“MARCHING WITH THE TIMES”

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 18

“MARCHING WITH THE TIMES”

* National Party Policy LEADER OF OPPOSITION CONFIDENT

“The Labour people thought we would put out a reactionary policy — they love throwing that word at us—but we have put forward a liberal policy,” said the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, during an address he gave yesterday to a luncheon meeting of the business section of the local branch' of the National Party. “The world marches on,” said Mr Hamilton, “and we must march with it. We cannot go back now to the ways of our fathers.” An audience of about 150 gave Mr Hamilton an enthusiastic reception. Mr Hamilton opened by thanking those present for their enthusiasm. It helped those in the parliamentary section of the party greatly in what was often a tiring and thankless task. It was, however, as much in the interests of businessmen as of the candidates that the National Party should, be strong. The party had a great many well-wishers, and during the morning he had received a telegram on behalf of 15,000 women members in the Auckland district wishing him success for his speech in the evening, and that was only one of an amazing number of similar telegrams. An Attractive Plank “The Labour Party is poking fun about ‘one more baby and the furniture is ours,’ but let them poke fun. It ckaws attention to an attractive plank in our platform, because it has obviously bothered them. We have placed the family .in the centre of our policy, and I believe we are on th right lines. The family is the centre of society, and it is better for us to it as the centre than to transrer the of the family unit oV TLVa h tio§S t Party. said Mr HamUton, had built up in the last two years an organisation such as it had never had before in its history, though that the Parliamentary section of the party could claim to have done reasonably well to hold its own “the House in spite of the heavy odds, but the organisation outside the •®? use done marvellously, and had worked with the Parliamentary section in perfect harmony. Party organisation was now excellent, and the type of candidate that had come forward was exI“„g to the election wig a straight fight in Therl than we have ever had before.. , Ttl S are a- few independents, said Mr Hamilton, “but I think that some of them will not be there when the day comes for nominations, and they nave to pay out their £lOl In my opinion, £lO is not enough, but I suppose it is a cheap advertisement for some With this virtual straight fight, we will be able to test out public opinion. A Smooth Organisation Mr Hamilton spoke of the danger of over-enthusiasm* among party supporters becoming an embarrassment to the Nationalist cause. It was necessary, he said, to proceed moderately, because over-enthusiasm was often not good politics. The- Labour Party worked its organisation very smoothly, and it-was, necessary for the National Party to do the same. . , ' • “I am convinced that this country does • not want Socialism,” said Mr Hamilton. “The strength of the Labour Party in the House a few years ago was 25. I can’t honestly see New Zealand running amok next month to the extent of returning the Labour Party to power.’ If we don’t put our backs into the political task this time, and if the Labour Party goes back, it will be a confirmation of their, policy, and an endorsement that will justify them in going ahead with fheir full programme.” . , . The prospect of taking over the government of the country was in - many ways not a pleasant one, said Mr Hamilton. .Labour had taken over the country when London funds aggregated £44,000,000, but had brought them down to £23,000.000. and in many other directions the coffers were empty. There were a great many difficulties about, and running the country would not be an easy job. There was, however, an excellent appreciation among all sides of the community that a Government could not be run m the interests of one section alone, and. with the co-operation that the National Party was obtaining from businessmen, manufacturers, and. farmers, it would be able to win a number of the city seats. The business community as a whole realised now that the interests of the whole country were bound closely together, and it was in the interests of the whole country and not merely a section of it, that tne National Party would govern. i A Grave Handicap The National Party was under a grave handicap in financing its campaign, Mr Hamilton said.. Through compulsory unionism, the Labour Party had at its disposal a sum he estimated at between £300,000. and £400,000, which gave them about £5 for every £1 available to the National Party. That was why the Labour Party was able to turn out such masses of propaganda, and to advertise extensively in the' newspapers. The National Party could not afford to. “Mr Savage in his speech said that he had taken over a broken country and had had to built it up again,” said Mr Hamilton. “That is entirely incorrect. He ‘ toefk over a financially sound and country. It is our duty to preserve what has been built up during the last 100 years of sane government.' Otherwise we will have to answer for it later on. I have no doubt myself, from what I know of the feeling all over the country, that we will find ourselves the winners when the numbers go up.”

Interest in Politics Mr S. G. Holland, sitting member and candidate for Christchurch North, said that his recent tour of the North Island had left him filled with confidence. An interest was being displayed that would have been thought impossible 18 months ago. Businessmen, he 'said, could not afford to be out of the National organisation if they were to preserve their own lives. “The Labour Party is swamping us with propaganda,” said Mr Holland. “They have the money to do it and we have not. The question is not who will be Prime Minister, but is a question of whether or not the forces of private enterprise will go under entirely. We have a positive and constructive policy, which leaves no room to slide out, like some other policies. It is the best policy ever to be put in front of this country, as it aims at bringing the country back to the family and away from the materialism that demands nothing but the largest possible portion of the cheese. “My impression after touring various parts of the country is that the situation contains all the elements of a landslide away from Socialism. We will bring New Zealand back to a position in which it can encourage the type of sane government that has built New Zealand into the finest country in the world.”

Mr H. S. S. Kyle, sitting member and candidate fpr Riccarton, also spoke of the optimism that was felt throughout his electorate.