve the liberty of the individual in his work', and in his leisure, and handle national affairs, so that ihere will be freedom for all men of enterprise to receive the full reward of their endeavour." PARTY CONFERENCE WELLINGTON. September 30. More than 300 delegates from all parts of New Zealand attended the first annual conference of the National Party since its constitution in May, 193(1. Colonel C. 11. Weston. K.C., presided. Seated with him was Mr. A. Hamilton, who received an enthusiastic reception. The conference carried a resolution expressing the utmost confidence in Mr. Hamilton as leader, and pledging 1 oya I;'ab Idi ng support. Col. Weston was' unanimously reelected President, of the Party. VicePresidents elected were Sir Heaton Rhodes" (Christchurch), Messrs. Lisle Aiderton (Auckland). G. W. Lane (Dunedin), and E. E. llamond (Wellington. )