NATIONAL PARTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 15

NATIONAL PARTY

DOMINION'S FUTURE COMBATING SOCIALISM LARGE OPOTIKI MEETING [bv telegraph—OWN correspondent] OPOTIKI, Wednesday The Opotiki Parish Hall was filled to capacity last night, and a large number of people failed to gain admittance, when addresses were delivered by Mr. J. Hargcst, M.P., and Mr. Sullivan, Mayor of Whakatane, who will be the National Party candidate for the, Bay of Plenty seat at the general election. The Mayor of Opotiki, Mr. G. S. Moody, presided. Mr. Sullivan, who was loudly applauded, said he felt ho had a definite job to do in opposing the socialistic policy of the Labour Party. There was a largo body of support behind the National Party. The party would try to harmonise all interests, but the Labour Party could see only one class —the relief workex-s and the Trades Hall. Wages and Hours Addressing the gathering, Mr. Hargest gave a pledge that his party would not slash wages, hours or pensions. The Labour Party, he said, which had never previously thought of the farmer, came along with guaranteed prices to catch the man on the land. The Government had failed to cure unemployment. Nearly as many people were dependent on the Unemployment Fund as when his party left office. There were 20,000 men on public works, while 18,000 were on sustenance. The cost of living to-day, he added, was 20 per cent higher. Mr. Savage had promised to reduce the sales tax, but he had given no explanation why this had not been done. Mr. Savage was also going to reduce the exchange rate, but it was so successful that he would not reduce it. Socialism Achieved Socialism had been achieved, with a dictatorship in every department of State, said Mr. Hargest. Mr. Nash took the power to lend the Government all the money needed. Transport had been socialised. The Minister was the Indian nabob in transport. Mr. Hargest then gave a brief outline of the National Party's policy. He said the party would give the farmer a standard of living as high as that of anyone else. He did not believe in guaranteed prices, but it was impossible to let the farmer face the world unsheltered. The first object was to get costs down and let the farmer market the way he wanted to do. The marketing scheme could be handled by the board. Waterside workers received a minimum of 33s 4d for a day's work, handling clean butter boxes. They were paid for 12 hours, but worked only six hours. The boot industry was being harassed and the lime industry was being undersold by Australian lime. The National Party was out to assist, not harass, industry. A vote of thanks was accorded the speakers.