COUNTRY PARTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2801, 16 November 1931, Page 7

COUNTRY PARTY.

O - — IN THE FIELD. CAMPAIGNING ON UPPER PLAINS. At Patetonga on Tuesday afternoon last, the Country Party candidate for the Waikato Electorate. Mr S. N. Zinian, addressed a very good meeting of district electors. Mr F. Mayn occupied the chair. Taxation, The speaker dealt with the general platform of the Country Party, enlarging at considerable length his attitude towards taxation, and expressing the opinion the Customs taxes, of a protective nature, should be gradually reduced, industries now protected by this means to be assisted in future by subsidies. His party favoured the ultimate freeing of British goods from all taxation, with the distant object of building up Imperial trade and the demolition of all the barriers now prohibiting free ♦rade between Dominions and British possessions. Revenue would still be collected by Customs tariff on luxuries, where such were considered unwarranted and applicable. From Customs taxatiop the speaker proceeded to other forms of taxation, stressing the point that income taxation was the one fair means of collecting a proportionate revenue. Companies' tax would be repealed and revenue collected by taxation on the persons receiving the prtofits of a company as income. Death duties would be placed on a sliding scale on inherited estates of over £25 f OOO, with the ultimate object of rendering continued inheritance of large estates improbable. • • Land and Settlement. Mr Ziman continued to outline the land policy of his party. He advocated the bringing of all land under the land transfer title, and was strongly opposed to town sections being held for speculative purposes. Regarding settlement, until the economic conditions be re-adjusted, he was strongly in favour of genuine experiments in land settlement and improvement being carried out in various districts to test the possibility of group settlement on a large scale. There was a large amount of Maori land lying idle for generations and *his, he advocated, should be bought bv the State at valuation, and utilised for settlement purposes. Mr Zinan spoke also on the much discussed subject of de-rating. His party considered the present method of county taxation unfair. Money for works of national convenience should be raised by national taxation.

Education. With the idea that education will ultimately raise the general standard of the nation, and give the general public a wide outlook on the country's activities and a better understanding of affairs of state, the Country Party advocated a general review of the piesent educational system. Vocational education would be extended, and education, secondary as well as primary, would be afforded free to all those who show themselves capable of benefiting thereby. The party advocated the matter of Bible in schools to be referred to a referendum ->f the people, and it was considered that the adoption of such a euurse inculcated an improved moral m pd into education. Fin •inn*. "Industries,” said the speaker, "which provide national credit are more important than those which result in national debit, and will as such 1»> recognised by the Country Party." He explained that no legislation would be imposed which would hamper profitable national industry. Industry once firmly established, prosperity of all classes would be sought Ijy an increase of effective wages through greater all-round production. Ho fax cured the establishment of an agricultural bank, so that, in addition to the present State Advances Department, an adequate amount of capita l should be available for land settlement purposes. A close and constant watch should be maintained over public expenditure in order to keep it as low as possible, consistent with efficiency, and so ensure a reduction of taxation to a reasonable level. Employment. The Country Party advocated the encouragement of primary industries and of all nationally profitable industries. Prosperity of industry would see the reduction of unemployment. There were certain periods when a large number of men, through no apparent fault of their own, were unemployed. Then was the time for work on roads and railways to be speeded up, and for works to be undertaken that would lead ultimately to the increasing of national pro-

duction. Real wages consisted of the commodities which money wages would buy, and the Country Party could not support a reduction in wages unless preceded by a general reduction in the standard of living.

Mr Zinan dealt briefly also with such matters as health, defence and immigiation, and concluded by stating that the Country Party was wider in its outlook than any other party, and favoured farming only to the extent that it is the recognised

economic balance between town and country. The Country Party was not a move to secure class legislation, as. had so often been stated. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the speaker, carried by acclamation.