NATION OF “LEANERS”

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 81, Issue 7252, 15 September 1950, Page 5

NATION OF “LEANERS”

NEW ZEALANDERS’ DANGER ADDRESS BY MR. T. L. HAYMAN, M.P. New Zealanders were in danger of becoming a nation of “leaners” stated Mr. T. L. Hayman, National M.P. for Oamaru, when addressing a meeting of members, friends, and supporters of the National Party in Te Awamutu on Monday night. The meeting was held under the auspices of the local junior branch of the party. The speaker illustrated his statement with the case of a shelf of books supported by a pair of book ends. When the pressure became too great the book ends would fall outwards and the row of bocks would collapse. He urged the juniors to strive individuals to contribute to the common pool and not ju.3t to see how much they could get out of it. And not to fall into the Socialist error of waiting to have everything provided. There were famous salutes peculiar to certain nations. The old Roman salute; the Nazi and the Fascist salutes. The speaker lather feared that the New Zealand salute was that of holding out the hand to receive something—and if there was a variation of that, then it was to hold out both hands. Young people should build up a philosophy and to create for themselves an ideal —but to make sure the ideal was a good one. It was better to fail, than never to have made an attempt. There was no failure except when one gave up trying.

Mr. Hayman advised young people to read as much as possible. Books on travel, books of biography, not necessarily deep tomes, but even bad books as well as good. Then to develop an analytical and critical mindrf to form one’s own opinion and sift the good from the bad, and learn something from the experience. Referring to the menace of Communism in New Zealand the speaker thought while it was a very real danger it could not be combated by locking up the Communists. They would merely change the name of their organisation and continue as before. We must be able to present something better; the philosophy of the freedom of the individual from dictation by the State. And above all we must understand and believe in. the philosophy for which we stand. We seek to govern New Zealand in the best interests of all and we strive to give no cause for bitterness and class hatred.

Mr. Hayman considered it of not so much importance to support a particular political party, as it was to accept our civic responsibilities. He thought we were passing through a most dangerous period. Civilisations of the past that went to the wall did so after periods of great prosperity, ease and well being. The Junior National Party had a great future —they had a big job and great responsibilities. Their job was to help to wean the citizens of New Zealand away from the vicious teachings of Socialism. The every day work of the individual should be done well. The pride of workmanship should be in every job undertaken, no matter how humble that job might be. All jobs are important ones. The boy in the cowshed, the girl who is a nurse. She might be privileged to help save the life of a future prime minister. Mr. John Dudley presided over a good attendance of both junior and senior members and supporters. In introducing the speaker he referred to him as the man who defeated the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer for the Oamaru seat. Mr. G. F. S'im, M.P. for Waikato, was also present and welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Hayman to his district. Monday was spent in showing Mr. and Mrs. Hayman the sights and the farming lands of the Waikato. In the latter Mr. Hayman took a keen intei est as he is well known as a progressive farmer in his own district as well as an agricultural contractor. After the meeting Mr. and Mrs. Hayman, together with Mr. G. F. Sim, left on the Limited express for Wellington. Biographical Details Mr. Thomas Leonard Hayman, National Member for Oamaru, was born at Studholme Junction in 1904. He was educated at Mukuroa High School and Waimate District High School, where he was dux in 1921. After leaving .school he took up farming, and from 1926 to 1946 drove and organised a threshing plant, while at the same time carrying on a mixed farm at Studholme. His contracting experience has given him a useful insight into industrial relations. Mr. Hayman has a long record of service on public bodies in his district, including the Mukuroa School Committee, of which he was secretary, and Wainono Drainage Board, of which he has been chairman for the past three years. He is a member of the W T aimate High School Board and of the South Canterbury Electric Power Board, being deputy-chairman of the latter body. He is a senior vice-president of the Dominion Agricultural Section of Federated Farmers, and chairman of the Waimate Potato Growers’ Association. He has been treasurer of the Mukuroa Methodist Church Trust since 1934.

Mr. Hayman is a married man with thiee children. His two sons are in partnership with their father in farming and contracting. The Labour majority in Oamaru in 1936 was 232.