NATIONAL PARTY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32314, 15 September 1943, Page 5

NATIONAL PARTY

MEETING IN PAEROA

OUTLINE OF POLICY

MR A. SUTHERLAND’S ADDRESS

Although in the early part there was a little interjection, Mr A. S. Sutherland, M.P., for* Hauraki, was accorded an attentive and sympathetic hearing when he outlined the National Party’s policy to an audience in the Regent Theatre, Paeroa, on Monday evening. The Mayor of Paeroa, Mr Edwin Edwards, presided. The meeting opened with the singing of the National Anthem. Mr Sutherland expressed his pleasure at being in Paeroa and to assist Mr W. A. Clark, the National candidate for the Thames seat in his campaign.

The first plank in the National Party’s policy was the country’s war effort, said Mr Sutherland. The National 'Party contended that, a more energetic war policy was needed. Referring to the manpower position he stated that his party considered that there were too many people in non-essential industries. The primary producer was in need of a great deal of assistance if they were to produce foodstuffs which were required in the war effort. Production was falling, despite statements from the Government to the contrary. Press Censorship Press censorship was also referred to, Mr’Sutherland •contending’ that the present regulations should’ cease. The National (Party would continue the present benefits of the Social .Security Scheme, said Mr Sutherland. Many of the benefits, he pointed out, were in force before the Labour Party gained power. Labour unionism would not be compulsory if the National Party gained power, said 1 the speaker.

/ Too many contentious Acts of Parliament had been put through and too much done by Order-in-Council. The National Party objected to these means of Government.

The question of conscription had been put through' by Order-in-Council while the taking over of the Waikato coal mines had been another matter dealt with the same way. Dealing with the sittings of Parliament, Mi’ Sutherland said that a lot of it was a waste of time especially the secret sessions. Often Parliament sat in secret session and then found one of the heads had disclosed the information to an audience because it suited him.

Reduce Legislative Council

He advocated the reduction of the Legislative! Council to half and the increase in members’ salaries to £6OO .per year with a superannuation scheme.

Taxation during wartime was necessarily heavy but the National Party was* in favour of revision. Dealing with currency and credit he stated that the Government proposed setting up a non-political commission to investigate the position. ( Motherhood endowment was 1 another matter which the National Party was in favour of.

Hospital rating was. a taxation which the National Party would deal with as soon as possible after the war was over.* in the meantime all the increased costs should be borne by the Social Security Fund. Rehabilitation was a very important subject and the National Party fully appreciated the task 'before the country. To date very little had been done, the heads' appointed being very busy men. The National Party had continuously advocated more action and it was with pleasure that the appointment of Major Skinner had been announced. Already many men and women were wanting assistance and he hoped when the Minister got settled down the country would see these people getting satisfaction.

Decentralisation was another matter which the National Party advocated. At present everything had to pass through the bottle-neck at Wellington. Government departments at Auckland and Hamilton should # have executive authority, he contended. Housing was another important plank in the National Party’s policy. There were not sufficient homes for the servicemen when they returned 1 . The National Party proposed to train young men the same as they had been trained as a : rmen and soldiers, to build, bouses for all who were in need of them. Those who required the 'freehold would be allow**'* to nurchsse same. These homes come be- , fore the palatial Government hir’ld- | ings which the Labour Go”'em rv, -°nt ! had erected recently. H’-ese bir’dI inrs, contended M" '•'w'd * have waited un il after the war and

after homes had been built for all who wanted them.

If the National Party was returned to power those in State houses who wanted them would 'be allowed to purchase them, the weekly payments being about the same as the present rent. A mortgage insurance scheme would be instituted to give the family security. The Labour Government had not a land policy, the portfolio feeing vacant for about four years. The National Party appreciated the need for a land policy and had a progressive scheme for development. Men ’ would be trained on the development farms so that they could take up farms with a reasonable hope of making a success. Farmers would fee able to secure the freehold of the property they were working. Land values would be stabilised on productive value while all amenities would be taken to develop land before it was settled. Modern homes would also be erected on the developed land with all the latest conveniences.

The National Party, he continued realised that the Labour Party had not given the primary producer a fair deal. Stabilisation on 1943 costs at 1939 returns was not fair especially as most other sections of the community had been well treated with increases in wages.

Special benefits for mothers and children were also advocated by the National Party including labour saving devices in the home with additional education facilities. Free education from the kindergarten to the university would be made available. Dealing with veterinary work, Mr Sutherland said he appreciated the great assistance this was to farmers. He had recently contacted the Minister of Rehabilitation who had promised to make bursaries available for returned servicemen so that they could take up this work. The amalgamation of both broadcasting services with political control to cease was another plank of the National Party. Up until recently the Labour Party had sole use of the broadcasting and had made full use of the service for- their own propaganda. Public works would also be overhauled with a constructive policy of development so that the country generally would benefit from the results. Dealing with the present-day costs of foodstuffs, Mr Sutherland criticised the Internal Marketing Division. Everything they had' touched had become scarcer and dearer. The National Party maintained that this department should be abolished.

Freedom for the small trader was also a plank in the National Party’s policy and he criticised the policy of the Price Tribunal and the work of its inspectors who he referred to as “snoopers.”

Referring to the Civil Service, Mr Sutherland said in his opinion they did a very good job. The present Government if they wished to set up an office went outside for personnel. The National Party considered present civil servants should be given a chance. The National Party advocated that a complete overhaul was needed. Houses also were needed as at present many were Unable to secure a home when transferred from one town to another. Mr Sutherland criticised the work of the waterside workers and quoted figures l to show the rise in the cost jjf handling cargo while the quantity handled per hour had fallen considerably. Better treatment for the Maoris was also advocated by the- National Party who maintained that' with assistance many would become very good farmers instead of as at present the land was growing noxious weeds which cost the Government a large figure each year to clear. Land Settlement Bill

The Land Settlement Bill was also dealt with, Mr Sutherland describing it as the last step in the socialisation of the means of production. The Government had all the authority it needed to take the land required for rehabilitation yet it introduced the Land Settlement Bill. The National Party had strongly opposed the Bill and as a result several amendments had been added, the most important being the restriction of the power of the Bill for the duration of the war and for five years after. Mr Sutherland dealt with other clauses of the Bill which the National Party had strongly opposed. Referring to the Hon. W. Nash and his appointment to Washington Mr Sutherland said Mr Nash should stay either in Washington or New Zealand. He could not carry out two jobs satisfactorily and should drop one or the other. He reminded the audience that the Hon. Mr Nash had once stated that no man was worth more than

£5OO and yet to-day he was accepting many, times that figure.

Mr also reminded listeners of the Labour Party’s criticism bf the Sales Tax when it was first introduced, promising to remove it if returned to power. The Labour 'Government had. not done this but had increased it considerably. In conclusion he urged those present to support the National Party on September 25. Several questions were asked and answered at the end of the address after which Mr R. S. Carden moved a vote of thanks which was seconded by Mrs Peart and carried unanimously. AT WAITAKARURU GOOD HEARING FROM MEETING Mr A. S. Sutherland, National candidate for Hauraki, addressed a good' audience of electors at the Waitakaruru Hall on Friday, September 10. Mr A. Henderson presided. In opening his address Mr Sutherland said he regretted that he had, of necessity, been so long before he was able to meet the people of Waitakaruru, although he had been the member for the district for the past eighteen months. His reason for this omissipn was that he had to attend the frequent meetings of Parliament during these troubled times. He continued by saying that although there were five candidates for this electorate the real issue was' between National and Labour, and advised electors to ignore the independents in the election.

A comprehensive survey of . the* National -Party Policy was given and criticism was levied at the Labour Party in its failure to fulfil its promises made prior to the 1935 election. - These were as follows, failure to remove sales tax, failure to produce a policy for farmers. The speaker contended that unsuitable men were chosen for the rehabilitation of soldiers, and it was because of (he constant appeal of the National Party, for a special ministry that the appointment of 'Major Skinner had been made. Mr Sutherland had suggested to Major Skinner that bursaries should be given to returned servicemen for veterinary surgeons, to help the acute shortage in the country. Mr Sutherland spoke fluently for two hours, there being no interjections. Several questions were asked on the invitation of the chairman, and these weie answered satisfactorily. A vote of thanks and confidence in the National Party-was proposed, seconded and carried bv acclamation.