DEMOCRAT LEADER

Wairarapa Daily Times, 18 November 1935, Page 6

DEMOCRAT LEADER

ADDRESS AT MASTERTON. TO A LARGE AUDIENCE. Listened to by practically 1000 people on Saturday night, Mr T. C. A. Hislop, C.M.G., Leader of the DemocratParty and candidate for the Masterton seat at the general election, received a very sympathetic hearing when he delivered a speech at the Municipal Hall. The hall was crowded, and those who could not gain admittance were able to listen to a loud speaker placed on the outside of the hall. Owing to the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, the deputyMayor, Mr W. White, presided. Introducing Mr Hislop, Mr White said that, as the Mayor was unable to be present, he naturally sent along the next best man. Mr Hislop was accompanied on the platform by Mrs Hislop and a number of supporters. A bouquet was presented to Mrs Hislop, and a buttonhole to Mr Hislop by Miss Joan Carter. ' On rising to speak, Mr Hislop was greeted with prolonged applause. Thanking the audience for their welcome, Mr Hislop said he ventured to say that the occasion was his return home —(applause)—after a six weeks’ tour throughout New Zealand, speaking every day and every night. He had covered'a longer tour by land, sea and air than had ever been covered by any political leader in the history of New Zealand. He was happy to be back, said Mr Hislop, and regretted being absent and showing lack of courtesy during the recent visits of some distinguished visitors, one who deigned to say that the Democrats did not count and had no hope. (A voice: “Neither have you.’’) Visits had also been paid by Sir Alexander Young and the Prime Minister.

A voice: “We fixed him; counted him out.’’

Mr Hislop: “I know; you’ve very kind.” “Sir Alfred Ransom is also coming,” said Mr Hislop, “but I’ll be here. On the other hand, when I was away and apparently discourteous, for the ■ purpose of fighting this battle, I had the help of someone in fighting my fight, and that is my wife.” (Applause.) While away, continued Mr Hislop, one of the first questions he was asked was why the Democrats were in the field, and what did they stand for. The reason was not a difficult one. He asked those present to cast their minds back in political history. There had been two great political parties —the great Liberals, under Grey, Sedclon and Ward, and the Reformers, led by Massey. One or other of those had guided the destinies of New Zealand until a

short time ago, when we had that unholy union called the Nationalists, who had betrayed that -first basic principle of those old parties —the right of the individual to be free from State controland domination, and to be able to 'work out his own destiny. (Applause.) Therein lay the betrayal by these socalled Nationalists. The country was drifting into a condition of National State Socialism, said Mr Hislop. Mr Coates had said that he was entitled to have such advisers as he thought fit, but, said Mr Hislop, these gentlemen were Socialists, believers in National State Socialism, and- the people of New Zealand were entitled to know about these gentlemen. Ultimately we would have socialism of agriculture in this country. The Supreme Council of Agriculture was changed to the Executive Council of Agriculture, because the former name had been far too obvious of ultimate intentions. This Act had complete power over every farmer in New Zealand. There -was no other country in the world, including Russia, that' had passed an Act that carried out the principles of National State Socialism to a more far-reaching extent. The Government had gone completely into the arms of State Socialism, and these advisers to the Government were admitted Socialists. Referring to the Boards set up by the Government, Mr Hislop said that the present Government was the most wooden Government there had ever been. (Laughter and applause.) They had become drugged with State Socialism. There were now 144 boards, in L chiding the Tobacco Board, set up last session. One of the first things the Democrat Party would do would be to clean up a lot of these boards. (Applause.) . Referring to the Broadcasting Board, Mr Hislop said the Leader of the Labour Party and the Leader of the Government had decided that there would be no broadcasting of politics over the air. He had not been consulted, and had every right as leader of a party to be consulted. When the writs were issued there were no members of Parliament, so he had every right to be consulted. New Zealand was the only country in the world, including Britain, where political leaders were denied the right to speak over the air. In reply to an interjection that could not be heard, Mr Hislop said: “I could not hear that- remark. There is a lot of static in your voice—(laughter and applause) —at least, I hope it is only static. ’ ’

Continuing, Mr Hislop said the burden of piling on of taxation was no way out of a country’s difficulties. Taxation should be as light as possible and allow secondary industries to be developed. Mr Coates’ 1935 Budget, which had just been introduced, and which he won’t see the end of, showed that it cost 25 millions to run a country of 1A millions population. It was not the way out to pile up taxation. Had there been some benefit to the community there would have been some justification for the increase in taxation. But, said Mr Hislop, there were 10,090 more men on the dole than at any time during the last three years. That was flic record of the Government. The principles were entirely wrong. A' voice: <( You sacked 300 men m

Wellington. ’ ’ Mr Hislop: “No city in New Zealand has spent more money in helping the unemployed than the city of Wellington.” There was no country more gifted with the resources of nature than New Zealand, said Mr Hislop, and no country could absorb in productive work its population more easily. The Democrats proposed to tackle the problem in a different way. The test which would be applied to any work for the relief of unemployment was, “Would the result be capable of supporting itself ?” Anyone would be permitted to put forward a scheme, and if it would stand the test it would be gone on with. The country had greater untapped resources than any other country in the world. Central Otago, for instance, could, with

proper irrigation work carried out, carry thousands more people. At Rotorua forests 1000 men could be put on reproductive work almost immediately. (Applause.) The critics.say it can’t be done —so say Mr Coates and Mr Coates’ leader, Mr Forbes. What was their record? asked Mr Hislop. The railway workshops at Auckland and Wellington and elsewhere had tens of thousands of pounds sunk in them. They were certainly up-to-date workshops, but were 100 years ahead of their time. Interjections: “Your organiser is responsible.” “Who organised that?” Mr Hislop: “Keep on an intellectual plane. Wait till you hear what I have to say.” Interjector: “We won’t see you on election day.” Mr Hislop: “No, you won’t; I’ll be miles ahead of you.” (Applause.) In dealing with the question of helping the farmer, Mr Hislop said that the Democrat Party would get away from the silly artificiality of the exchange by means of a direct bounty. (A voice: “Guaranteed prices.”) Mr Hislop: “No, it is not a guaranteed price, but you can say what you like.” Continuing, Mr Hislop said it was proposed to use the direct bounty method which was in use in Great Britain and in Canada. It would not be paid irrespective of price. A bounty of 2d per lb: could have been paid direct to every farmer last year without any increased cost. The money would come from the steady reduction of the exchange from whicli it would be saved. Mr Hislop detailed the health and pensions scheme worked out by the Democrat Party, which would give medical and hospital treatment, sick leave pay, tuberculosis and cancer treatment, to all persons and their dependents whose annual income was not more than £267 per year. There would be an increase of approximately 20 per ceilt in pensions, and pensioners would be allowed to have a greater amount of property margin. The unemployment tax would be reduced to 6d. Mr Hislop gave an assurance that the whole of the schemes would be carried out to the letter. (Applause.) It had been said it could not be done, but, said Mr Hislop, these people say it can’t be done because they don’t want it to be done by any other party. Referring to returned soldiers, Mr Hislop said that the unfit man was still required to prove that his ill-health was due to war service. The Democrat policy was that the onus would be on the State to prove that the soldier’s condition was not due to war service. The present conditions had lasted all too long. (Applause.) .His party intended to repeal the whole of the sales tax and the gold export tax, said Mr Hislop. He did not care “tuppence” about those financiers who say it cannot be done — he said it could be done and it would be done. (Applause.) Mr Forbes said it could not be done —that it was a gambler’s throw and touting for votes! Mr Coates said much the same thing. According to Mr Coates it would cost an additional £22,000,000. Previously Mr Coates had said that the Labour Party’s guaranteed- plan would cost £22,000,000. Both could not be the same. A lot had been heard of promises from the Government, continued Mr Hislop. These National people promised the restoration to the civil servants of 7 per cent just before the election, that 8000 would be put in full work at full rates of pay, just before the election (A voice: “They mean next election”), a housing scheme was brought forward, just before the election, a health and pensions scheme was brought forward, a scheme which Mr Coates’ own budget only a month before had condemned as it would cost £12,000,000. Iu Hamilton, Sir Alexander Young had promised a new post office at a cost of £50,000 —and so it went on, said Mr Hislop. This barren hen of a Government was laying egg upon egg, but, said Mr Hislop, the eggs were tainted. (Laughter and applause.) The Auditor-General, said Mr Hislop, a man of high authority and ability, who was above politics and not afraid to speak his mind —-(applause) —had criticised the Government’s methods of keeping its accounts, and had criticised them vigorously and trenchantly. The Minister of Finance was empowered to transfer funds from one account to an-

other, and this was the only British country to which such power had ever been transferred. Such transfers had

the appearance, said Mr Hislop, of making the budgetary position appear better than it really was, and the public should know the truth. (Applause.) There had been a lot of talk, said Mr Hislop," mainly through advertisements, that New Zealand must have* a National Government. There was, however, a great difference between the National Government of Great Britain and that of the New Zealand Government. There Avas a great difference in the principles and policy and basic ideals to those of Messrs Forbes and Coates. There had never been the breaches of contract. The conversion of loans in Great Britain had always been entirely voluntary, and the loans had never been converted until the loans were due for repayment. In New Zealand they had been called voluntary, but were liable to compulsory conversion, and the New Zealand Government had not waited till the leans were due. Referring to Government debentures, Mr Hislop said these had been selling in New Zealand right up to the time that the rate was reduced from 5 per cent to 4 per cent. They were being sold the day before the reduction in the interest at the higher rate. If that was not dishonesty, said Mr Hislop, he did not know what was. (Applause.) The British Government had come through a far greater crisis than New Zealand had had to face with

honesty in dealing, and had come through till it again led the world with a name unsullied and untarnished. (Applause.) . . In conclusion, Mr Hislop said his party was- not touting - for votes, but had come forward because of belief in the bond of men, with ideals to keep New Zealand free from National State Socialism. They were tired of the drift year after year, with the country getting further 'into the hands of

State Socialists. (Applause.) The Democrat Party stood for sanity of Government and the freedom of the individual. The Democrats were the party of true democracy, and believed utterly and entirely in it. (Prolonged applause.) Mr Hislop then answered a large number of questions, and when a member of the audience rose and moved a hearty vote of thanks to Air Hislop foi his address, and confidence in the Democrat Party, the motion was greeted with hearty applause from all sides of the hall, accompanied by whistling and a number of “Noes.” The chairman then called for a show of hands. The motion was carried by an overwhelming majority of the approximately 800 people in the hall n-' self.

The chairman then thanked the audience for giving Mr Hislop an attentive hearing. There were, said Mr .White, somewhere about 1000 listening to Air Hislop that evening, and though there had been a good deal of good-natured banter, the audience had behaved themselves wonderfully well. (Applause.) Air Hislop then moved a vote cf thanks to the chairman, and said that if returned he would devote all the effort he had to furthering the interests of the district.

QUESTIONS. Asked whether he was in favour of local bodies receiving exemption from petrol tax and heavy license fees, Mr Hislop said he favoured local bodies and private individuals being treated alike. “Was it not a fact that the Democrat Party was financed by vested interests?” Air Hislop was asked. Air Hislop: “I don’t know any vested interests, but would be glad if some of those vested interests would come along —then it would not cost me quite so. much. ’ ’ “Were not the Democrat Party finding it difficult to get people to come forward and work on its election committee?” Air Hislop: “We have a very large and enthusiastic committee for’campaign purposes.” (Applause.) “Will you pledge yourself to keep Alasterton dry?” Air Hislop: “That is a question to be decided by each individual voter for himself.” “Would you be in favour of dental clinic privileges being extended to include Catholic schools?” Air Hislop: “The health scheme of the Democrat Party covers everybody, irrespective of denomination.” “Why didn’t you stand for a seat in Wellington?” Mr Hislop: “Because there was not a seat in Wellington where I could get a clear run. Furthermore, I have more interests in this constituency than the other two candidates put together; also I will be living here more and in the true sense of the word than one of them.” “As not one of Air Davey’s parties has fulfilled its promises, what guaram tee is there that the Democrats will fulfil theirs?” Air Hislop: “I know Air Davcy well, and there is not a better organiser in this country, but All Davcy does not dictate to me.” “Was not Air Wm. Goodfellow one of the movers in the Democrat movement, and is he behind the movement?” Air Hislop: “I do not know Air Goodfellow by sight, and have never spoken to him.I only know him by name. He was one of the original beginners of the Democrat party. The policy of the Party today was worked out by the candidates themselves. Air Goodfellow is in no way connected with the Party now,. I don’t want you to think I am saying anything against Air Goodfellow. I don’t know him.” C Would you resign from the Mayoralty of Wellington if elected?” Mr Hislop: “That depends on circumstances. I alwavs carry out my duties efficiently.” (Applause.)