VIGOROUS SPEECH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27232, 8 November 1949, Page 8

VIGOROUS SPEECH

NATIONAL CANDIDATE MR G. C. STEPHENS OPENS CAMPAIGN “I appeal to the people of this city to do their utmost towards keeping New Zealand free. For if we in this country ever lose the thing we call our freedom it will not be through force or compulsion, but because we have lost our spirit; because personal dependence is easy just as independence is hard,” said Mr G. C. Stephens, National Party candidate for Mornington, opening his campaign last night. There was an attendance of about 250 persons in the Majestic Hall in King Edward street, and some had to stand. The candidate’s forceful speech was given an enthusiastic reception, practically free from interruption. “ I stand four-square for the Govern ment'' aiding the war wounded, the aged, the weak and the helpless—but let it stop seducing the strong,” the candidate declared. “ Let it cease making concessions to groups perfectly capable of helping themselves. If

waiting for the Government cheque ever becomes the favourite New Zealand pastime, then we are lost.” Mr Stephens gave the Government credit for much good legislation, but he was opposed to the direction in which it was now moving. It should not be forgotten that a large number of the social benefits had been extensions of those given by previous Governments. The National Party would not reduce wages, pensions, children’s allowances, or any of the social security benefits. Customer the Victim “In attacking private enterprise, the Scoialists are attacking you, the customer.” the candidate declared. “If any business in a free economy cannot supply the needs of the customer at a price he is willing to pay, it must go out of existence. No customer is bound to support inefficiency—except under Socialism.”

Early this year a Government securities loan became due for payment. Mr Stephens said. To pay the amount of £11,000,000 wanted by a number of holders, the Minister of Finance went to the Reserve Bank and created a credit for the money by printing it and “ socked ” the country’s already high inflation with paper money that had no relation to any compensating increase in the production of goods and services. “ This policy of inflation hits the wage earner of New Zealand right in the teeth,” Mr Stephens said. . “We can give you no guarantee of lush and easy times ahead,” he continued, “ nor promise of a rosecoloured existence. On the other hand you will not see pounds, shillings and pence become meaningless symbols. What has _ been earned by sweat, toil and skill, or saved by self-denial, shall command the power to buy goods at an equal value of sweat, toil and skill.

“We must devise a system which will take away from private endeavour the opportunity to exploit, and take away from the central planning envisaged by the Socialists the cruel grip which results in paralysis of effort and restrictions on freedom.”

When the National Party became the Government it would restore to the trade unions their position of full partner with the management. They would expect the trade unions and management to co-operate and work out a system in which security would be augmented by opportunity, and partnership would replace the mistrust and suspicion of the past. Mr Stephens invited his listeners to take the first step by rejecting the reckless SocialistCommunist inspired leaders who had played such havoc with the trade union movement.

The National Party believed in a system of profit sharing, Mr Stephens went on. The party was behind a system of high wages for the workers and high earnings for the boss. “It must be profits for everyone or profits for none,” the speaker declared. “The Socialists profess not to believe in the profit system. Indeed, if we glance at Government enterprise it would appear the the profit system has been replaced by the loss system. If this profit sharing scheme works, and we believe it can. the world can be saved from Communism.”

On the subject of assistance for the old people, Mr Stephens said he would advocate a cottage hostel system for housing the aged.. Nothing would give him greater pleasure than to see. in place of the present Talboys Home—the very epitome of the word institution—a group of cottages in the cheery surroundings that old- people deserved.

The four Dunedin Parliamentary representatives had no reason to be proud of their efforts in advancing the claims of the city, Mr Stephens said. Dunedin had contributed millions of pounds to the Government coffers but the return had been niggardly. “It is over 10 years since Wellington suburbs gained an electrified rail service, but where is ours? ” he demanded. “It is time you had more vigorous members in Parliament to push your claims.”