NATIONAL PARTY

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1938, Page 9

NATIONAL PARTY

OUTLINE OF POLICY

CONTRUCTIVE PROPOSALS

The restoration of personal freedom, the maintenance of the highest standard of -family life and the future development of New Zealand along the tested lines of British democracy are the main planks in the policy of the National Party, according to the policy manifesto which was issued to-day by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton. A summary of the National Party’s programme can be given as follows: —

Restoration of personal freedom and the legitimate rights of private enterprise.

Financial assistance for the purchase of homes, including houses at present rented from the State; a housing scheme for farm workers; and the provision of loans for young married couples for the purchase of furniture, the loans to be written off in accordance with the growth of the family.

The establishment of a Ministry of Social Welfare with planned provision for all social services.

No cuts in wages, pensions or Civil servants’ salaries and no mandatory increase in working hours. The Arbitration Court and . preference to unionists to be retained. Compulsory unionism to be abolished. The provision of pensions for widows and orphans and the institution of a free maternity service. Liberalised family allowances. The completion of public works. The restoration to the farmer of the ownership and control over his own produce. Increased land settlement with an assured right of tenure. Assistance for the manufacturer. Abolition of unemployment tax on women.

Gold tax to be abolished. Petrol tax and radio license fees to be reduced. “In the days of our fathers, New Zealand was known as a land of opportunity,” said Mr Hamilton, in issuing the manifesto which outlines his Party’s policy. “To-day under the pervading influence of Socialism, opportunity for young men of enterprise no longer exists. “The issue before the people’ of the Dominion is simple and clear-cut,” said Mr Hamilton. “In less than a hundred years, men of enterprise and vision have developed New Zealand to such an extent that we enjoy a standard of living unequalled elsewhere in the world. Now, during the last three years, there has arisen the menace of Socialism —the direct antithesis of all the virtues which have raised us to nationhood. “There is not an individual in New Zealand to-day who is free from the menace of Socialism. Under the principles which actuate Labour legislators, the State must stand supreme and the urge for supremacy must inevitably be carried to the point where the freedom of the individual vanishes. That is the road which we are travelling to-day, and, in our opinion, it leads downhill to national destruction.

“We have, then, the issue of British Democracy as against Socialism, but arising in part out of this, there is the fundamental issue of race preservation which can only be based on family life. Socialism seeks to replace the family by the State and in doing so it ignores a matter- of basicloyalties. Family traditions 1 and the family spirit have been of supreme importance in shaping the character of the British race, and, if family loyalties and responsibilities are allowed to die, the race will die with them.

“If youth is to be asked to pay heavy taxes for the support of the older generation, the result must be delayed marriage and fewer children. Far from taxing young people, the National Party stands for letting them have full and easy finance for building their own homes —not merely for renting State-owned houses. We will give all State tenants the right to freehold tenure and, in addition, wo are prepared to grant loans of £lOO to young couples for the purchase of furniture, the advance to be reduced with the birth of each child of the marriage until it is cancelled out at the birth of the third child. Family allowances will also be provided at the rate of ■!/- a week in respect of each child over the second. We regard this question of race preservation as something transcending the mere mechanics of politics and we are prepared to base our whole policy on the strengthening of family life. Complementary to this 1 factor, we will legislate throughout on a basis of freedom, opportunity and justice for the individual. “This will probably be the first occasion in the political history of New Zealand when an election will be fought on broad questions of principle,” Mr Hamilton continued. “To make the fight one of principles is certainly the aim of the National Party, because we are convinced that no people of British stock are prepared to throw away their birthright of democrcay for the rigid fetters of the Socialist state.

“The divergence in party principles is clearly shown in the legislation passed by the Labour Government during its first term of office. Labour’s objective has remained unaltered. It is still the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange’ and no amount of verbal camouflage can alter that fact. The objective is the State ownership of all the resources of the nation—-not only natural resources, but also those other resources of industry, trade, commerce, finance and professional service, which have been built up by individuals.

“One thing which I want to make perfectly clear is that it will not. be necessary to undertake a policy of smashing and cutting. There are points of merit in some of the Labour Government's legislation and these points wiil be preserved. However, the underlying basis of Socialism will be immediately removed.” REDUCTION IN TAXATION. The National Party will,, wherever possible, reduce the ' taxation burden of the people.

We will reduce the petrol tax by at least one penny per gallon. We will exempt from unemployment taxation: —Wages and salaries of all women. “Other Income” of women provided it does not exceed £250. Pensioners. Relief workers and sustenance men. Persons under twenty years of age. Domestic -workers.

With a view to stimulating the development of low grade gold bearing areas, we will abolish the export tax on gold. Radio license fees will be reduced from 25/- to 15/- per annum. THE FARMER. Primary production is the foundation industry of New Zealand; and is entitled to a standard of reward comparable with other industries. As the farmer labours under an economic disadvantage in that he has to accept world market prices for his produce, but has to meet internal costs, we will give effect to such measures as will ensure that farmers are able to pay competitive rates of wages, are assured of reasonable interest on capital value in farms and stock, are enabled to meet increased costs imposed by legislation—including tariffs —and are ensured a remuneration commensurate with the service they render, comparable -with that obtained by other members’ of the community who render equal service. This will be accomplished by a lowering of costs, or by a compensating payment for farm produce, or a combination of both.

Regarding the present so-called Guaranteed Price, the National Party 'will honour all commitments which have been entered into by the Labour Government with regard to the current season’s prices for dairy produce. We will return to the farmer the ownership of his own produce. The commandeer principle will be entirely removed. We will consult the dairy industry on matters relating to marketing and finance, and will assist by providing a guaranteed minimum price. Internal prices and farming costs will both receive close attention.

LAND SETTLEMENT. i New Zealand’s export wealth comes almost entirely from primary products. The various types of farming offer* one of the best avenues for establishing many of our people in suitable homes and permanent occupations. To this end, we will pursue a vigorous Land Settlement policy, first by making available for settlement any suitable areas of Crown Lands, and, secondly, by a policy of subdivision of such areas as are suitable for this purpose. Settlers to obtain their holdings at reasonable and economic values and on table mortgage. We will provide financial assistance and adjust costs in order: (1) To encourage voluntaryj subdivision. (2> To provide farms for suitable applicants such as farmers’ sons, rural workers, share milkers and others with small amounts of capital. (3) To assist in building homes and developing and stocking the holdings. (4) To arrange small - holdings for such Vasonal workers as dairy factory, freezing works, and farm workers and miners. Group settlement will be undertaken to assimilate less experienced men under the control of a group manager. The value of the farms when developed will be based on productive values’. In order to provide amenities for married workers, in districts where such labour can be utilised—particularly in the vicinity of villages—facilities will bo given for the erection of convenient and suitable homes upon small farms of convenient size. Land tenure will" be in all cases at the option of the settler, and all. weather roads will be provided.

A vigorous policy of tree-planting will be encouraged and assisted.

M ANUFACT BRING INDUSTRIES

We realise that our manufacturing industries cannot prosper while they are burdened with excessive taxes, constantly rising costs, with confidence in investment and production almost non-existent, and with Government interference and bureaucratic regulation in every direction. We recognise that finance will not be available for investment in industry unless a return commensurate with the investment involved, and the risk incurred, is reasonably assured. In a country with a relatively small population, a larger ratio of consumption of New Zealand-produced goods is essential to efficient and economical production.

We will give industry the greatest imount of freedom from State interierence and dictation, by limiting Government regulation to the prevention jf abuses inimical to the public interast. We will help the industrialists by stabilising costs and by constant jo-operation in research, to improve efficiency and to discover new avenles of expansion. We will assist iniustry by requiring that foreign-made joods are clearly marked with the name of the country of origin, as far as is practicable. W'e will restore to the Manufacturing Industries the Ottawa basis of competition with overseas’ goods. We will do everything possible to restore confidence in industrial enterprise, with goodwill and understanding between the workers and the employer, and we will encourage schemes to bring about that end. We will encourage schemes for profit sharing, co-partnership etc. As a Government, we will see that wherever possible New Zealand-made goods' will be given preference in Government requirements. INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT. 'Die, Labour Party's administration and compulsory unionism has resulted in the domination of industrial employment by the Trades Hall, greatly to tlie detriment of industrial peace, as exemplified by the enormous number of disputes, strikes and other causes of stoppage of work, since

Labour has been the Government. The National Party will retain the system of compulsory arbitration, and awards of the Court will be impartially enforced on both employer and employee. The procedure of the Arbitration Court 'will be simplified and thus do away with the present irritating delays in making awards and giving decisions. The question of workers’ wages, hours and conditions of employment will be left to the Court of Arbitration for decision on the evidence submitted, including the effect of awards on industry and on employment. We will repeal the law relating to compulsory unionism, but we acknowledge the right of the workers to join unions and provision will bo made for the inclusion of preference to unionists clause in awards of the Arbitration Court. One Court of Arbitration will be reverted to, and matters of less importance referred to Industrial Magistrates. , We will undertake a complete overhaul of the existing law governing the employment of our youth population. HOUSING. We will approach the housing problem from the standpoint that a home owned 1 is far better than a house rented. The Labour Party believes that the State should own the houses and the people should be State tenants. The National Party stands for the private ownership of the home as the basis of our national life. The right of purchase will be given to tenants of State rental houses and in other cases, liberal advances up to 90 per cent, will be made available to home builders, while every encouragement will be given to building societies.

The present Government’s housing policy has crippled private house building. The unwarranted restrictions placed on private house building has resulted in large numbers of houses previously available for letting purposes, being taken off the market, thus aggravating, rather than relieving the existing shortage. These restrictions will be removed and we will restore to owners the right of access to their own properties, at the same time providing adequate safeguards for tenants. Particular attention will be given to the provision of homes for farm and other country workers. As employees of the State Departments are constantly subject to transfer from one place to another, we will see that houses are provided for letting to the Departmental staffs on reasonable terms.

Realising the responsibility of the State, to see that adequate housing is available for the people, we aim at a building programme of at least 5,000 houses each year.

DEFENCE. We approve of the ideals of the League of Nations, but we believe that a strongly defended British Empire is the greatest factor in the preservation of wosld peace. We accept our responsibility for providing our own local defence. In addition, we will take our share in maintaining trade routes and, in the common object of Empire defence. Our policy is that — (1) We w|ll maintain another cruiser in -the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. (2) We will provide sufficient aeroplanes to defend our country and sufficient equipment to service such machines. We will provide facilities for the training of an increasing number* of young pilots—members of the Air Force and of the Territorial Air Force. We will build up a wireless and radio corps with the object of | keeping abreast with the science of rapid communication.

(3) We will develop our voluntary land forces into a highly efficient and mobile force, capable of putting up an effective defence in the event of attack. We will restore the status of the recently dismembered territorial units and ensure that members of the military forces have the privilege of serving with the colours of our historic regiments with their glorious traditions. We will give liberal camp pay and allowances and special privileges for efficiency in service. (4) We will encourage as complementary and essential to an efficient Defence scheme a voluntary organisation of women and girls trained in nursing and first aid and the services supplementary to the fighting forces. (5) In the event of war, the National Party will mobilise the resources of the country, both men and money. No inhabitant of New Zealand will be allowed to exploit his fellow citizen.

transport. (

We believe that an efficient and modern railway service is an essential part of our national transport system, and that the community will be best served by the maintenance of a properly co-ordinated and privatelyowned road transport service, complementary to that provided by the railways. We assure to private services in all branches of transport that are required by the people, reasonable opportunities of providing up-to-date services. Whatever regulation may be necessary, will be designed for the purpose of giving the public the best service possible and fair treatment to all branches of transport. We will amend the present law that constitutes the Minister of Transport as the final Court of Appeal from decisions of the Transport Licensing Authorities, and will restore to those concerned this right of appeal to a properly constituted appeal authority. RURAL RATING. We agree that our rural reading finance system has reached the stage when maintenance charges should not be carried so largely by the farming community. With a view to easing the increasing burden of road rates, we will give effect to the resolution carried at recent annual County conferences, to the effect that County Council rates for roads, other than highways, be subsidised on a basis of £ Lor £ instead of as at present. Subsidy for highways will remain as at present. , RESERVE BANK. The National Party realises the great value of the Reserve Bank as an integral part of our banking and financial system. We will retain the Government ownership of the bank’s capital, and, while the bank is always subject to Parliament, we realise that success in public finance can be achieved only by the closest co-dpera-

tion between the bank and the Government.

PUBLIC WORKS.

In prosperous times public works should be limited to works of a developmental and reproductive character. We will develop such public works as will stand up to the test of national usefulness, and the work will be done wherever possible on a system of cooperative contracts and payment will be based on standard rates. We will not continue the present policy of taking workers out of productive employment in our primary industries. Public works already commenced will be completed with all reasonable expedition and by the use of the most modern equipment available. SOCIAL SECURITY. , On becoming the Government, the National Party will not operate the recently passed Social Security Act, but will provide all pensions in existence prior to the passing of the Act. In addition to existing pensions, provision will be made for: — A universal superannuation scheme. A complete Health Service for those who cannot pay.

Pensions for widows. Pensions for orphans. Free maternity service. Liberalised family allowances. The effect of this .will be: — (a) No increase in wage tax. (b) Women will not be required to register. (c) Sixteen year olds will not have to register or pay wage tax. (d) Domestics will be exempt from wage tax.

Women having income other than wages not exceeding £250 per annum to be exempt from Unemployment Tax.

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL WELFARE.

We will establish a special Ministry of Social Welfare having for its special object the well-being of the youth, women and children of the Nation.

The new Ministry will co-operate with those many voluntary welfare organisations having for their objective the welfare, improved health and happiness of women and children. Particular attention will be paid to the adolescent period in which helpful guidance and understanding can be of such immense value in after life. We believe that, by closely co-operat-ing with the organisations referred to many of the problems will be solved. The Ministry of Social Welfare will inaugurate a nation-wide “physical fitness” campaign, to improve greatly the physique of the people and equip them to withstand modern conditions which bring about so much sickness and suffering because of inability to resist. A competent advisory body will be appointed to inform the Government on means of preventing sickness and disease: of improving health and of more healthy living. A comprehensive nutrition survey will be undertaken so as to advise the people on the all-important question of “eating for good health.” HEALTH SCHEME. j The National Party will provide a full and complete health service with- ' out charge, to that section of the comImunity that is unable to provide such service for itself. These people will include the aged, the poor, those in

’ necessitous circumstances, and those j whose incomes make it impossible to , provide a medical service out of their . own resources. We believe that it is much more important to provide a complete medical i service for those who need it and must : have it, but cannot afford it, than it ; is to provide a partial service for all i the people, many of whom do not require it and do not want it. . i We acknowledge the splendid ser- < vices being rendered by the Friendly ; Societies of New Zealand, and will pro- 1 tect them and co-operate with them in their work. 'We will inaugurate a well-planned i scheme to greatly increase the physi- ; cal fitness of the people, in the confident belief that much of the sickness suffered to-day is preventable by more healthy living. We will set up a competent advisory body to study the problems, and inform the Government on such matters as the nutrition of the people and the best means of attacking the needlessly high incidence of common and preventable disorders suffered by the people. SUPERANNUATION. The National Party strongly supports the principle of National Superannuation, but holds that the funds should be administered as a separate trust entirely independent of ordinary Government finances. The Scheme should be financed by direct contribution from income, entitling every person to the benefits under the scheme on reaching the stipulated age, and without any other income or property “means test” whatever. Those persons, including State employees, and others in private superannuation schemes, who have made provision for their own security in old age—provision at least as adequate as provided in the State scheme —shall be exempt from any compulsion to subscribe to the State scheme, but they will be entitled to the benefits of the scheme if they subscribe voluntarily. GOLD MINING. We will give the greatest possible support to the development of the Gold Mining Industry and will, as soon as possible, have a complete geological and Geophysical Survey made of the Gold bearing areas of the Dominion. We ■ will investigate the deep leads and low grade deposits and give every assistance to those undertaking boring and prospecting operations, and will assist in the conservation of water for mining purposes. We will encourage and give financial assistance to parties of working miners in the development of mines or the construction of water races for mining purposes. PETROLEUM ROYALTIES. We will amend the Petroleum Act by making provision for property owners to receive one half of the royalties payable under the Act. This will main-, tain to the Native Race the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi. FORESTRY. Realising the value of our forests to New Zealand, we will undertake a, long range' forestry programme with ■ the object of: — I 1. Preserving in perpetuity those . indigenous forests that are such an asset to our scenic resorts and necessary for the preservation of our Nai tive Bird life: the conservation of ex-

isting forests on steep hillsides and on mountain country where the destruction of the forest may lead to flooding and soil erosion. 2. The planting with suitable forest trees of such areas of non-agricultural land as shall be necessary to maintain - an ample supply of timber for the fu- • ture. 3. The regeneration wherever possible of many of our indigenous forests and the planting of such areas as are necessary to protest our agricultural land from flooding and erosion. 4. The education of the people in the value of our forests and the necessity of their preservation and assistance of Local Bodies and individuals to afforestate all areas that are considered suitable for such purposes. EDUCATION. •. I ' We believe that democracy can only be maintained by a free, independent and educated people and that the children are the greatest asset of .every, nation. In view of the rapid progress that is made each year in the world of scientific knowledge and invention, we must see that our children are provided with the best possible educational equipment for the battle of life.. We will encourage and develop the kindergartens. We will maintain the ’present entry and leaving school ages. We will extend the work of the correspondence school and provide further facilities „

for secondary and technical education in country districts. We will provide facilities' for adult education. That the welfare of the children must be the first consideration in every educational system, and realising that the best results can only bo attained with the most efficient teaching staff, we will consult with the profession in an effort to find solutions of these problems. We will extend dental treatment for children and increase free transport facilities to children attending primary and secondary schools. BROADCASTING. ■ The existing dual control of radio broadcasting services, with divided authority, duplicated equipment and staffs will be ended. The services will be placed under one authority and commercial broadcasting will be put on a sound business footing. We will continue Parliamentary broadcasts, but will put a stop to abuse of the radio for political propaganda. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE We claim that the Courts of Justice play a most important, part in the preservation of the rights and liberties of the individual in every British democracy. .* : We view with alarm the actions of the Government in taking away from individuals the traditional right of appeal to our Courts and'substituting a right of appeal to a Cabinet Minister! ! We undertake to restore to every individual the right of appeal to the Courts and will; oppose every, action j whether legislative or administrative, which tends to limit the. jurisdiction of our Courts or which seeks to deprive the individual. of- his right of iappeal to our Courts of Justice.*. ! IMMIGRATION. J I We realise that our first 4u,ty i&tp our own people. We realise .also urgent need, of increased We will encourage and' assist-faultable immigrants of British and - Stock. ; ’ ■ . . , ■