NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 42, 25 October 1946, Page 5

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

MR W. SULLIVAN AT ROTORUA

PACKED ENTHUSIASTIC -AUDIENCE

The Lyric Theatre, Rotorua, \vas packed to capacity last Tuesday evening, when Mr W. Sullivan, the National Party candidate, addressed his first electors gathering in the current campaign. The Mayor, Mr P. A. Kusabs presided, and in introducing Mr Sullivan predicted that in the event of his Party getting into power, he (the candidate) would assume Cabinet rank, as had the Bay of Plenty representatives over a period of forty years.

Mr Sullivan declared that the Labour Party had nailed its flag to the policy of ultimate socialism and all the Government’s legislation had taken them closer and closer to that objective. The National Party represented the true Liberals of the country; practically every member in Parliament had made his way up from the. ranks and he personally .was proud to be a follower of Mr Holland. (Applause). He believed Mr Holland would be one of the ablest leaders New Zealand had had. He had the capacity, unlimited energy, and a generous outlook. The National Party wanted every man to have the opportunity of owning his own home or farm, and to see production in the 'hands of private people. The policy of the Labour Party was to obliterate private effort and it was high time to get rid of this crazy creed once and for all. No recommendation worth a farthing had been made by the Labour Party in trying to get over the difficulty of the slump period, declared Mr Sullivan. What it did was to capitalise on that period, and so it was successful in getting into office. “We have had 11 years of Labour Government, and it has eaten the seed corn of this nation.”

Occupants of State houses would be encouraged and assisted to buy their dwellings, but no State tenant would be interfered with. There were three schemes which the speaker outlined. The first was for the purchaser to pay the equivalent of two years’ rent as deposit, plus his present rent, and in 40 years his home would be his own. Mr Sullivan dealt with a number of Labour enactments at some length. He criticised the nationalisation of the coal mines, the airways, the flax industry, the Bank of New Zealand and warned that next on the list were the steamership lines and the stock and station agents.

The second was an offer to tenants to acquire their home, paying 5/- less than the existing rent, but being responsible for maintenance, rates and insurance, and in 30 years they would possess the title. Tenants would be credited with 20 per cent, of the rent they had paid to enable them to secure the required deposit. Under the third scheme, the tenants could purchase the house, making his own financial arrangements. However, a man would have the right to purchase only one house, and if he wanted to sell within 10 years, the Crown would have the first chance to buy it back. With all this, the State rental housing scheme would be continued.

On the motion of Mr J. G. C. McCullough, seconded by Mr E. T. Johnson, a vote of thanks to the candidate, and of confidence in the National Party as the Government was passed, there being two voices, a man’s and a woman’s, raised in dissent. The speaker was roundly applauded.