DOMINION’S NEED

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11877, 23 February 1933, Page 3

DOMINION’S NEED

*** 1 1 . CHANGE JN LEADERS

MR. STALT.WORTHY’S. VIEAVS

SEDDQN LIBERAL PARTY

/.The opinion that a national crisis of the first magnitude had been precipitated jby the Government action in raising the rate of exchange and that tiie position was fraught with peril to" tiie whole comrri unity was expressed by Mr A. J. Stallworthy, AIR. ,;in an address at a meeting held ,:to- laiin’ch-a."Se.cl'cipn Liberal party in New'Zealand'at"'Aifckland.-

Dr. W. 11, Horton presided. : Mr. Stallworthy said that not only had the whole of the domestic economy of .the' country, been upset, out. following the virtual repudiation o-f the Ottawa agreement by raising the exchange against. Britain, New Zealand farmers were- now faced with quota restrictions on butter. Disaster after disaster had followed the Government’s ruinous policy ol interference with the'business of the country. The national Budget' had' been torpedoed by the high exchange, local body finance seriously- involved, and the consequential increases m taxation, were a further smashing blow to business and to consumers generally.

-. "I cannot/x* accused of unfairness or, undue haste,” said Mr Stallworthy. "For 15 months T rvaited for the Coalition Governmen I; to develop a constructive policy. lam noAV utterly convinced that our present leaders can give us no hope in that direction, and a change of personnel and policy is imperative in the nation’s interests.”

•• Mr. .Stallworthy said it was not- his meeting. He rvas present by invitation, and AA’hile he had not read the details of the party’s policy he believed it was only hv the fullest public discussion that they could arrive at a right decision Mr. Stallworthy said that .rrono-s----outstanding things to he aepompli'shed were the restoration of the rights of Parliament and private members, restoration of responsible and ronro•’ntative goA’ornment. war against 'bureaucracy, tammanyisrn, vested interests, and ignorant dictatorship, the maintenance of the integrity of national finance, public control of credit and currency, the fulfilment by the State of treaty and contract obligations, and the promotion of a definite constructive and progressive policy. Other speakers were Messrs. IN Stevenson, Hall Skelton and E. EL Sutherland.