"NOT TRUE LABOUR PARTY"

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22517, 27 September 1938, Page 12

"NOT TRUE LABOUR PARTY"

Mr Gladstone Ward's

Criticisms

NATIONAL CANDIDATE OPENS CAMPAIGN

Condemning the Labour Government as socialistic, Mr Gladstone Ward, National Party candidate for Christchurch South, made an appeal, in his opening address last night at the Selwyn Street Methodist Church Hall, for the safeguarding of democratic government. More than 300 packed into the and an overflow heard the address through a loud-speaker system. Although interjections were frequent, the meeting was good natured, and a body of opinion in support of the candidate's views was in evidence and countered the dissenting demonstra--10"Tn the past. Christchurch South was a Liberal seat, and I believe that in the future it is going to be Liberal, I said the chairman iMr T. Milhken), introducing the candidate. There was.a wealth oi tradition behind the name of Ward. . . „. . Expressing appreciation of the welcome, Mr Ward said it was good to see so many happy faces. A voice: That is because we are well fed. ~ J "And you will get better fed when I get in/' retorted Mr Ward. To many, happiness was obtained only through the pay envelope and. as a representative of the National Party, he could tell them that the party would not cut wages. (Cries of "Oh!"; "I give yon my word —a personal pledge—that if they do, by any chance, cut wages, I will resign my seat and come down and see you again," said Mr Ward. "That is what I will do." (Applause.) Mr Ward said he represented no class or denomination, and his sole wish was to do his best for the electors. He did not believe the present Labour Party was a true Labour Party; it was socialistic. A voice: It will do us.

He was prepared to admit that the Labour Party had good intentions; but that would not get the country out of trouble. The National Party stood for freedom and private enterprise, while Labour stood for the socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. The Prime Minister. had made a mistake of not looking after the whole of the people. The cry of "Back to Seddon" was a political ruse, for Seddon was never a Socialist Seddon's daughter (Mrs Knox Gilmer) had gone through his letters and found nothing which would suggest that he was a Socialist. Liberalism did not die with R. J. Seddon. "Where is it?" asked a man. The Labour Party was opposed to R. J. Seddon, who died in 1906, and to Sir Joseph Ward, who died in 1931. "And they also kicked Tom Seddon out of the Coast," said the candidate. "What about letting Ward start where Ward left off? What about it? (Applause.) And if you do, I promise to give you « pretty good reward." (Laughter.) Taxation—Then and Now Increases in taxation were quoted by Mr Ward, who compared < them with reductions in Australia. New Zealand was spending and spending, mostly" on unproductive works. In prosperous times, the duty of the Government was to make provision for the rainy days. In 1903, under Seddon, taxatio_n, a head was £3 8s 4d and it rose to £4 9s lOd in 1906. The average taxation under Savage in 1936 was £l6 5s 9d, and in 1938 it rose to £23 Is 3d. Mr Ward quoted critical comments of Labour members when the sales tax was imposed. Why did they not take it off? He could tell them that any promise the National Party made would be carried out. (Applause and laughter.) A voice: We'll get married and collect £IOO. (Laughter.) Taxes would be reduced, said Mr Ward, who reviewed the promises given in the party's manifesto. Compulsory unionism would be wiped clean off the statute book. (Applause.) A voice: Why bring that up? "That is, if you get there," suggested another.

The Labour Party had failed to redeem its promise to reduce the cost of living. He gave a list of household commodities prepared by the Hon. D. G. Sullivan to support that psomise, and which had increased in pigfce. A voice: We have the money to buy them now.

. The National Party's policy of encouraging people to own their own homes was explained by Mr Ward, who said the original price of the rented State houses had doubled under actual construction. The rents of 32s 6d were beyond the capacity of workers. His party would give the people an opportunity of owning their own homes by advancing up to 90 per cent, of the cost, while the furniture loan would also increase population. What was the use of Labour offering free maternity homes if no children were to be born in them? Social Security "You cannot tell me Michael Savage is the only human man in the country. I'm as human as he is," said Mr Ward, when discussing the Social Security Act. It was the duty of every government to look after the sick, the poor, and the needy. A voice: Why didn't they do it years ago? "The main issue at the election is whether, we are satisfied working and living under democratic government or whether we want State control; whether we want to be told where to go. and what to do. We should stand true to England and follow it and other countries in the British Empire which have never tolerated Socialism. One of the reasons that the last Government went out of office was that in the depression, caused by a fall in commodity prices, the people got into a pure funk and, in spite, pushed out a government that was trying to do its level best in the circumstances to keep the country out of trouble. And they put in a Government that is doing everything possible to get us into trouble. We will never get on as long as this country is split up into sections." A man: We will get it in the neck again. "Rubbish!" replied Mr Ward. Good government rests on goodwill. . The majority must rule, but if the minority does not have the goodwill of the government, the government will become a tyranny. We don't want it in this country. When all is said and done, improvements from science and invention make things easier for the worker and happier for the worker —' A woman: It was done by the Labour Government.. Mr Ward: I give the Government plenty of credit for what it has done. I am not against Labour but against Socialism. I belirve in the principle of sticking to democracy. , The electors should take, an aeroplane trip and have a complete survey cf the growth of Christchurch and .; Kaiapoi. How did that development ■ happen? By private enterprise. (Applause.) Why should they sit back and let the Government come in and grab it? Several questions were asked, and a vote of thanks "for an able address was declared carried by acclamation. A vote of no-confidence in the National Party was proposed as an amendment,, amid some cheers. The chairman: The motion has been j?ut and carried. ,