WAGES AW PENSIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1946, Page 2

WAGES AW PENSIONS

NATIONAL PARTY GIVES PLEDGE “NO CUTS”-RESOLUTION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 22. “The interfering hand of the State is. lowering New Zealand’s standard of living,” said the leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, addressing the National Party conference yesterday. “Wherever the dead hand of the State interferes we are experiencing shortages, high prices and poorer quality.” Continuing, Mr Holland said: “This interfering hand is making it more difficult for the people to live happily. The wage worker to-day is concerned about the value of his money, and the people generally are looking for a way out. I believe it is now recognised that the National Party is the answer.” He had been glad to note during the conference that there was absolutely no suggestion that the National Party organisation wished to impose its will on the parliamentary section of the Party, he added. There would- never be any outside domination of the Government when the National Party had taken office.

Mr Holland referred to the serious decline in the primary production of New Zealand and said it was a product of the Labour adminstration. It would be a great thing for New Zealand to get a Government sympathetic toward the farming community. Mr Holland said the problem of bringing high country and marginal lands into full production would be approached by means of a commission which would fully investigate the position. The, first duty was to find the facts, particularly in connection with Native lands. He was confident that under the right leadership the Maori people would respond and play their part. Mr Holland said the National Party would whole-heartedly support New Zealand’s manufacturing industries and the party was fully in accord with Mr F. P. Walsh when the latter said in his report that there must be no bolstering up of inefficient industries behind a wall of protection. It was essential for New Zealand to get production costs down; otherwise it would be unable to compete in the overseas markets. This would no t be done by cut Ling wages, but by cutting taxation. At the conclusion of Mr Hollano s address, a motion was carried unanimously placing on record great appreciation of the work and leadei ship of Mr Holland and affirming continued loyalty and support of his leadership of the party. A resolution was also carried affirming cind applauding the definite and repeated public statement of the leader of the party that it was the settled policy of the National Paity that there shall be no cuts in wages, pensions, social (benefits, or children’s allowances when the National Party took office.