NATIONAL CANDIDATE

Putaruru Press, Volume XX, Issue 1209, 21 November 1946, Page 4

NATIONAL CANDIDATE

PILLS CIVIC THEATRE Good-humoured Interjections The National Party candidate for Waikato, Mr. G. F. Sim, addressed a comfortably filled Civic Theatre, Putaruru, on Tuesday evening, and was given an excellent hearing. At the conclusion of his address, to which there were a few good humoured interjections, the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, on the motion of Messrs. J. A. Spear and H. W. Baldwin. A vote of confidence in the National Party was also carried with applause. Mr. A. C. Anderson presided. At the conclusion of Mr. Sim's address, Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, a former Minister of the Crown, addressed the audience.

In opening his address, Mr. G. F. Sim referred to tho personnel of the National Party and their qualifications to undertake the task of governing this country. They were men qualified for the position due to the practical experience and success they had received in controlling their own affairs. Mr. Sim went on to deal with the methods of introducing legislation, and criticised the methods that have been adopted by the present Government of bringing down measures that had not been first submitted to the prtople, and questions of such vital importance that affected the whole setting up of'emreemstitetion. In this matter the' speaker refro--red specifically to the country quota and the nationalisation of the banks. In submitting the National Party policy in this respect, he stated that such methods would not be perpetuated by the National Party, as this system did not lend itself to sound legislation being placed on our Statute Books.

Mr. Sim went on to say that before majer legislation was introduced, She system at present operating in\- England, and called the White Pgoer system, would be adopted, whereby local bodies, newspapers and the people would have an opportunity to examine such pending legislation, and could then make constructive, suggestions, which it was felt would be much better in the interests of the whole of the people. Tho candidate also mentioned that it was becoming the -growing tendency for Ministers of the Crown to set themselves up as judges of their own laws, and it was tho National Party policy to repeal all such provisions, and to revert to the system of an open appeal to our own Courts of Justice. Also, instead of using the Order-in-Council practice of amending legislation to the maximum as has been done in the past, it will be curtailed to a minimum.

Regarding the Electoral Amendment Act, the speaker stated that the unanimous recommendations of the 1938 and 1945 Representation Commissions will be implemented. The basis in fixing the electoral boundaries will bo done on a total population basis and not on a voting population as it is at present. Furthermore, provisions for . a wider tolerance will .be made. The much discussed Bratton Woods Agreement was briefly dealt with by the sneaker, who gave some sound reasons why the ratification of the same should be opposed 1 . It was also the National Party’s policy to oppose the ratification of this agreement.

Being a returned serviceman, Mr. Sim showed clearly that he understood the many problems that have to be dealt with under this heading, and strongly criticised the present Government on controls that were at present operating to hinder the successful rehabilitation of many of our ex-servicemen. The transport business was a glaring example of hew our returned 1 men were being hampered in their efforts to try and establish themselves in their own

businesses. He believed that this war was fought so that we might remain free from regimentation and .bureaucratic control, but pointed out that we would never have these privileges for which men had fought unless the Labour Party went out of office, because it was their declared policy to socialise the means of production, distribution and exchange. Where we have had an example of this in other countries, it haß invariably led to one end—that of dictatorship.

Mr. Sim set out the National Party policy of preference for exservicemen—loo per cent, financial assistance in building homes, right of ownership and freehold of farms, businesses and homes. Housing was a question that would have to be tackled more vigorously than it had! been in the past, and was going to play a big part in the successful rehabilitation of our men, because they could not be expected to be successfully rehabilitated until they had decent living accommodation, so that they might then be able to take their rightful places in civilian life.

The speaker stated that he felt everyone should have the right to own thei* own home, and provision had been made for those who were at present living in Stato houses to have the opportunity of purchasing these on terms that would not impose any hardships on the present tenants. Where those tenants had been occupying State houses and had already paid sums by way of rent, 20 oer cent, of that which had been paid in the past would in future be towards a deposit and that the present rental would cover the full principal and interest. This would them give the people the right to own their own home when they reached the retiring age.

Provision had also been made for those wishing to build their own houses, whereby all houses built during the next three years for occupation by the owner, whether from Government, local body or private funds, and not exceeding £1750 in value, will qualify for a 'Government free of interest Suspensory loan of £IOO for civilians and £2OO for exservicemen. After the house has been occupied by the owner for five years the loan will be extinguished, and any house built under these schemes may not be sold within ten years without first being offered to the Govemmcmit, which will pay the original price, less depreciation. On homes being built by returned servicemen, the interest rates would remain as at present—2 per cent, for the first year and 3 . per cent, thereafter.

A provision which had created wide interest was that of the joint ownership scheme, which provides that in thci event of the death of either husband or wife, the family home will pass to the surviving wife or husband, as the case may be, without payment of gift, death or succession duties, which will be payable omly on the death of both husband and wife.

Taxation, which has become such a burden to-day, was discussed at some • length by the candidate, who pointed out that the total taxation in 1939 amounted to 37.7 million whereas to-day it had reached the colossal amount of 103 million pounds, and this, in the speaker’s opinion, clearly indicated the gross inefficiency of the Government to administer the affairs of this country. He further pointed out that it was doing as much as anything to kill incentive among the workers and 1 the producers, and as production had to be encouraged, and not discouraged, he felt that if relief was given in this direction, it would play a very important part in stimulating our production. There was without any question amipla room for reduction in this killing taxation as the Budget itself revealed that there is estimated over taxation of 21 million pounds this year. Labour speakers had tried to instil fear in the minds of the people, continued Mr. Sim, by telling them that if the National Party was returned to office, Social Security and other benefits would be reduced. No statements of this type were further from the truth because the National Party had not only pledged, itself to support existing Social Security legislation benefits that were at present received under Social Security. Even Ministers of the Government recognised that these benefits can only be maintained by keeping up p roduction, and there has been no one who has had greater appreciation of this fact in the past than the National Party members thems lives. This, fc.r one reason, is why the National Farty is so anxious to gain the Treasury benches to see that these benefits to our people are preserved.

As production is the vital factor in this matter, it is only reasonable to assume that with a party in powur who has an understanding

and an appreciation of such problems, we will achieve desired results; but with a party who has shown in the past that it is antagonistic towards producers, then the steady decline that we have been experiencing will continue.

Mr. Sim concluded his address on the strain that the greatest producers of the country would be the young people, and if given the opportunity in the future they would play their part equally as well towards winning tha victory in the peace, that all desired 1 , as they had proved themselves capable of gaining us a victory in war.