"ROSY DREAMS OF SOCIALISM HAVE GONE ASTRAY"

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 May 1949, Page 4

"ROSY DREAMS OF SOCIALISM HAVE GONE ASTRAY"

Today's Conditions Looked At From Women's Point Of View An address by Mrs. W. J. Polson was listened to with great attention and interest by a large assembly of women at the Gonville Town. Hall yesterday afternoon.

She gave trenchant reasons why Kew Zealand will deteriorate under Socialism and will become a third-rate people in industry and in standards of living. “What," asked the speaker, “are the results of the rosy dreams of socialism? From the women's point of view the cost of living has risen so high under socialism that it takes almost every penny just to live. The interferference with the natural laws of supply and demand have discouraged production: Fruit and vegetables and fish are expensive and scarce, eggs almost non existent. The five-day 40-hour week is not an unmixed blessing to the housewife. More leisure for men means more problems for women Take blankets: The Government is being asked to allow traders to import blankets. In the past New Zealand produced all her requirements, about 200,000 pairs a year. Now only 120,000 are produced. Government planning means that we shall need to import articles which, under former freedom, were produced in New Zealand. The power cuts make misery for women, housing is delayed because of falls of production in coal, causing the Portland cement works to operate only halt their plant. Many comforts of the old days have vanished. '“The Government has greatly increased administration which takes personnel away from production. A sample of the ideas of the Socialist Government is the Prime Minister's Department. In 1936 it consisted of three persons and the cost of administration was under £3OOO. Today the cost is 70 times as much, £234,245.0f the taxpayers’ money being required to finance this immensely swollen department. PUBLIC DEBT. “Then take the public debt. During the last four years (1931-1935) of a non-Labour Government, the public debt had increased by £4,500,000. In the first four years of Labour Government (1935-39) it increased £23,500,000, while the total increase to date, under the socialists, is £323 1-3 millions. Ai d this for a population of well under two millions. Nor can all this be excused by the war. It is largely due to Government extravagance. “The enormous increase in Govern-

ment activity means enormous increases in taxation burdens to th# average man and woman. In New Zealand income tax begins at £2OO of income. In Australia up to £5OO is exempt. Both Australia and Canada have greatly reduced taxation in the last yeai or two. Why has New Zealand not done so? Before Labour came to ofiice the annua! taxation was £26 millions. Now it has reached the colossal amount of £123,000,000, last year s figure. And a population of two millions is squeezed for this enormous sum. Social benefits can only be maintained if production is maintained and increased. Production is the only source of real welfare. "Unduly heavy taxation on profits and savings destroys incentive, restricts growth, and checks progress. Ruthless taxation slows down industrial progress, delays advancement towards higher living standards in order to have extravagant Government spending today. But that is part of the Socialist policy. The remits to the forthcoming Labour Conference urge the Government to take control of more and more industries. But is the Government making a success of those it has already commandeered? Is coal of better quality or cheaper than before?” asked Mrs. Polson. “Mr. Ormond Wilson, Labour M,P., has said that two important problems still have to be faced: The kind of management to be worked out for socialised industry and the method of superseding private ownership. Dr. Finlay, Labour M.P., has kindly said, however, that a person’s clothes, radio, and car will not be taken from-him. “The fundamental difference bebetween the Socialists and the National Party is this: Socialists believe in the supreme importance of the State. The National Party believes in the importance of the individual. Socialists plan to grasp control of everything. The National Party will reduce Government interference, foster individual enterprise, free individual energy, and establish the individual right to take an opportunity. “A free scheme of government will improve living and working conditions and make for contended, happy people. The National Party has a good leader, a good Parliamentary team, a sound policy and a belief that our grand country is worth working for.” Mrs. Polson was accorded enthusiastic applause from the large gathering.