COUNTRY PARTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17992, 10 April 1930, Page 9

COUNTRY PARTY.

ACTIVITIES AT MATANGI. ADDRESS BY MR S. N. ZIMAN. The unsatisfactory economic conditions existing in New' Zealand and a .sound constructive policy as a remedy to improve matters connected with the Dominion’s economic difficulties, wore themes of an able address delivered under the auspices of the Country Party Poliitcal League in the Matangi Hall hy Mr S. N. Ziman, the official candidate, when outlining the platform of his party. Mr W. D. Ranstead occupied the chair, presiding over a good attendance. ~ Mr Ziman briefly outlined the circumstances which actuated his entij into the political arena. He touched on the science of political economy, referring to the difficulties confronting the Dominion’s primary and seccodary industries to-day, due largely to disorganisation before and after the wai, and the detrimental effect on New Zealand prices due to the financial upheaval in America more recently. Unemployment, world-wide, naturally followed such conditions, and had already led to the setting up of undesirable organisations in Russia and Italy which, if not checked, threateend to dominate the world. The incidence of protective taxation in the establishment of industries was not favoured by the speaker, who gave examnles of many on the verge of insolvency due to the protection received, and in the end neither the manufacturer nor the worker w’as any better off. To remove the result of wrong action in the past will be a slow process Industries will be helped by Empire free trade. The British Empire must be maintained hy helping the British merchant, and it was no use attempting this under the guise of protective taxation. He would not, however, favour the removal of taxation on foreign goods. Customs taxation was obviously unfair. An income tax no one could object to paying, according to their ’’ earnings, and he could never understand why farmers wore

exempted from this lax. Alluding to the wheat-growers of the South Island whom it was necessary to help, the speaker favoured the subsidising of these men, which in his opinion would bring down the cost of | living more than anything else. j • Finance Discussed. ! I Speaking of finance he said: Money) must be mads available at a reasonable price. The rural credit system, although a good measure, was too slow and failed to meet the situation. The establishment of an agricultural was essential. The buying out of' shareholders and the merging of the Bank of New Zealand into such an institution would be an excellent scheme, tending to the interests of the community as a whole. Tire .speaker referred to the term often applied to the leaders of the Country Party—that they were idealists. Of this he was proud, and their high aims and principles it would be his ambition to carry out if given an opportunity. After inviting questions the speaker resumed his seat, receiving an ovation. A vote cf thanks was accorded the speaker for his interesting lecture. Election of Officers. At a subsequent meeting officers of the Matangi Branch of the Country Party Political League were elected as follows: —Chairman, Mr J. T. Bryant; secretary, Mr W. L. Ranstead. The chairman and secretary were appointed delegate and deputy-dele-gate respectively to meetings of the League Council.