National Party Offers Sound And Honest Policy

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1949, Page 8

National Party Offers Sound And Honest Policy

DUNEDIN, November 28 (P.A.)— “The people on. Wednesday will be called on to make a great decision—one that will determine the shape of things in this country for many years to come,” said the leader of the Rational Party (Mr S. G. Holland) when he addressed a crowd of more than 2250 in the Dunedin Town Hall this evening He was warmly applauded and there were .only a few interjectors. , „ ■ “The.Labour Party stands.for Socialism and control, the National Party for free enterprise and freedom, Mr Holland said. “We of the National Party cannot offer something for nothing. We have a sound, honest policy, based on sound principles and we have the personnel with the sympathy, and - efficiency to administer it. _ . ± ~ , “We offer you a Government that will set the people free, a Government that will serve the people and not boss and dominate them. We will encourage enterprise, reward thrift and industry, and overtake shortages. We will bring harmony to industry, aid to Britain, opportunity to all, and happiness to the people in every walk of life. , . “I pray for guidance, to administer this policy so that we may leave behind a. record of service to our country and that we may win the respect of people of this, my native land.” Inflation Discussed

Most, if not all, of the economic troubles were traceable to the unsound management of New Zealand’s financial system, Mr Holland said. Comparing 1946 with 1939, Mr Nordmeyer had said, that income had increased by £141,000,000 and goods by only £30,000,000. Mr Nash had said that private income had increased by 83 per cent, and civilian goods had been reduced by 25 per cent. Mr Nash had also said that there was nothing more dangerous than increasing wages without increasing production.

“I did not ask these gentlemen to say these things,” Mr Holland continued. “Inflation will undermine the structure of any country. Inflation is caused by pumping money into circulation without ensuring goods and services to equal it.” Mr Holland said that on June 15 a loan of £29,000,000 was due for repayment. Altogether 43,000 subscribers asked for their money back, and Mr Nash printed £14,000,000 to pay them. This was new money not supported by any goods whatsoever. In May, 1948, when another- loan was due, 905 subscribers renewed their investments, and 11,295 said that they had had it and asked for their money back. Mr Nash printed it. When the exchange rate was altered £20,000,000 should have been withdrawn from circulation, but Mr Nash just wrote an i.o.u. for the Reserve Bank. The primary producers had saved £44,000,000 in their pool accounts, but this had been spent on the public works. It has gone into circulation and, when primary producers wanted their money back, Mr Nash would print it. “It is wrong for one man to have power to dictate to the Reserve Bank and to create money at will,” Mr Holland said. “We will repeal this provision and set up an independent authority.” Industrial Policy Mr Holland said that 90 per cent, of the Dominion’s workers were “decent chaps,” and there was no need for dissent between employer and employee. “I am convinced that workers are tired of dissent, of strikes, and of loss of wages,” he said. “The overwhelming majority of them approve our policy. There was a loss in wages of £164,000 in strikes. Had we been the Government we would have been

condemned, but what about,, the trouble-makers who caused it?”

. The price of responsibility was full employment. They, must have full production and must strengthen and improve the arbitration system. His party pledged itself that the law would be fairly enforced and observed, that. it would not allow industries to be wrecked, that there would be compulsory arbitration and conciliation and compulsory conferences in disputes.' There would be'a quick hearing of disputes. Troubles would not be allowed to fester until little troubles became multiplied. There would be quick adjudication and a secret, independent ballot would be taken by the union to decide if it should strike.

“What'wbuld happen if a strike was decided against, and a little clique came along and decided to declare a job black?” he asked “Are we going to stand for that? Of course we are not. If they go looking for trouble, they will find it.” The greatest danger in the world today was ’ Communism, Mr Holland said. In all 11 countries of Europe, 100,900,000 people had been enslaved. The Socialists wittingly or unwittingly had paved the way.