NATIONAL PARTY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23288, 25 August 1945, Page 4

NATIONAL PARTY

Points In Policy Outlined Removal Of Sales Tax Proposed (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 24. "We arc determined to address ourselves to the problem of maintaining more production,” said the Leader of the Opposition IMr S. G. Holland) in an address to the annual conference of the National Party which concluded to-day. Declining production, he said, was a matter of the utmost seriousness to New Zealand. Last year dairy production was less by 70,000,0091 b than it was three years before. “Our standard of living.” said Mr Holland, "consists of what we produce for ourselves. In our policy we give great attention to profit-sharing and improved industrial relationships. There must be an incentive for men to produce more and earn more. We must reduce the wage tax so as to leave more with the people. We think it should be made worthwhile for people to save and be self-reliant. The Government’s policy is to encourage everyone to lean on the State, and we disagree with that.”

Mr Holland said that Britain took more than 80 per cent of our primary products and could be relied upon to buy our products provided we gave her the goods she wanted at the right price and with the right to fair competition on our own markets. There was a danger that if we continued to assert the right to select what we bought from Britain. Britain would say that she would select what she bought from us, and this might revive the danger of the quota such as was threatened in 1938. Full Employment The National Party was determined to maintain a policy of full employment and would‘restore to the farmer control of his own affairs. There would be producer-control of marketing, with Government co-operation if it were needed. The housing policy of the Rational Party, by removing the sales tax, would effect a pronounced reduction in the cost of houses. In the same way the National Party would reduce by' half the cost of work-saving appliances needed by women in their daily housework.

“We propose to bring down the cost of living,” said Mr Holland, “and to see that the women of New Zealand have restored to them their freedom of choice in buying the things they need.” Mr Holland’s address was received with acclamation, and a motion of thanks and confidence in him was passed.

The following officers were elected:— President, Mr W. J. Sim, K.C.; vicepresidents, Messrs G. M. Smith (Auckland) and A. M. Bislev (South Auckland). P. J. Wall (Wellington), E. R. Comer (Canterbury), G. W. Lane (Otago-Southland); women vice-presi-dents: North Island. Mrs R. H. F. Hardley (T.auranga). South Island, Mrs J. Campbell (Dunedin); vice-president representing the Maori race, Mr H. Marumaru (Wanganui).