NATIONAL CLAIMS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22612, 17 May 1945, Page 6

NATIONAL CLAIMS

CANDIDATE’S ADVOCACY MRS HILDA ROSS AT MELVILLE I ! Brevity was the keynote of the • address given by Mrs Hilda Ross, the National Party candidate for the Hamilton by-election, at Melville I last night. Mr R. H. Condor presided. The candidate was frequently applauded for her remarks, and at the close she was accorded a vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr J. Watts, seconded by Mrs J. Graham. Mrs Ross, at the outset, justified her candidature by claiming that ! there was room and need for at least one more woman in Parliament, j Women had done exceedingly well jin helping to win the World War. iThey had worked in all places where men could work, and they had thus earned the right to work in Parliament, and to help in the country’s rehabilitation. It was idle to suggest that women could not deal capably -with the country’s finances. Women, by the very nature of their household occupations, had learned I to balance their budgets—and they balanced them far more satisfactorily jthan did the men, making ends meet. Women all over the Dominion had I “made good” in local body affairs. Party’s Policy | Speaking of national affairs and the present by-election, the candidate claimed that the Opposition would be returned to the Treasury Benches next year at the general elections, and, led by Mr S. G. Holland, would administer the country’s affairs wisely and well. There would be repeal of some of the present restrictive legislation and the introduction of new legislation, designed to encourage freedom of action for the individual, ; freedom to establish business, to [own homes and farms, and freedom to { accept employment in a class of 'enterprise ;to which one’s desires 'turned. | The candidate produced a little book that had been issued to support the claims of the Labour Government, and she criticised some of I the claims made. For instance, she ! said, there was reference to the soup ! kitchens of the depression years. She had actively associated herself with public affairs in Hamilton, and there were certainly no soup kitchens in Hamilton, nor were there queues lined up awaiting charitable aid. She was surprised that the Laboor Government authorised such claims. Another “fact” in the book was that on attaining office the Labour Party found there were 80,000 people unemployed. Her researches into official returns gave the following figures: 1931, 27,000; 1932, 64,000; J 1933, 67,000; 1934, 54,000; 1935, 50,iooo, and 1937, 27,000. Th#t showed that when the present GS»<:mment took office there was a very decided 1 downward trend in unemployment. This was due to private enterprise functing again. The depression had been, world-wide, not confined to New Zealand. No Free Medical Service

Mrs Ross condemned the claims that maternity expenses had been made free. There was no free medical service, for everyone had to pay Is in the £1 tax on wages and income. There was a 20 per cent sales tax on children’s clothing, increased from 5 per cent, and there was no sign of it being removed. The claims, she contended, were fallacious and ridiculous.

j Claims that the present Government had provided up-to-date schools were certainly not sustained i.. Hamilton, continued Mrs Ross, where electric light had to be kept on all day in the lower classrooms at Hamilton East. The staff rooms at the Hamilton Technical High School were in a deplorable condition. Much the same conditions prevailed in Auckland schools, and no doubt in many other places. School committees still had to beg for funds to maintain their schools and provide various amenities.

The candidate criticised the claims that the Government had provided houses for 80,000 people. The 'figure was not above 60,000, but the people were not in homes, merely houses rented to tenants. The National Party would give occupants the option of owning the premises. The Fair Rents Act had been made law in 1916, and implemented in 1927. Last year the Government had introduced legislation to evvax railwaymen, but the watchful Natfonal Party had successfully fougnt that legislation. The claim that there has not been an increase in the cost of living was declared to be ridiculous. The candidate next referred to the frequent overseas tours of members of the Cabinet and to Ambassadorial appointments. Rise of Socialism

The National Party’s intention to let the people own their own homes, farms and business was contrasted with the Government’s policy of public ownership, thus wiping cut the small man and leaving big firms alone. She declared the iise of Socialism tended to create class differences and friction among groups and individuals, whereas the ideal was for all to work together as a community. There was also condemnation of the manpower provisions to direct men and women to certain jobs. Mrs Ross said up to five weeks ago girls could be imprisoned for disregarding a manpower direction to work, even if that work vas 400 miles away. Now there was an election looming, that provision had been rescinded. After paying a tribute to the ability and worth of the present Leader of the National Party, Mr S. G. Hol- ! land, the candidate declared she ! subscribed fully to the main planks ,! of the party platform, and asked her !! audience to accept her assurance that she was a woman curable of making up her own mind—her whole public career was indicative of that —and if she did not fully subscribe ! she would not hesitate to say so. Then she briefly enumerated the main planks, and defended them as being wise and in the best interests , of the whole of the people.