More Production Is National Party Aim

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1945, Page 3

More Production Is National Party Aim

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “We are determined to address ourselves to the problem of obtaining more production,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland), -in an-ad-dress to the annual conference of the National Party, which concluded yesterday. *

Declining production, he said, was a matter of the utmost seriousness to New Zealand. Last year, dairy production was less by 70,000,0001b5. than it was three years before.

“Our standard of living consists of what we produce for ourselves,” said Mr Holland. “In our policy we give great attention to profit-sharing and improved# industrial relationships. There must be an incentive for men to produce more and earn more. We must reduce the wages tax, so as to leave more with the people. We think it should be made worth while for people to save and be self-reliant. The Government’s policy is to encourage everyone to lean on the State, and we disagree with that.” Mr Holland said that Britain took over 80 per cent, of our primary products, and could be relied upon to buy our products, provided we gave her the goods she wanted at a satisfactory price and the right to fair competition on our own markets. There was a danger that if we continued to assert the right to select what we bought from Britain, she would say that she would select what she bought from us, and this might revive the danger of the quota, such as was threatened in 1938.

Control by Farjmers

The National Party was determined to maintain the policy of full employment, and would restore to the farmer control of his own affairs. It favoured producer control of marketing, with Government co-operation if it were needed.

The housing policy of the National Party, by removing the sales tax. would effect a pronounced reduction in the cost of homes. In the same way the party would reduce by half the cost of work-saving appliances needed by women in their daily housework.

“We propose to bring down the cost of living and see that the women of New Zealand have restored to them their freedom of choice in buying things they need,” he added.

Mr Holland's address was received with acclamation and a motion of thanks and confidence in him was passed.

The following' officers were elected: President, Mr W. J. Sim, K.C.; vicepresidents. Messrs. G. M. Smith (Auckland), A. M. Bisie.y (South Auckland), P. J. Wall (Wellington), E. R. Comer (Canterbury), G. W. Lane (Otago-Southland); women vice-pre-sidents, Mrs R. H. F. Hardley (Tauranga), Mrs J. Campbell (Dunedin): vice-president representing the Maori race, Mr H. Marumaru (Wanganui).