FEMININE VIEWS UPON CURRENT AFFAIRS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 122, 29 May 1946, Page 3

FEMININE VIEWS UPON CURRENT AFFAIRS

MRS. HILDA ROSS, M.P, IN WANGANUI LARGE iMEETING ADDRESSED. Pclitical and economic issues of the day from the feminine point of view, were dealt, with by Mrs. Hilda Ross, M.P. for Hamilton, when she addres - ed a meeting in Wanganui yesterday after.loon. The Opera House was filled for the occasion, which was arranged by the Wanganui branch of '.he N.Z. National Party. Though the audience was mostly composed of women there was a fair sprinkling of men present and Mrs. Ross was frequently applauded. She was accorded a vote of thanks at the conclusion of her address.

Mrs. E. W. Merewether, deputyMayoress, presided, and also on the platform were Mrs W. E. Robbie, wife of +ne chairman of the Wanganui National Party Electoral Committee.

Miss E. Newton, president, and Miss \. Matthews, secretary of the Wonen’s Committee.

Mrs. Ross said she was not present to try and convert anybody, but to tell them what the National Party was doing. The leader of the party, ,Mr. S. G. Holland, was respected by all members, and he led a team which was representative of all sections of the community, being successful outness and professional men, farmer . and the like. It was logical, therefore. to seek the advice of such men, whe knew what they were talking about.

“During the war women worked in every sphere where men did” said Mrs Rcss. “Now we are going to do an equally good job of work in running the affairs of the country. It has always been said that the ladies ‘can bring a basket and wash the dishes’ but we are changing that.” CONTROLS SHOULD END.

Mrs. Ros; said that every thinking woman was tired of the ' continual w» r-time controls, such as the coupon system. It was not right, either, that they should be unable to buy househc.Q goods they needed so badly. We were exporting our surplus produce to Britain, but were unable to impoit th'; goods which Britain was anxious to tell abroad, because of the Government's import restrictions. Regarding the provision of the extra food for Britain Mrs. Ross said much more could be sent if the Government tei milted it.

“When the National Party gets into power we will implement a proper system of preferential trading with Britain,” Mrs. Ross added. “It has been said that the National Party will cut wages and pen ions if it gets into power. That, is nonsense, ano I can assure you that nothing of the kind will be done. One of the things we will do, however, is to abolish the sales tax. which adds so much to the cost of living and other necessities ’’

Mr.’. Ross pointed out. that the Label.!, r Party described the sales tax as

Iniquitous when it was in Opposition, hut when it came into power it had raised the sales tax to 20 per cent. It. nad also raised the incidence of taxation to the highest level ever known. MANY PLEDGES BROKEN

1 he Labour Party had broken many pieages, including its promises not to na’icnalise the Bank of New Zealand or t.c abolish the country quota. Aboiiiion of the latter meant that the man and his wife with six children were given no more say in the conduct of the country than a childless marlieu couple. “Provision of adequate housing Is the country’s most urgent problem,” Mrs. Ross continued. “One of the chief causes of the shortage is the excxs; profits tax. Because of this the timber millers have not the incentive to increase production of housing ma‘crial, because if they do most of the ■ a turn is taken by the Government. The National Party has prepared a ic'mite housing plan, and it is a good

<ne Just what it is we arc not saying yet, as we don’t want it copied, but it will be given to the people befctfe the election.”

Mrs. Ross said that the Labour Gov-r-rnment had produced many State bou'es, which were very good jobs. The National Party would improve the State housing system, however, by permitting tenants to buy the houses if they wished. It was said that it would take them a lifetime to do this, but it had to be remembered that vvJicj the time came for them to reDre they would be living rent free. “We want people to have their own homes and to be in the jobs they prefer,” Mrs. Ross added. “If young couDles are buying their own homes the? have an incentive to save and bulla up po. sessions ♦hemselves. They do not have that incentive when they are living in rented homes.” HEALTH AND FARiAHNG.

Referring to the ever-increasing call on hospital accommodation, Mrs. Ross said that this could be reduced if a start were made in the schools to improve the health of children. Financing the hospitals would also have to be overhauled co that the cost was s( lead over the whole community inttrad of being a burden on a section

of (he ratepayers. The conditions of nurses also called for revision, Mrs. Ross said. They got les.‘ money than the hospital domestic s affs while they were training and did dirtier work.

Better living and working conditions were also needed in the country if young people were to be encouraged to make farming a lifetime job. When wage; and amenities were so g oci in the towns and cities it was country people were attracted. The Prime Minister was taking a belated in*erest in the farmer, this being elec- • .on year, but there were many things he would have to do before the farmers had received justice. If there was a -..ccline in production because of un • fa i conditions imposed on farmers It would not be long before a lot of people in the country felt the ill-effects. During the course of her addre s Urs. Ross also dealt with the need for rcimitting private enterprise and free competition to make common-sense adjustments in the country’s economy. There would have to be a restoration Gf the rights of the individual to make h’s own life, she said, unhampered by tie dictatorial influences of unions •and pre sure groups.