Address by Mr. Doidge

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 16, 10 April 1946, Page 11

Address by Mr. Doidge

CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT NATIONAL PARTY'S POLICY There was a large audience in the Taita Hall on Wednesday night, when Mr. F. W. Doidge, M.P. for Tauranga, gave an address. Mr. B. Matthews presided, and briefly introduced the speaker. Mr. Doidge said that the present year was a vital one to New Zealand, and it was gratifying to find the meetings held by the National Party proving so successful. Mr. Holland's meetings had been a triumph, with large and enthusiastic audiences. There were signs of a turn in the tide, as evidenced by recent by-elections and the great increase in the strength of the National Party. There was nothing so important in the political sphere to-day as the Walsh report, said Mr. Doidge. The report gained significance as coming from an outstanding Labour leader, and had since had the endorsement of Mr. Nash and Mr. Sullivan —in fact, he believed that it had been inspired by Mr. Nash. The report said that the' people must tighten their belts and increase production, and that the mounting bill of subsidies paid by the Government could not be kept up without disastrous consequences. Mr. Walsh's Warning. "Those who believed in little Work and the least effort at the highest pay must have received a shock from Mr. Walsh's report," said Mr. Doidge. "Mr. Walsh pointed out that artificial and uneconomic industries must end. One of the most interesting phases of the report is that it will bring discomfort to many members of Parliament who are always quoting the slump. Mr Walsh looks into the future and warns that the forces Which brought about the slump after the last war are present in New Zealand to-day. Some memoers claim that there would never have been a slump had a Labour Government been in power, yet in 1930, Mr. James Roberts, president of the Labour Party, signed a report which recommended a fiat • wages tax on incomes below £300; that all expenditure on unemployment be raised by taxation; that a board be set up to decide the rights of claimants for benefits; that no worker be entitled to unemployment benefits until six rhcmths after registration and payment of his individual tax; that no sustenance payment should be made for any peridd exceeding 13 weeks in any one year; and, lastly, the sustenance scale suggested provided for males to receive 21/- a week, wives tb receive 17/6, and children, up to four, in any family, to receive i/- a Week. All this was to be payable for only three months in> any one year. Mr. Robert's plan had been put into effect memories of the slump would be much worse. Increase in Prices. "The consumer and the householder will Welcome Mr. Walsh's report. They know that bolstered-up industries lead to "a great-increase in prices—in many cases , much higher than-if goods were imported. We shduld be thankful for Mr. Walsh's bombshell. "In New Zealand to-day it is said that, we have £350,000,000 purchasing power and £65,000,000 Worth of goods. There is heed for a right equation. '"The Government has pursued a ruthless policy in order to subjugate the farmers, and by its method of control has practically succeeded in socialising primary industries and the land. By using the returned servicemen it has succeeded in wiping out the freehold of tens of thousands (of acresg acquiring • property the freehold of which will be lost for ever. Mr. Nash took arbitrary powers to take surplus funds out of the Marketing Act if he desired. The consumers of wool, meat and butter are being subsidised at,the expense of the farmers. We are spending in New Zealand to-day £9,000,000 in subsidies on all kinds of things. '"Control and' centralisation are the definite policy of the Government. The people hate controls and will demand that they be removed. The National Party Will restore the right of the farmers to control primary industries. Desire for Hariftohy. "In the secondary industries we have; 120,000 workers, and With dependants 250,000'people are concerned. We want to see harmony between employers and employees, and in Mr. Holland's great ideal of profit-sharing and co-partnership we have a very fine scheme. The manu facturing industries must be encouraged, but that does not mean bolstering up artificial and uneconomic Industries. The National Party would set up a Board of Trade, which would bring about more harmonious relations in trade, and end embargoes and lock-outs. We must have a Government which will cooperate with industry, not one (like the Labour Government) which is throttling industry. There is no incentive in industry to-day to engage in expansion. Industrial stagnation is inevitable if this policy continues. "In this little country we are being taxed to the extent of £109,000000, and are committed to raising £40,000,000 per annum for social

services. Where is that money to be found? The prices for primary produce are not going to stand where they are to-day. What good is paper money that has no meaning? In 1936 taxation amounted to £6 5/6 per head; to-day it is £64/17/per head." Housing Problem. Mr. Doidge referred to the housing shortage, and stated that though the shortage'of labour and, material was a problem the main need was speed. Despite this fact legislation for a five-day week was passed; thiß should not have been brought in until the problem of housing had been solved. Building controls aggravated the position, and there was no chance of solving the problem until the Government changed its policy. By the removal of the sales tax on building materials the price of a house would be reduced by over £IOO. Mr. Doidge referred to the Bretton Woods Agreement and the American loan to Britain, arid expressed the opinion that New Zealand should do much morfe towards helping Britain out of her difficulties by" the ehdourageffieht of Empire trade. After answering several questions Mr. Doidge was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation. In acknowledging this he said that he believed that Mr. Holland and the National Party Would convince the people at the next election that they are worthy of a trial. DENIAL BY MR. ROBERTS Wage Cuts Opposed. Mr. J. Roberts, president of the New Zealand Labour Party, in reply to a statement made by Mr. Doidge that Mr. Roberts promulgated in 1930 a plan which was on all fours with the policy subsequently pursued by the Coates-Forbes Government said: "The statement made by Mr. Doidge will appear ridiculous when I state that I was selected by the Labour ' movement to oppose the wage cuts which were directed to be imposed by the Coates-Forbes Government. If I had promulgated the policy of the Coates-Forbes Govern:'' ment in 1930, it would have been absurd for me to oppose it less than a year afterwards.."