RIGHTS OF PEOPLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22950, 31 January 1938, Page 14

RIGHTS OF PEOPLE

RULING THE COUNTRY NATIONAL PARTY IDEALS WOMEN'S WAGE TAX OPPOSED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN" CORRESPONDENT] I'ALMERSTOX NORTH, Sunday A call to preserve individual freedom was made by the leader of the National Party, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, in an address at a garden party at Carnarvon yesterday. He promised that the National Party would abolish the wage tax on women's earnings, and mentioned that it had been said that perhaps the best way to get private land was to take it out of the Government's hands. "At the last election we were beaten," said Mr. Hamilton, "but if the people of the Dominion want the freedom that lias been built up, with the best standard of living in the world, we inu.st put up a fight to protect that which has existed for so long. We believe in democracy, and it is the people's right to govern tnis country. The Labour Party has learned to get the most out of the democratic system by using discipline. We don't want discipline; wo stand for the peoplo's freedom. "It does not worry me if I am in Parliament, but we are working in vour interests and want your loyal support. .We arc offering you sound progressive government of this country. It does not matter whether it is Liberal or Reform. To-day we have the lieformers, Liberals and Democrats behind us. "A lot of people say they are not interested in politics," Mr. Hamilton continued, "but some day they will wake up. We want the farming community to get behind our organisation and support the National Party. The present Government is ruled by the Federation of Labour, which provides large sums to assist it in its campaign. The speaker added that taxation had crept up until it was almost crushing. The wage tax alone was estimated to bring in £4,180,000. That tax was brought in as an emergency. The Government liked to s|>end money, and, strango to say, the people liked it. The wage tax was still levied on women, which was an injustice. "One of the first things we propose to do if we arc returned is to abolish the tax on wages earned by women," said Mr. Hamilton. "When the tax was imposed we thought it would help women, whereas to-day there are few women who benefit, and therefore we intend to make a start in reducing taxation by relieving women of this tax."