LEADER OF OPPOSITION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 85, 8 November 1939, Page 5

LEADER OF OPPOSITION

VISIT TO WHAKATANE CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT .The intense interest being taken in the present political situation and developments of the recent ses sion of Parliament since war was I declared was revealed when the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, visited Whakatane on Saturday night, in the course of an organisation tour of the North Island. He met a large gathering of executive committee's representatives of the mens and women's organisation of the National Party throughout the Bay of Plenty Electorate.

He was given a rousing welcome and at the conclusion of his address which dealt both with the socialist legislation forced through the House by the Government in the closing stages of the recent session and with the necessity for a united war effort, the following resolution was carried: "That this meeting welcomes and endorses Mr Hami?ton*s statement, that the National Party is co-oij-erating fully with the Government in support of war efforts' and is paying particular attention to the welfare of the soldiers.

"That it expresses its lack of con fidence in the Government's action in claiming permanency for socialist legislation such as the Marketing Act introduced under the cloak of war. "That it expresses dissatisfaction with the Government's pegging of prices for produce while there is no effective action to stabilise costs or effective action to see that thei'e is an adequate supply of experienced farm labour."

"And that it expresses its full confidence in the Hon. Adam Ham ilton and its appreciation of the splendid fight Ho and his team have put up, and are still putting up against recent Government action under which a plan of Stale Socialism and State dictation is being implemented under the cloak of war emergency."

The motion was carried unani-

mously

Socialism by Stealth

Mr Hamilton gave a complete review of recent legislation and its effects. He made a special plea for

more Kerious interest in the cause of wise sound Government. Great care had to be taken, he said that while doing everything in our power, on the oik hand to defend democracy overseas against the tragic onslaughts of dictatorship that in our own country the defence of that democracy did not lead vis into a state of permanent regimentation and dictatorship at home.

Mr Hamilton said that the time had come for very plain speaking from men in responsible public pos itions. The community was in no mood to see the whole democratic system with its justice and freedom for the individual undermined as a Government introduced "Socialism by Stealth" under the guise

of war emergency

Government Policy

A Government policy that led New Zealand to financial disaster after nearlv lour years of record

export prosperity must be halted. Througout the country in the couresse of his tour he had found a great rising of public opinion in support of that view

There was a day when thousands believed that the National Party leaders were merely crying "wolf" but their advice and forecasts had proved regrettably only too true. There was no doubt about public appreciation of the seriousness of the muddle today, entirely brought about bj r the Government's policy and the evil effects of that policy were only just beginning to paralyse the entire economic structure in every walk of life. Appeal For Unity. Mr Hamilton made an appeal for unity in the community not only for the war effort but in facing the crisis in New Zealand. A policy of throwing class against class— importers against farmers, workers against emplo3 r ers and so on—was fO{- o 1 nrirl rl ic-ncl rniic i *-* l/\«rf

ratal and disastrous in the long run. Even industrial labour was realising to-day that not only was the National Party in sympathy with the aims and ideals of industrial labour proper but that there was truth in the oft stated warning that political labour'< domination anil bullying by a few; is not and neyer wijl,lbe of valued to the mass of-the people. ■ ir' ' v K

The people of this country were : n»w realising that the interests of one section are equally important to those of another. It was up to one and all to put up a united front to restore sound Government

Mr Hamilton ridded that his recent tour had shown to him very plainly that the people of New Zealand were , rising as a body today to state that State Socialism and bureaucratic dictatorship will never be permitted to find a permanent footing in this British Dominion. The Government is not appointed to convert itself into a dictatorial body but is there to do the job lor all sections of the community Avhatever their opinions and dif Acuities. Fight For Restoration. "Wo do not want Socialist or Communist planners with their disastrous experiments and personal dictatorship in this country and the people are not going to stand for it," Mr Hamilton concluded. "In the light to restore sound Government, in thf: fight to restore our governing to a basis of proper perspective taking into account all our past experience, with my colleagues I am proud to give a lead. In the whole of my nearly 20 years in public life I have never seen such, a welling up o!: united thought against unsound Government in this country. I am proud of the people I represent and our ranks' are increasing by scores of thousands every week. "The day of restoration is not far distant. In tliat day we will play the game for one and all." (Applause) .