“REFORM HAS BROKEN MANY PLEDGES AND INCREASED TAXES.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18579, 29 September 1928, Page 1

“REFORM HAS BROKEN MANY PLEDGES AND INCREASED TAXES.”

COUNTRY PARTY LEADER OUTLINES HIS POUCY. Per Press Association. HAMILTON. Septem’ 29. The platform of the Country Partv was outlined by Captain Rushwortl'v leader of the party, speaking to over 200 electors at Cambridge last night. He defined the party as one whose interests were the Dominion’s intent; not the farmers’ interests alone. The onomic balance of the country been upset by the Reform Governrn. The Country Party existed to effect an adjustment. He vigorously criticised the action of the Government in appointing a commission to investigate agricultural banking, and failing to give effect to the recommendations. This was only one of the many of Reform’s broken pledges. There were three conflicting interests in the Dominion, money lenders, wage earners and primary producers. The producers were practically unrepresented in Parliament. He pointed out that there were 57,000 immigrants in the last five years, in which period one would think at least 28,000 would go on the land. Instead 1400 had left. Mr M’Leod and Mr Hawken stated that land settlement was impossible owing to economic conditions. He had no quarrel with the Ministers for these statements, but for allowing the conditions to exist. The two main enemies of the farmers were the financial ring and taxation of the necessaries of life. Over 160 public bodies objected to heavy taxation on the means of production. The Government’s policy. was to tax farming ments and lift the duty on vacuum cleaners. The removal of taxation on the producers was the keystone of the Country Party’s policy. Captain Rushworth received a vote of confidence.