VOICE OF THE LEADERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22738, 26 November 1935, Page 12

VOICE OF THE LEADERS

MESSAGES TO ELECTORS THE PERILS OF LABOUR PRIME MINISTER'S WARNING (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, November 25. The Prime Minister has issued the following message to the electors of New Zealand: — On the eve of the most momentous poll New Zealand has ever known, I desire as Prime Minister, with a full knowledge of national conditions and national responsibilities, to submit a special message to all the electors throughout the Dominion. Grave political circumstances demand the issue of a clear warning. Not only is it necessary for every elector to go to the poll, but it is essential that each elector should consider the serious consequences of a vote.

For the first time in New Zealand's experience the whole fabric of sound finance and national prudence, for which the Dominion has a high reputation, is threatened by the policy of the Labour Party and the disruptive forces behind it. This is in no sense a fanciful interpretation of a situation merely for the purpose of gaining votes for the National Government: it has been made plain by a responsible member of the Labour Party. . As most people must know by tins time, I have never been given to political hysteria or silly exaggeration, and it is onlv after a plain, recognition of the plainest facts that I am compelled to remind the electors that representatives of the Labour Party itself have a national peril in its financial programme and administrative intentions. It is possible that many electors may not have read the report of the candid statement bv Mr J. W. Munro, Labour candidate for Dunedin North, at Dunedin last Thursday night, when he was reported as having said: "If we cant carry out our policy, we'll go to the electors and get a mandate to do it, and if we can't do it, then the only thing to do will be to get out and smash things." ~ < T i That in itself shows that Labour realises that it could not carry out its policy without punitive force. But there is no necessity for any argument about the true meaning of that threat, which, it ought to be noted, was intensified by other violent threats about putting resisting persons into gaol and feeding them on bread and water. It goes without saying that levelheaded New Zealanders will not be intimidated, but they should take the best and quickest method of making an end to such sinister threats. That method is to vote without hesitation against the Labour Party and in favour of the National Government, whose policy has brought New Zealand out of unprecedented difficulties and has made the way clear for a return to prosperity. This is not the time to permit any crude tampering with the finances of the country, which represent the people's earnings and savings. It is tin right time, however, to consolidate our improved position, to safeguard the country's resources, and to go forward without any fear of internal disorder to an assured development. , There is nothing to warrant a transference of power from the National Govenment to an inexperienced Labour Ministry with a determination to punish everyone who disagrees with it. Even those who may feel disposed to give Labour a chance could not find anything in the party's policy to justify a generous mood at the polls. Other countries have given Labour an ample opportunity to prove its merit and its methods of government. In every case the experiment has been a sorry failure. It is impossible to foresee any likelihood of a better result being obtained under Labour rule in New Zealand. Ihe Labour Party's programme has been disclosed, and it is not only worthless, but it is dangerous. It offers nothing better than an orgy of rash legislative experiments at the cost of financial confusion. Apart from the Labour Party's threats of ruin, there is an electoral danger which should be avoided on Wednesday fcy all responsible electors. This is the past habitual experience of apathy or negligence. Four years ago only 83 per cent, of the electors took the trouble to register their votes. It is to be hoped that electors on this occasion, fully realising their privilege and duty will go to the poll and record a considered iudgment upon the grave issues of the election. My knowledge of New Zealanders gives me complete confidence in their decision at the polls on this critical occasion to allov no party without experience of government to take, charge of the national financial system. The countrv needs a Government that will continue to build and not a political party that will go out and smash things." MESSAGE FROM MR COATES A MANDATE FOR PROSPERITY (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 25. The Minister of Finance, Mr Coatcs, has issued the following message:— The issue before the electors has become increasingly clear as the campaign has proceeded. The real choice before the electors is between the National Government and the Labour Party. The intrusion of the Democrats and of a largo number of Independents pledged f> v.to for Labour must -ot bo permitted to cloud the issue or endanger a continuance of stable Government. I ask the electors to vote solidly for the Natioual candidates because the alternatives are either a Labour Government or a confusion of groups in Parliament which can only lead to instability. The example of France, with its succession of dissolutions and reconstructions, should be sufficient to convince every elector of ihe urgent need for a strong majority Government, and there can be no doubt that this Government should be the Natio. .U (fovcrninent.

I would warn the electors that to vot» for Democrat candidates or Independents creates a danger that a Labour Government may be elected against the wishes of the majority of the people. I warn the electors of the danger of vote-split-ting.

Of the .iemocrats themselves, 1 need say very little. Their policy cousists of vague and impossible promises whHi cannot be fulfilled because the cost would destroy all chances of preserving that balance in the national accounts which is the basis of continued recovery and prosperity. Their sole political function is that of a vote-splitting machine. In

view of the tactics of misrepresentation which the leader of the Democrats has unfortunately adopted I regret to hi.-: to warn the electors against the iossibility of similar last-minute misrepretions made too late to permit of rebuttal.

The Labour Party appeals to the electors on two main planks—guaranteed prices and national control of currency and credit. Of the former, it is not unfa'' to say that the Labour Party itself is in a hopeless state of confusion. No two candidates tell the same story. There arc as many interpretations as there are exponents. The proposal is impracticable, il! considered, and entirely out of toucl. with the realities of the situation. Of the national control of credit, I would say that the Reserve Bank established last year already provides an instrument whereby currency and credit are controlled in the national interest. The Labour Party's policy is, in fact, based on the supposition that an increase in tb.i volume of currency is the open door to economic prosperity. There can je no more illusory hope. Such a policy leads unavoidably to inflation, with its attendant distress and chaos. The Government of this country must not be placed in the hands of a party committed to such dangerous proposals—a party with no experience in administration.

The National Government confidently bases its claim for support on the fact that it has not shirked the responsibility forced upon it by the world-wide depression. The sole contribution of the Labour Party to recovery lias been that of destructive criticism. The contribution of the National Government has been a plan of action which has already led to substantial recovery. It has provided facilities for action and has already instituted activities which will promote business expansion and reduce unemployment. These are achievements; not simply promises. The good work of reconstruction must not be undone. The basis of confidence now established must not be destroyed if recovery is to continue. I would especially ask for the support of those young men and women who will be voting for the first time. The future is with them and the responsibility they now exercise for the first time is a serious one. It is they who will have the work of guiding the country's destinies in the future. To them especially, the issue now to be decided is of critical importance. The National Government has laid the foundations on which future prosperity can be built. We look to the young men and women of New Zealand especially to sec that these foundations are not undermined. The National Government faces the election with confidence in all parts of New Zealand. The good work of the Government in its efforts towards reconstruction and the hope for the future which its policy ensures are receiving the support of an increasing majority of the electors. AT THE CROSS-ROADS LABOUR'S FINAL APPEAL (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 25. In a final message to the electors Mr M. J. Savage, Leader of the Labour Party, states: — " It has been truly said that New Zealand is at the cross-roads and that n false step may hinder the progress of the people for generations to come. With that in their minds, it will be the privilege and the responsibility of the electors to judge wisely before recording their votes. Parents will be saddled with the responsibility of casting their votes in such way as to ensure that a Government, with service as its watchword, will be returned with a clear majority. Places in industry, in the public services and in the professions, must be secured for this generation and the generations to come. The spectre of poverty amidst plenty must be abolished from the land and the standard of human happiness must be limited only by the capacity of the people with the aid of science and invention to produce the things upon which real civilisation can ho built. That is the objective of Labour.

" Young people who are recording their first votes are also carrying a tremendous responsibility in that, they nre beginning to play their part for good or evil in the shaping of human destiny. Their opportunity to strike a blow for peace on earth lias arrived, and with the history of the tragedies of the past fresh in their minds their task on election day should be comparatively easy. Desperate efforts are being made by the agents of a discredited Government to make it appear that those who are standing under the banner of Labour are not to be trusted with the responsibility of Government, and that the savings of the people would not be safe under their supervision. But when the true verdict of history lias been written it will be shown that, owing to lnck of legislative and administrative vision on the part of tho present Government, there have been more avoidable human sacrifices, physical and economic, during the past four years than ever before in the history of the Dominion. Labour is pledged to put that right. "My final appeal therefore is addressed to all citizens of goodwill to settle their minor differences and to work and vote for the Labour candidates, who will give the whole of their time to abolishing poverty from the Dominion, and to the maintenance and extension of the right of the people to govern. My pledge to the people is not given without thought, and will not be violated, nor will their unbounded courtesy to me during the present campaign ever be forgotten." THE DEMOCRAT PARTY MR HISLOP'S FINAL APPEAL (Peg United Pkess Association i WELLINGTON, November 25. Mr Hislop in a final message to the electors, says: We are a new party with a new policy but old principles. The Nationalist Party is an old party with no policy and no principles. It is the vital difference between alert and vigorous youth and creaking, worn-out age. The Democrat Party is on the up move and has a definite chance. The people will not waste their votes on a Government which is admitted on all sides as being on the down £rade; they will vote for the Democrat Party. Never was the issue more clear whether the people are going to throw away their votes by supporting a decrepit and discredited Government, or whether they are going to support the only party that stands for true freedom and democracy—the Democrat Party. The Democrat Party will win more seats than either of the other two Socialist parties and will unquestionably be the Government. No one in his right senses will say that the present Government will win sufficient seats to obtain a majority. I would draw, the attention of the people of New Zealand, however, to the very dangerous position that the Government is endeavouring to force upon them. With a full knowledge that the Democrat Party presents a safe and sane policy and that the personnel of that party is superior to its own, the Government and its newspapers deliberately state that tlvi only alternative to itseif is the Labour Party. The Government, therefore, is deliberately trying to throw New Zealand into the hands of the Labour Party by this action, and bv the refusal of the Government to introduce a Preferential Voting Bill the National Party will be directly responsible if the Labour Party is successful in attaining the Treasury benches, and

I publicly charge it with this. Its own party interests have counted more with the National Party that the interests of the people of New Zealand. The people of New Zealand have realised that our policy is the only sound policy, through the application of which there is some prospect of real recovery in the future. It is the most comprehensive, detailed policy that has ever been put before the electors. Our opponents have attempted to ridicule our proposals and they have stated on all sides that "it can't be done." My reply to them is that "it can't be don't" has been the cry of the defeated through the ages. We must hold our heads up and go forward boldly and courageously determined that " it must be done." I recognise the tremendous responsibility that reposes in me as leader of a party putting forward a policy which will affect the future destinies of every man, woman and child in New Zealand. It is a responsibility which I shall not evade and which I have not evaded. Nothing that my political opponents have said has disproved any single one of my statements or my proposals. I have shown to the people of New Zealand the way out, the way back to peace and security. With all my heart, deeply and sincerely, I believe in our cause and in the policy which 1 have put before you. I appeal to the psople of New Zealand to believe in our ideals and our policy, and to support us in our great task by supporting the candidates of the Democrat Party.