DEFENCE OF ACTIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1935, Page 8

DEFENCE OF ACTIONS

POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

MR. H. G. DICKIE AT KAKARAMEA. The Government’s actions during the past four years were defended by Mr. H. G. IJickie, M.P., in an address to the electors of Kakaramea on Wednesday night. Mr.' R. J. Watt presided over a good attendance and a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Dickie and the Government was carried. Mr. Didkie claimed that the Government’s blank cheque had not been illused and the policy in regard to the sale of gold enabled the Budget to be balanced finally. Wage reductions wefe not popular but were necessary to spread the burden of the depression over the whole community. The mortgage adjustment legislation evened the sacrifices of mortgagee and mortgagor. Mr. Dickie defended the Coalition and referred to the aloofness of the Labour Party at the time. He characterised the Democrat Party as being comprised of disgruntled politicians ’ and suggested that a vote for the Democrats was a vote for Labour. He also criticised the Democrats’ borrowing programme and said no country could borrow itself out of debt.

The candidate defended his action in connection with the exchange rate, and said that were the rate lowered immediately it would ruin many business people, who would lose 25 per cent, on all their stocks. The Coalition’s methods followed the -lines of those of the National Governme, in Britain, which had restored prosperity. The national debt was converted with a great saving and now salary and pension cuts had been restored and further benefits inaugurated.

In regard to dairy industry problems Mr. Dickie stressed the need there had been for drastic measures when the value of produce fell by more than £20,000,000 in 1931, and commended the Government’s actions as shown in the results of the Ottawa Conference. He criticised Labour’s guaranteed price and finance policies and ’ concluded by pointing out that he had lived in the electorate for 61 years, for 10 of which he had been member for the district. He had given his personal attention to any matter affecting his electorate. He had opposed any suggestion 'of a graduated land tax because he was opposed to a land tax on principle, said Mr. Dickie to a questioner. He thought the Labour Party if returned would impose such a tax, which was unfair. People should be taxed on income and not on land that might be unproductive.