MR J. J. MAHER SETS BALL ROLLING

Chronicle (Levin), 23 October 1946, Page 4

MR J. J. MAHER SETS BALL ROLLING

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN IN OTAKI ELECTORATE OPENS WITH MANAKAU MEETING

The main criticism -which had to be directed against the Labour Government was not so rnich its jjolicy* althodgh a very considerable amount of it was distaste- • ful to New ^ealanders, but the party,'s admimstration, said the National candidate for the Otaki seat, Mr. J. J. Maher, in openihg his campaign at Manakau last evening. It was' doubtful whether, in the whole history of * New Zealand, there had ever been anpadihihistratidii so % incompetent. The various public inquiries which had A been held were an indication of this, and it had to be remembered that there were.demands for further inquiries which the Government had not been prepared to accede to.

The meeting was very largely attended and the chair was occupied by Mr. F. Corbett. All present listened with rapt attentioil throiighdut Mr. Maher's addreSs which was frequently punctuated by aCclamation. At the conclusion a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Maher, moved by Mr. R. L. Robinson and seconded by Mr. G. Mai*in, was rousingly carried. The history of the Labour administration was one long tale of blunders for which there was no excuse, said Mr. Maher. The motor vehiclfe enquiry was a public indicatioii of this, but every man in the hall knew of the varjous shortages which people had t6 suffer, nearly all of which were avoidable. Even such small articles as tobacco and matches were in short "supply, and the shortage was relieved only when the Government knew that election date was coming near. This was a sample of poor administration, and he could promise them that whatever the National Party did it would see to it that ihe administration of the country was tightened up, and made more eflicient. Production and Marketing The National Party realised that primary production was New Zealand's basic industry, continued the speaker. It provided practically ' the whole of our overseas purchasihg power, and on the farming industry the secondary industries depended, either for the provision of their raw materials in New Zealand or the purchasihg puwei* lo buy raw materials abroad. The party recognised farming, not only as a foundation of the whole of New Zealand's economy, but also as a way of life to be encouraged. They wanted to see an incrfease in ! the number ,of successful free and independent primary producefs, to see farm workers get an opportunity to own farms of their own and to see farm life made more attractive, and they were going to restore to farmers the right to manage their own affairs. The first thing the National Party would do would be to remove marketing of primary produce from political control. They intended to accept the principle of producer control as set out by the resolutions of the 1945 Dairy Board conference, and they would extend that principle where farmers desired it in other classes of farming. Where prices had to be fixed for farm products, this would be done through an independent tribunal presided over by a Supreme Court judge. Mr. Maher went on to say that the Internal Marketing Division would be handed over to producers to operate as soon as was practicable. The party intended to set up district production councils to bring about greater co-operation between the Government and producers, and to assist in the successful rehabilitation of - ex-se'r-vicemen going on the land." They' also intended to investigate the possibility of insurance for farmers against the effects of natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, hail damage, etc. The party would make available to producers' organisations the facilities of the Reserve Bank, and also the services of any experts in Government employ who could be of assistance to farmers' undertakings. They intended to restore all , rural rnail and postal services, and to extend them where possible. Land Settlement The whole question of the exten-

sion of agricultural production was bound 'up with land settlement, declared Mr. Maher, and in appiymg its poiicy the National Party would aim at settling men on the land at the productive value and no more. They would see to it that settlers had a sound knowledge of farming, and were given an opportunity to extend that knowledge. Settlers would have the option of taking land up under the freehold, the leasehold or the share farming system. The primary production advisory councils, to which he had referred previously, would be used to the utmost in assisting land settlement. The party had a new share farming scheme, which was ■ really an extension of the sharemilking plan, but which wotild enable a settler to secure a farm of his own even if he had little 01* no initial capital. Under this scheme the new settler would work Under an expert supervisor, and under the control of the local primary production council till he accumulated suffieient capital to take over the freehold, which would be done under a long term State mortgage. This scheme would eventually be of . great assistance to farm workers ■'p who desired to start on their own. There was no question that something drastie would have to be done about the whole question of rehabilitation, Mr. Maher proceeded. The National Party iVas determiried to cut out the intolerable delays which returned soldiers had to put up with before they could be rehabilitated. It was not fair to hold men up for so long, because waiting cost money. Trade and Manufacturing While the party recognised farming as the basic industry, it also believed that economie manufacturing industries were an asset to New Zealand, commented the speaker, dealing ' with this subject. The main. thing'; was to keep a proiDer balap6'$ between manufactuiMng and " -primary. industry. Expansion of manufacturing industry should be carefully watched so that it did not out-run supplies of labour, power and building capacity. The aim of the party was a continuous expansion of sound, economic industry, and it was of the opinion that uneconomic industry should not be fostered by the use of unrcasonable import restrictions. The National Party would endeavour to develop trade within the Emnire and with Britain, he (Continued on Page 7)

■ iT.amiiiwanhrei^T rin — • MR. J. J. MAHER OPENS CAMPAIGN (Continued from Page 4) said, and also to extend our trade into new markets. The small man should be encouraged, and to this end freedom to commence in business should be preserved. . There was too much licensing altogether. The party believed strongly in decentralisation of industry, and would set up a Board of Trade to investigate this, and other similar questions. They. would have to continue stabilisation and price control until the present inflationary position had been rectified. The Board of Trade would be a non-political body, and it would have the duty of allocating, in conjunction with the. Reserve Bank, the country's overseas purchasing power, and it would decide what classes of goods could not be made economically in New Zealand. The board would consist of representatives of the womenfolk of New Zealand, primary producers, manufacturers, traders, workers and the Government as representing the consumers. The party was determined to maintain and improve tho high standard of living in New Zealand, and it would protect the people of New Zealand against unfair competition from countries with low living standards. The party believed very strongly in profit sharing, and it would re-organise the Department of Labour to make provision for a division of the department, which would have the job of making available to employers and employees as much knowledge as possible of profit sharing schemes. It would also have the job of providing saleguards against any abuses which could creep into profit sharing schemes. In order to encourage output the schemes would be linked up with taxation concessions. The party would encourage profit sharing, copartnership and co-operation. It believed that such schemes could assist materially in improving industrial relations.. The National Party was determined not to give in to pressure groups, either on the employing or the working side. They would uphold preference to unionists and would provide that secret ballots should be held amohg workers to decide whether unionism should be compulsory. They would definitely prohibit compulsory levies on workers or employers for party political . purp.oses, and they would support the present system of conciliation and arbitrarion. Social Amenities The party intendcd to make special provision for examining the problems of women and children, the speaker stated. - They intended to organise help in-.the home, and also to make available to mothers, as cheaply as possible, afi the modern ameniMes which can be used to cut down the mother's work. They intended to have ' special rest and convalescent hostels- for people needing care, but not necessariiy nospitai cases. They would maintain the family benefits, and they intended to give special travel concessions to enable women and elderly people who were not in ordinary employment to cnjoy annual holidays. They intended to continue the medical scheme and would institute a comprehensive investigation into the whole administration of the medical scheme under the Social Security Act, in order to s6e what improve- ( ments could be made. Here again j the party believed that the persons j in the industry should have a say in it, and to this end they would set up a board of control consisting of, probably, two medical practitioners nominated by the profession and one person appointed by the Government. . The party intended to make it easier for people to obtain the services of specialists. Defence Subject to the arrangements made by the United Nations Organisations, and also to the oint policy of the countries in the British Empire, the National Party would determine that adequate provision must be made for the defence of New Zealand. They were determined to have the closest cooperation, not only with British oountries but with the United States. Naturally they would have to be guided by the experts, but it could be taken that the National Party would never again let our defence forces and our defences generally get into the state they were in in 1939. After all, the Labour Party had four years after the slump to put things right, but we entered the war with our defences in a disjraceful state.