NATIONAL PARTY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 229, 26 August 1938, Page 9

NATIONAL PARTY

THE ELECTION ISSUE. LEADER SPEAKS OUT. AUCKLAND, Aug. 25. Tlie issues on which the forthcoming general election will be fought and some of the aims of the National Party were outlined by the Leader of the Opposition (Hon. A. Hamilton), at a meeting of party supporters at Takapuna. “The Labour Party will try to make the fight between us at the election one on social services,” Mr Hamilton said. “The challenge between the Labour Party and us is not on social service. It is on the economic system. We say that there are evils to be removed, but do not overthrow the system that has served us well. They would overthrow the system. That will be the fight. , “We are making provision for social security. Is there any other security we need?” Mr Hamilton asked later in his address. “We want to see that we have the financial security that will sustain it. They would like to break down our arrangements. I am sure that is their objective and we have to remember it. You may think that I am being too hard, but that is my honest opinion. The point is, can we afford it? We have also to have our defence security. (Applause.) Are we sufficiently defended against the aggressors of the world?” Voices : No.

Mr Hamilton said he was a pacifist by nature and did not like war, but the Dominion had to play an important part in the defence of the Empire.

“We want to keep our investments secure,” he continued. “How about the security of them ? Are we keeping these people secure ? Is there any better class than those who have made their own provision and laid by something for their old age? I am not going to say that investments are not secure, but the purchasing power of investments is gradually diminishing. AA r e want to keep our economy balanced.

“What is our alternative?” he said. “Superannuation? Yes, it is important. There are many _ not already provided for. Let us provide for them by compelling them tp come in on a social scheme. State-assisted. Let us initiate a worth-while scheme.

“A health scheme? Yes. There is a health scheme. It is right that the taxpayer should provide free service for people who cannot provide it for themselves. The Social Security Bill provides free service for a man with £IO,OOO a year. The problem is to provide social service free for those who need it, and we propose to do so.”

The Bill provided not free medical service to those who needed it, but partial service to everybody, he continued. The dispute between the Government and the National Party was not on superannuation or health services.

HUMANITARIANISM AND SOUNDNESS.

“AVe are just-as humanitarian, but we believe in sound finances,” Mr Hamilton added.

The National Party stood also for freedom of the individual and for the system of private enterprise which had built up the country. Labour said that private enterprise was wrong and that the State should - own •the lot. Labour wanted State Socialism, but the National Party would resist with all its srengtli. “AVe have the best standard of living in the world in New Zealand and Socialism has not given it to us,” Mr Hamilton said. “To-day the system that lias given it to us is challenged. “The National Party is truly national,” he concluded, “with business men, professional men, farmers and working men, and, believe me, there are many working people in our ranks. They are joining in hundreds and thousands and, like the British working man, they know what ife good for them.”