CALL TO YOUTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23338, 5 May 1939, Page 11

CALL TO YOUTH

REDEEMING COUNTRY national party aim SOUND GOVERNMENT jffi. HAMILTON'S APPEAL » larcelv attended luncheon of memJL of the Junior National League ; n d senior supporters of the party was addressed by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, at Milne and Choyce's tea rooms yesterdav. The president of the league, Mr. •n ' W. Corson., presided. "Wo have never before arrived at co serious a position as we are in to- — Lv " said Mr. Hamilton, and I am deiightcd to see so many young people fiking an interest in the position." yhev were fitting themselves, lie said, to serve their country. The objective 0 f the National Party was the good government 'of the country, and they did not have';any special axe to grind, jw had 110 motive but to restore and maintain sound democratic government, and there was 110 other job to ■which they could give themselves that was more important. They believed that sound government would not come by the Labour Party government or policy. Lucky Three Years "Labour had a very lucky period for three years," continued Mr. Hamilton, "and "now they are beginning to reap the reward of their doings; it is only _ n ow they are experiencing the eonseT quences of their own legislation. Sound government will come only by the restoration.. of the National Party to the Treasury benches, not for the sake of being restored, but for the sake of the policy wo represent as opposed to theirs." Mr. Hamilton emphasised the need for organisation to combat the Labour Party organisation. They might not with party politics, he said, but that could not be avoided under the democratic system. In New Zealand the people had "enjoyed a wonderful heritage, and they could safely say that no" country had given its people a higher standard of life. Yet the Labour Partv said that the system that had operated so long and that had accomplished "so much was all wrong. No country had'ever attained to anything higher than the standard New Zealand had reached under the past system, but the Labour Party wanted to break > it down. Use of Capital Whafwast this capitalist system that the Labour Party attacked? It was just that people laid bv something out of their earnings ana. put it away for future use< Those who spent everything and laid nothing by were not capitalists. Which was the better system? He was sure that the building up of capital and the making use of it to advance industry and develop the country had made New Zealand. But the Labour Party wanted socialism instead of capitalism. He was trustee of a _ savings bank in which no one held more than £2OO, and they had more than £1,000.000 to lend. There was. 110.evil in that, hut their opponents -- pictured capital as some big octopus sucking the lifeblood out of the country. "They want socialism," said Mr. Hamilton, "and to gain their objective they have preached class warfare all their lives, and tried to set employer against employee and employee against employer. They capitalised any evils or weaknesses in" society so as "to cause discontent:...!ou can see it all round. The great slump of recent years gave them their final opportunity", and they were able to capitalise that and gain the victory." Now the Labour Party faced the consequences of its own policy, and it could not control its own members. They had built on false .foundations, a l?-i perish. They built on a • philosophy of hatred. Idleness Encouraged "They cannot see any good in society, but' we have every reason to be prpud of'the good that has been done in the community," said the speaker. New Zealand had had tho most advanced social and industrial legislation in the world, and the Labour Party wanted to break down the system that gave that. "They preach a sort of soft philosophy," he said. "They said there was no need for ( effort. Never mind, live a soft life and the State will look after you." - Life was. a battle, and unless men and women got into the battle of life 1 they would never get tho best out of it. Now New Zealaiulers were being taught that idleness was preferable to vork and softness better than * the battle of life. Opportunity came to young people only once, and thev had " to take it. There was necessity to-day for young people to take serious account of the way New Zealand was heading. Idleness was at a premium and no encouragement was given to effort. That -i jniuld undermine the basis on which - the people's high standards were founded, and the people would very ■ jjkeiy have to pay the penalty later. ; -Ibey had a great field for work in this < queen city of the North. A Fight Worth While them decide if the fight was worth while, and then study the subject and get to work to maintain sound . government and redeem the position. , Jhey had not to study far to realise 1 that the Labour Party had brought the country right down to its knees. If ' INew Zealand did not have to pay the penalty within the next 12 months, he j *°utl • n "Shtily surprised. . „ ls Jour battle we are trying to - ±', Hamilton in closing, not for any reward that we may get. i out to maintain this country in a sound .economic system that will give . you people the best out of life in the ( days to come. 1 am sure it will not 1 come by the Labour Party's philosophy •or programme. We have got to make . " come by ours."