NO ROOM FOR CREATORS OF HATRED AND DISRUPTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22619, 23 April 1948, Page 4

NO ROOM FOR CREATORS OF HATRED AND DISRUPTION

“COMMUNISM IS A PESTILENCE”

“Members of the National Party can respect the opinions of their Labour opponents even if they do disagree whole-heartedly with them. I can find grounds for political discussion with members of the Government. But that does not apply to followers of communism, ” declared Mrs. Hilda Ross, M.P., Hamilton, in one of the

most warmly-applauded passages in her speech at the Opera House last evening.

“Communism is a pestilence. We must get. rid of these people who breed hatred and disruption. There is no room for them in this country, ” the speaker added.

Mrs. Ross was welcomed by the 'Mayor Mr. N. H. Bull, as the only woman member on the National side of the House of Representatives, and also the first woman M.P. to address a public meeting in Gisborne. " The event had something of the unique character of Captain Cook lirst landing here, the Mayor added, amidst laughter. Mrs. Ross' standing in Hamilton was indicated by her post of dcputy-Mayor, and she also had the unusual honour of the freedom of the city of Hamilton. Signal Political Service

By her signal political services she had done much to break down the hatreds which some people considered necessary to the conduct of politics.

“1 did not hear until I was on my way to this meeting that the freedom of Hamilton had been conferred upon me,” said Mrs. Ross. “It is an honour which 1 did not have any reason to expect; but it is one I shall treasure.” She added that the people of Hamilton were very fine and she believed from her short experience that Gisborne people were the same type. Party politics need not make people hate each other, said Mrs. Ross. Party supporters could agree on some points, and could agree to differ on others. But while that might apply to National and Labour, so far as she was concerned it did not apply to Communists .She could find no common ground with the supporters of that creed! (Applause). There had been plenty of evidence that peaple were realising that communism was not party politics. It was a pestilence which threatened the whole freedom of people. “Words Are Not Enough!” It was good to see that the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, and Mr. R. Semple were out saying that communism had to go. But words were not enough. Everyone who took a reasonable view—and the National Party had no monopoly of decent and reasonable people—realised that communism was a pestilence which had to be got. rid of. Mrs. Ross stated that she recognised that the Labour Party's success in 1935 had been of benefit to the country. The conditions called for a programme of a different kind from that of the previous Government, and for some time after Labour came into power its actions had produced good. After a while, however, as Labour became more conscious of power, it went beyond reason and developed politics which had no relation to the original needs of the country. The Dominion today had more money than ever, but did the people benefit by the greater amount of money? Were the jobs that made up the welfare of the nation being done as they should be? Were the mines producing more coal or as much; were the ships being turned round, was timber being produced, the houses being built, and the other assetproducing jobs being done as they should? Short Work-Week Too Early As one who had voted for the 40hour week, Mrs. Ross stated that she now realised that it had been introduced too early. The result was that the whole economy of the country was unbalanced. > The days when the profit motive served as the mainspring of industry had developed the country, but today the country was being run in a way that gave no incentive to private enterprise. The country needed to get back to the days of private enterprise, when there was no Bureau of Industries to say “no” to a man who wanted to risk his capital and develop his own business.

Mrs. Hess asked her audience to look over the Parliamentary scene, and why the Labour people had to depend so much upon the fear complex to keep the National Party out? It was preached that the National Party would abolish the social security scheme, reduce sickness and age pensions, and otherwise wreck the structure of social security. “Pensions Cuts “Suicidal” “Can you believe that we would do such things?” she asked- “Apart from our beliefs in the necessity for caring for the sick and aged, and other groups of pensions, can you believe that we would commit suicide, when we got on the Treasury benches, by cutting down pensions?” (Applause and laughter' 1 The National Party believed thoroughly in the necessity of giving adequate support to those who had a fair claim for State aid.

The Government had airily claimed that New Zealand led the world. That applied to some things—particularly motor spirit prices. Taxation accounted for this, in a large measure, and New Zealand had had little relief from the high level of taxation established during the war. Mrs. Ross prophesied, however, that there would be a substantial tax relief next year on the eve of the next general elections. Trade AVith Britain Impeded

Import controls were responsible for a good deal of inconvenience to New Zealand, but people in general were not aware how seriously the controls were interfering with our trade with Britain, whose people depended so much upon the aid of the Dominions. Britain had goods that New Zealand people wanted and needed, but the Minister of Finance said New Zealand could not have them because it had to live within its income.

“We have a big overseas balance, and we can afford to import some of those goods from Britain—but Mr. Nash savs “No!” added Mrs. Ross. The sneaker referred to the shortage of building materials, declaring that the Government took the opportunity to extend controls with every new shortage. She believed that all housing materials should be released from controls, and that if people could go direct for their goal, they would get their homes built. She was looking forward to the day when New Zealanders returned to the freedoms they loved. The State houses were good, said Mrs Ross, but she questioned the wisdom of establishing a class of 50.000 State tenants. She held that if people did not have the urge to own their own homes, there was something lacking. Young neople should be encouraged to look forward to becoming the owners of their own homes and achieving independence. Appeasement of Militant Unions

The speaker criticised the Government’s appeasement of militant unions, and the restrictions on private maternity homes which had driven many of them out of business, to the great concern of expectant mothers. In those and other matters, members of the Government were worried. too, but they were not doing anything about itIn the National Party, on the other hand, there were men eminently qualified to deal practically with all national problems, she added: Thev would do their best to bring back to New Zealand the good times u r hen people were free to express themselves in all ways, and could earn the just rewards of their own initiative.

Mrs. Ross closed her speech amidst applause, and was accorded an enthusiastic vote of thanks on the motion of Mr. I. J. Quigley, who declared that the National Party was very proud of Mrs Ross, and of the standing she held among the people of Hamilton. The motion was carried by acclamation, followed by musical honours.