PERSONAL FREEDOM

Chronicle (Levin), 23 October 1946, Page 2

PERSONAL FREEDOM

— * — . Right of the Individual STATE CONTROL DEPLORED "The National Party - is determined to preserve the individual's rights under the Constitution, and it is also determined to restore some of those which have been taken away," said the National candidate for the Otaki seat, Mr. J. J. Maher, in concluding his address at a publie meeting in Manakau last evening. , • J "No Minister should a judge in his own cause, nor should he be an appeal authority under any Act which he is called upon to administer," continued the speaker. "This practice which has grown up in New Zealand will be stopped as soon as the party can bring down the necessary legislation. It is also determined to revert to the cardinal principle of British justice, that is that a man is innocent until he is proved guilty. The party intends to cancel the provision exonerating informers, who are themselves parties to breaches of the law. This type of legislation simply breeds pimps. It is also determined to restore the total population basis for computing electoral boundaries. "If the Government goes back the people of New Zealand can resign themselves to more and more incompetence, and to more and more shortages. If you send us to the Treasury Benches you will at least know that we will tackle efficiently the job of cleaning up the terrible mess which the present Government has landed the country in. "As a party we want the people to be given freedom— freedom to sta.rt and run their own business without Government interference, freedom to express themselves on national issues, which means that the people should be consulted before major legislative changes are decided upon and freedom to produce and to work for a higher standard of living for all. Finally, we want the people to have freedom to live their lives and to spend their own money in what they consider the most desirable way, and not in the way that thn Government thinks best for tliem. We want to serve the people and not to regiment, regulate and dominate them."