DEMOCRAT POLICY

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1935, Page 7

DEMOCRAT POLICY

MR. H. CAVE’S EXPOSITION. VOTERS WRITE PAGE OF HISTORY. Mr. H. Cave, Democrat candidate for the New Plymouth seat, addressed an audience of 100 at the Clifton Hall, Waitara, last night. He repeated the main planks in the programme of the party, already published, ■ and in referring to high exchange said it was hoped at the end of a year, after consultation with the Reserve Bank, to reduce the rate by 10 per cent, and gradually get back to parity with London. The high exchange was a costly way of giving relief. It amounted in fact to paying £13.000,000 to give the farmer relief amounting to £4,500,000. The Democrat Party admitted the farmers needed help, and appreciated the efforts of the Government in that direction, but disagreed with the method chosen.

Mr. Cave referred to the party’s plan for the reform of the education system, and the reform of Parliament, with a possible reduction in the number of members. He referred to the criticism by Mr. Hislop in regard to the public accounts, and claimed that the Democrat Party was the only party that stood for- free and'untrammelled development of private enterprise. He appealed to the women and young electors to use their vote with all seriousness. It was not the candidate but the party and the he supported that mattered. Personal feelings should not count and a vote for the National candidate meant, in effect, consent to the policy of the present Government, with all that it had entailed in high taxation, reductions in pensions, and the unemployment relief policy of the Government. It signified approval of the extra year’ of Parliamentary life, which meant that the country was virtually disfranchised for a year. To record a vote was to write a page of history. The Democrat Party had a definite plan for the worker by increasing his spending power through lowered taxation. It offered the farmer freedom from State interference and a direct subsidy if such were needed. The party hoped also to increase harmony between town and country. It offered the business people freedom and lowered taxation and the preservation of the sanctity of contracts. To investors the same protection was offered, and to pensioners an. increase, with special increases and consideration for the ex-soldier pensioners and their dependents. To young people the party 'offered greater opportunity. for employment and the development of their future.

In conclusion Mr. Cave asked electors to sum up the policies offered and to use their vote in an intelligent manner, satisfying their own consciences that they were supporting the policy most likely to benefit their country. Asked what the Democrat Party would do if the election resulted in no party having a majority, Mr. Cave said the last time that happened the United Party was allowed to form a Government, but there was always the danger that such a Government could be put out of office by an adverse vote in the House. The questioner suggested that it might be wise to appeal to the country again if such a condition arose. Mr. Cave said the Democrat Party would vote with Labour to put the present Ministry out, but it would not support a Labour Government. The party agreed that the people should have the right to decide the' Government they desired to hold office. At the close of Mr. Caves address a recorded speech by the leader of the party, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, was released. The speech traversed some of the points raised, by Mr. Hislop in his speech at New Plymouth last week and asked for the support of the Democrat party at the polls. A vote of thanks to the candidate for his address and to the chairman, Mr. E. A. George, for presiding, were carried unanimously.