OPPOSITION LEADER

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1937, Page 9

OPPOSITION LEADER

Reviews Session CRY OF SOCIALISM. [Per Press Association!. IN vhhCAKUII.L, December 14. . Complete satisfaction with thework if the Opposition in Parliament aui in. the first part of the session was expressed in “ the Leader of the Patty, ho . namuton. A brief review of the ses sion was given by Mr Hamilton, who rnat he »d to coueagues naa constantly endeavoured to direct P lie attention to weaknesses m tne government’s legislation. How we have succeeded it is not for sav ” Mr Hamilton added, but I mm-e than satisfied that those numbers who nave nonoured me wicn the support have worked steadfastly and well to guard what we believe „ be the best interests of New Zealand vSth a few notable Hamilton said, the past three in Parliament Lad not given ris legislation as revolutionary as tnat j i vpsr However, It was passed last year. u Anng ns well to remember during first year of office, the Labour Got ernment, with its over / t helm^ g st^e ‘ iority had laid a foundation of State socialism with its accompanying creed nf “keenin- the better man down This X the Government had advanced its plans mor e cautions y b the same objective was still •The National Party has s t face against socialism,” Mr Kami ton said. “We realise, of course, that the world must progress and that Ntw Zealand must progress with it. in most civilised countries to aay, Jhere °s a call on the State to take a there is a Hirectino- commungrowing share in direct g itv actwities, but there is all the dit ierence in th.- v-otld between directi< n and coercion. It is through => attitude of coeicion that the ...ove.r-ment is endangering man) features of cur national Me wh.ea nave stood the test of tun-, Hid which arc st ill worthy of bw.M '- Ifr ’’’ihree Items from Ute legislative programme were ed by Mr Hamilton as being indic * tive of straight out coercion on the part of the State. The first wastfie rrimarv Products Marketing ment Act to control the sale under axed prices of all foodstuffs produced in New Zealand. That measure, alone he said, would give the Government the right to regulate the entire trading activities of the country, so that people could buy only what a g roup of theorists thought they should Y> and at prices fixed by those same theorists, with m e idea of reducing producers, distributors and consumeis to the dead level of mediocrity. “Two other matters, which call for some comment, both concern housing,” Mr Hamilton continued. ine Cjovernmerit has not only renewed i s restrictions on the free renting 0 houses, but it has also erected fresh barriers, so that people who have i vested in house property are nOA finding then? assets turning into --abilities. The Government admits that there is a housing shortage, but at one stroke it kills incentive for private enterprise to provide additional housing accommodation, while at the same time it extends its own powers for becoming ultimate landlord for the wnole country. Already the Government has a stranglehold on transport and on the export of one of our chief primary produces. It controls finance so rigidly that mere is no scone for legitimate industrial expansion, and now we see it pushing forward in its insidious invasion ihto private lives of people. As an Opposition we are endeavouring to guard the people’s rights trom complete State domination, and we are satisfied that we have the support of a majority of our countrymen.” A great lesson had oeen learned during the last three months in Parliament, said Mr Hamilton, that ‘men trailed in business, irrespective of whether that business was agricultural or industrial, were required to handle me finances of the country. No competent farmer, manufacturer, or tradesman would think of spending the whole of his income just because he happened to be enjoying a period ‘of prosperity. There was prosperity to-day, certainly, he said, but the government was not only spending the whole of a record income, but was also hypothecating the future. "Last week we passed -he Appropriation Bill/* Mf

Hamilton said. "It covered the expenditure required foi' all of the services provided for 1,500,000 people, and that expenditure reached a staggering total of £54,000,000. how long can New Zealand continue at that pace? Sane, ordered development is one tnmg, but recKless plunging is another, and we, as an Opposition, will feel justified in continuing to call public attention to this blind extravagence, which if it proceeds much further, must result in national disaster.”