NATIONAL PARTY POLICY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22506, 14 September 1938, Page 7

NATIONAL PARTY POLICY

TO THE EDITOR Olf THE PRESS. Sir,—The points outlined by Mr S G. Holland, M.P.. in his address at Fairlie on his party’s policy are certainly long overdue. In fact, with the General Election not far away, it mus# have become embarrassing to their many candidates for political honours that no definite policy had been disclosed to put before the electors. The Socialist bogy has been worked to extremes and is hardly likely now-a-days to influence the average elector who lives under a communal-social municipalisation scheme which asks him to pay for the trams even if he rides a bicycle. However, to get back to the few policy points which Mr S. G. Holland disclosed, it appears that hours will not be increased, wages will not be reduced, and pensions will not_ be cut; in short, every one of these important items will be left to a free and unfettered Arbitration Court. One might ask how are we going to create such an ideal Court and keep it free I can remember not so very long ago when we were supposed to have such an institution, an amendment to the Arbitration Act was passed by the last Government, and I believe Mr S. G. Holland voted for it. took all the freedom away from unionism that it had and turned unionists into a cartload of donkeys. We are told the National Party intends to introduce a free health scheme for the section of the community unable to pay, and one might again ask who will pay for the ones who do not pay. The National Party would establish a Ministry of Social Welfare, one object being the improvement of the health of-women and children. I think the present Government’s Social Security Bill covers this matter very effectively and has more, scope to work than any social welfare organisation could possibly achieve. In conclusion, if this is the policy which the National Party hopes to reach the Treasury Benches with, it would be better to give up the ghost now and throw in the towel. I cannot conceive of a party going before the people and having the audacity to ask intelligent electors to vote for it on these proposals. I can see nothing but disaster ahead and it looks like a Labour Government for another term of office.—Yours, etc.. R. F. DOWNS

September 13, 1938. IMr Holland could not have voted for an amendment passed by the last Government since he was not then a member of Parliament.—Ed., The Press.”]