New Zealanders are Labour’s Prisoners Says Hon. Hamilton

Northern Advocate, 28 February 1939, Page 8

New Zealanders are Labour’s Prisoners Says Hon. Hamilton

[Special to “Northern Advocate"] CHIRSTCHURCH, This Day. JN AN INTERVIEW YESTERDAY, THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. THE lION. A. HAMILTON, SAID THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY DID NOT REALISE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE IMPORT AND EXPORT RESTRICTIONS. “The real effect is that we are prisoners," Mr. Hamilton said. “If a New Zealand citizen wants to take a holiday overseas he has got to apply to the Government for a permit, and the Government will then decide how much of his own money he can take out of the country—unless the man has money overseas.” New Zealand was the first British country to adopt such drastic restrictive measures, said Mr. Hamilton.

No Freedom Under Union Jack. The word “freedom” had been freely used during the election campaign. People had been told that the State would dominate their lives and actions. That had come to pass much quicker than most people had anticipated. “The old cry of ‘freedom under the Union Jack,’ does not mean anything ip. New Zealand today,” Mr. Hamilton added. “The policy being pursued by the present Government is bound to bring its reactions. “Already we have severe reaction in the form of these drastic restrictive quotas.”

Social Security, Mr. Hamilton aiso referred to the Social Security Act. He said there was little now that, the National Party could do. They had fought it tooth and nail during its passage through the House. All that was known at present was that the Government did not propose to operate the free medical provisions of the Act in the meantime. That would mean a saving of £2,000,000 or £3,000,000 a year, but the whole of the tax was going on. Why Import Men? The proposed importation from overseas of 1000 artisans indicated that the Government was not usefully providing for all New Zealand’s own artisans, said Mr. Hamilton. There must be plenty of men available, he said. Many of them who were employed on Public Works were not prepared to leave their jobs to take a chance in the building trade. “If the workmen of New Zealand were organised on a proper basis there would be no need to bring men from overseas,” said Mr. Hamilton.

“This Government is merely raising one problem after another.” Defence. Dealing with defence, Mr. Hamilton said that it was the view of the National Party that New Zealand was seriously lagging behind Australia and Great Britain. It was the responsibility of the Government to see that material and men were forthcoming, so that the Dominion could play its rightful part in the defences of the Empire. “1 have noticed that the Government has been commended by some businessmen on its decision to revise anomalies in land and income tax," said Mr. Hamilton. “I am convinced that when the Act is reviewed people will not be too happy about it. They will got a big surprise, for the review of anomalies is almost certain to mean increases.” National Party’s Duty. Mr. Hamilton said that all the National Party could do now was to play the part of the Opposition, and put forward what they believed to be a sound, progressive course.

If the people of the country wanted to pursue the policy of Labour, that was their concern. The National Party stood for a higher standard of living for the people on a secure foundation. They stood for a policy that made such conditions possible. Mr. Hamilton said he believed that the Labour Party was undermining the very foundations which had made and maintained New Zealand’s high standard of living over the past century.

Mr. Hamilton will make a tour of the North Island during the coming fortnight. Before Easter, Mr. Hamilton will carry out a ten days’ tour of the Auckland Province.