Fundamental Issues Behind Window – Dressing

Northern Advocate, 3 November 1949, Page 7

Fundamental Issues Behind Window - Dressing

“IT is your duty to seek the fundamental principles behind the window-dressing of the two parties in. the electoral field, and I shall endeavour to elucidate those principles,” said the Labour candidate for Marsden (Mr D. L. Ross) addressing a meeting of 23 residents at Maungatapere last night. 1 “In its.statement of policy the National Party has attributed a sinister ambition to the control of currency and credit by a Minister, but the control should be in the hands of the elected representatives of the people and not in the hands of any private individual or group,” Mr Ross said.

Mr Ross likened >he Government to a farm earning a certain revenue, which must be used to maintain the farm and the home. Someone must direct the manner in which the money will be expended. "With the country the position is more complex, but the parallel is exact, and experience has shown that the Government is the only body competent to decide what should be purchased with the country’s revenue, ’ he said.

that English cars were restricted by the ability of the country to buy enough within the import ration for essential articles.

Although some people must go without. the distribution was fair, he said. The only way to check the drift of farm labour to the towns was to coordinate development of existing land, bringing in idle land, and to provide rural houses, Mr Ross said in reply to a question on the possibility of assisting farmers to increase production. TAX REVISION “It is my contention that all petrol tax should be diverted to road maintenance so that the user should pay for the roads,” Mr Ross stated. ‘‘Opposition, however, would be mgt from such departments as Customs, but the principle of rating farmers to provide roads for everyone is wrong" Replying to a question on possible tax remission on money spent on farm machinery and permanent pastures. Mr Ross said that machinery was taxfree if the farmer handled his accounts in such a way that full depreciation was obtained.

“Import control may not have worked perfectly, but no one has taken a rake-off and the system is right. • The chaos after the first World War indicates what can happen if this control goes back into private hands," Mr Ross continued.

Another aspect of control was the manner in which the Labour Party had released the farmer from the dominance of Tooley Street financiers, by ensuring bulk purchase of produce backed by a stabilised price. SHORTAGE OF CARS

' If I did not believe in the policy of the Labour Party I would not come out of my legal office and stand for Parliament." he said.

He also considered that all money spent on bringing in undeveloped land should be tax-free, particularly considering the high cost prevailing.

“I am proud to range myself with the useful workers and to stand by my belief in the dignity of labour," he concluded.

A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Ross for his address. Mr K. M. Stevens was chairman.

Replying tn a question Mr Ross said