THE NATIONAL PARTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 18

THE NATIONAL PARTY

ADDRESS BY MR. BROADFOOT OTOROHANGA'S CONFIDENCE [from our own correspondent] OTOROHANGA, Friday An address was given by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., at Otorohanga last night to an audience of fully 500. The chairman of the Town Board, Mr. I. Phillips, presided. * Mr. Broadfoot drew a parallel between tho existing Labour Government in New Zealand and those Governments in Europe where rule was imposed by a small minority through tyranny' and bloodshed. He said the inspiration seemed to come from Russia, where the Government commandeered all foodstuffs and raw materials and practically tho whole of retail distribution, charging the consumer prices many times greater than world prices. Between tho low prices paid to the producer and the high prices charged to tho consumer tho Soviet obtained more than half its total revenue. J his he called tho manipulation of the price level. The Primary Products Marketing Act, 1936, was a similar dictatorship. , ~ii The Labour Government had no land policy designed to' establish men on tho 'land with the ultimate prospect of acquiring tho freehold, said tho speaker. Tho National Pjirty stood by the freehold. The party favoured such measures as would ensure that the farmers would be able to pay competitive wages, ho assured of reasonable interest on capital invested in farms and stock, and receive a remuneration commensurate with tho services they render. . •. A resolution of confidence m Mr. Broadfoot as member for tho district and in tho National Party was carriod without dissent.