BROKEN PLEDGES

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22150, 23 September 1943, Page 6

BROKEN PLEDGES

ATTACK ON LABOUR MR SUTHERLAND’S MEETINGS The largest attendance in Morrinsville for a political address during the present campaign was prerent at a meeting on Tuesday night addressed by Mr A. S. Sutherland, National candidate for Hauraki. Mr Sutherland was greeted by applause and given a very attentive hearing, with very few interjections. A motion expressing thanks and confidence was carried by acclamation. The Mayor, Mr W. Hetherington, presided. In his opening remarks, the speaker stressed the necessity for a concentrated war effort and advocated the complete overhaul of manpower. Too many men were wasting their time in non-essential industries. More manpower was needed if farming production was to be maintained. Tnere should be an early investigation of war expenditure and there should be no conrentious legislation. The Government continued to bring down contentious legislation under the cloak of war. Outside domination of Parliament would have to cease, said Mr Sutherland. At present the Government was dominated by trades union officials. There would have to be a family tax reduction according to the size of the family and there would be an income tax revision to allow for the increased exemption of wives and children. Anomalies would be removed in regard to superannuitants and those who provided their own annuity and received only one benefit. More Producer Control Mr Sutherland advocated a progressive land settlement policy, with the right to freehold of farms and homes. There should be producer control and more assistance to the primary producer to assist in increased production. The Internal Marketing Division would have to be abolished and there must be less interference with the small trader and storekeeper. As far as broadcasting was concerned, there should be an amalgamation of the two services. Political propaganda would have to cease and there should be no political control. There should be access to the courts of justice instead of judgment by Ministers.

The National Party would overhaul the civil service and all vacancies would be advertised. Taxation injustices would be removed from civil servants. Broken Pledges

The Labour Government had broken its pledges to the people, brought down legislation inimical to the welfare of the community, and was itself ruled by outside domination, said Mr Sutnerland, when he addressed a large and attentive audience at Waitoa last night. A comprehensive outline of the National Party’s policy was also given by the speaker. Mr A. J. Luxton presided. The real contest was between Labour and National. Disraeli long ago had spoken words of wisdom when he said that an Independent in Parliament was one on whom little dependence could be placed. A truly non-party National Government was needed if a war effort was to be as effective as posssible. If the National Party were returned it would at once set about forming such a Government. There were too many men of outstanding ability who were not on the Government benches.

Mr Sutherland said that the governing of the country was being done more by Order in Council than anything else. Furthermore, there was too much outside domination of the Labour Government. This had become more evident than ever during the past few months. The Minister of Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, claimed that he was not dominated in this manner, but just as many trades union officials could be seen around this Minister’s door in Wellington as around the doors of the other Ministers. Rehabilitation Proposals Rehabilitation came second only to winning the war, continued Mr Sutherland. The National Party maintained that the Government had not done enough in regard to rehabilitation. The party had consistently advocated the setting up of a Ministry of Rehabilitation with a director of rehabilitation. The Government had at last consented to do this. Men should not be allowed to settle on the land without first a probationary period in some training centre where they would receive standard rates of pay. Before the settlement, of large blocks, roads and bridges should first be provided to ensure that development should be as efficient as possible. “Primary producers always become very important people at election time,” commented Mr Sutherland. The National Party was in favour of producer control and a maintenance reserve fund for postwar years. The latter fund was advocated because with lack of manpower and scarcity of fertilisers at present there would be greater need of maintenance after the war. Wharf Workers’ Earnings After indicating that the civil service merited the sympathy of the community, Mr Sutherland said that the same would not be said of the waterside workers. As chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board he could speak with some authority. Many of the waterside workers were earning £9OO, while between £6OO and £7OO represented average earnings. Costs of loading on the wharves had increased enormously but the time ot loading had decreased.

“The Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act. was brought down at the instigation of the Trades Hall and was hatched at the Easter conference,” commented Mr Sutherland. Referring td the party’s proposals to institute great training centres for ex-servicemen in a huge housing programme. Mr Sutherland criticised the present cost of State houses. The Government was charging 30s a week for the houses. The Government claimed that it borrowed the money at H per cent, yet it was charging the people about 12J per cent. The National Party would give the people the option of acquiring the freehold of the State houses at the present rent. Why should the people have to live in rental houses to suit the Labour .Government?

A vote of thanks and confidence, moved by Mr A. Wratt and seconded by Mr P. K. Hight, was carried by acclamation.