POLITICAL ADDRESS

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1945, Page 2

POLITICAL ADDRESS

MR. h. P. MORTON, M.P., AT . COBDENThorp was an attendance oi foity pjsom the fobden School Hall last evening, to hear Mi. H. loi ion Nationalist M.P., or Waitemaca. Mr E F Chicers., presided and introduced the speaker, who said his visit to the West Coast was for the pillnose of making himself acquainted with its industrial side. What he had seen in the week he had been in the district had very favourably impressed him. He thought many men would settle on the West Coast when they returned from various theatres oi war. He paid a tribute to the coal miners, and timber woikeis. Tnat dav he had been through a coal mine, and had also been shown over a sawmill. The product of the sawmilling industry -was required very urgently to meet the housing needs throughout the Dominion, but more particularly in larger towns. He hoped that before very long, restrictions, which were hampering industry, would be lifted by the Government. Mr. Morton said regulations had the fishing industry tied up. Fie was, he said, opposed to monopolies, and claimed that the Government had created many of them since they had taken office. A returned man in his district was unable to commence a bakery business owing to regulations. Likewise there was a returned man with his own launch, who was unable to commence in the fishing industry, although there was in the North Island an acute shortage of fish. The returned soldier had to sell his launch. The speaker said there were other monopolies. Competition was a good thing for the country. Fie asserted that New Zealand was getting to a / state such as existed in Germany under Hitler. He quoted an English newspaper as to conditions in Germany. Mr. Morton said that it was not the people who wanted the State to take over the private shares in the Bank of New Zealand. In support of this contention, he quoted from a statement by Hon. W. Nash two years ago. The present Government would have everything brought under State control. The taking over of the Bank of JSTew Zealand was only a first step. The speaker claimed that the appointment of a New Zealand Minister to Russia was not warranted. That Moscow appointment had cost £30,000 last year. Mr. Morton stated that, in Russia there were many restrictions, and the working hours were nearer 60 than 40 per week. New Zealand should follow the example of England, who had played a noble part in the struggle for world freedom. Regarding the attitude of the Government towards military defaulters, the speaker claimed that these men should not be released till every member of the forces had returned from overseas. The Legislative Council, he considered, should be abolished. It meant, a waste of from £30,000 to £40,000 a year, which monev could be put to 'much better use. The speaker made humorous references to the' work done by members of the Legislative Council. He believed that more should be done for the mothers of New Zealand. The sales tax should be removed from children’s clothing, and likewise from building materials. He was going to advocate the remission of sales tax on materials for homes for returned soldiers. Private enterprise had rehabilitated 40,000 men, while the (Rehabilitation Department had been responsible for only 2,400 he said. He believed that the State should provide the money for people who desired to own their homes.

Mr. Morton spoke of the need for the prevention of further wars. If our leaders were not watchful, we would be involved in a further war before many years. Armament factories wore making huge profits out. of war. The solution, lie said, was to do awav with private enterprise in the manufacture of munitions _ and armaments. The speaker claimed that, the members of the National Party had a free hand with regard 1o voting in the House. He personally, had voted with the Government on the Invercargill ■ Licensing .Bill. In conclusion, Mr. Morton thanked tho audience for their attentive hearing, and appealed to New Zealand to be united.

In reply to a question by Mr. D. Kerr, as to his attitude towards military training, the speaker stated that some form of military training would be necessary in New Zealand. To a question by Mr. F. Thompson, the speaker stated that he favoured people being enabled to acquire homes of their own.

In answer to a further question, the speaker stated that the licensing of industry should be abolished. A vote of thanks was accorded to the speaker on the motion of Mr. W. J. Hicks and Dr. W. McKay.