NATIONAL PARTY'S AIM

Chronicle (Levin), 31 October 1946, Page 8

NATIONAL PARTY'S AIM

Setting Up of Country of Small Capitalists MR. J. J. MAHER IN LEVIN The aim of the National Party was to set up a country of small capitalists, and not have the Government owning everything, said the National candidate for the Otaki electorate, Mr. J. J. Maher, when speaking in the Century Hall, Levin, last night. Every man and woman should in his opinion have, for instance, the chance of possessing a farm — to make share-milking a stepping stone so that they could later own their own piece of land. People should be allowed to run their own farms and businesses in their own way without interference by the Government. Mr. Maher's address, which followed on the lines of that delivered by him- at Manakau recently, was well reeeived by an attentive audience, and the ovation he reeeived both before and after his speech was a heartening indication of his popularity. Both the floor and gallery of the hall was filled to capacity, many supporters arriving three quarters of an hour before the meeting was scheduled to commence. The stage was attractively decorated with flags and flowers,, and when acknowledging his welcome Mr. Maher paid a special tfibute to the committee responsible for this gesture.Before he was introduced to the audience, by the Mayor (Mr. H. B. Burdekin) Mr. Maher was presented witli a button-hole spray by Mrs. I. Park, and a bouquet of flowers was presented to Mrs. Maher by Miss H. E. Bowen. Mr. Maher began his address by rcviewing his past life and detailing the various organisations of which he had been a member. As one of the foundation members of the Wellington Dairy Farmers' Co-operative Association of which he has been chairman for twelve years, and a foundation member of the Wellington Dairy Town Milk Producers' Federation, Mr. Maher said he was particularly interested in the supply of milk to school children and was anxious that the scheme be enlarged. if his party was returned at the election this would be done. Children, he said, required an adequate supply of milk not only m the summer but in the winter when fruit was unobtainable. As a primaiy producer himself, he appreciated the difficulties of the farmer and was out to help them all he could. This country, he said, was, and always would be, a primary producing one. The standard of living depended on the amount of produce that could be taken off the land and exported, he said. It was our basic industry and on it our secondary industries depended, both in providing raw materials in New Zealand, and the provision of a large percentage of overseas purchasing power to buy other raw materials abroad. The secondary industries could not function without the aid of the primary producers. The opportunity was here today when the world was in need of everything we could send it. "If we have a government with a little. more knowledge, production would be stepped up," he said. "To think that this is a primary producing country and yet there are not more !han three in the present Government who have a knowledge of primary production," he added. Mr. Maher continued by emphasising that the only way to safeguard the future was by increasing primary production. This was particularly important if social security and other benefits were to be maintained. There was, he said, too much money and no goods, the exact opposite to the depression years — and he considered New Zealand was living in a fool's paradise. Personal Loans Department A year or two ago Mr. Nash had announced that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand was going to set up a personal loans department to help people who were temporarily embarrassed financially, but since .hen 110 effort had been made to extend the service or make it fully available to the people. Not a word of these loans had been advertised in the Press, he said. "If you look in the Labour newspapers you will >cc advcrtisements by the money lcndcrs they used to abuse, but not •i word about the scheme whereby people can get the same. service from the Bank of New Zealand at a much cheaper rate. "This," he said, "is because the Labour Party regards people as fit subjects to be exploited by the 'Money Bags' who are backing the Government."

Deprecialion of Currency "The value of currency in New Zealand today, was not unlike that of Germany. In that country a wheelbarrow full of marks could hardly buy a loaf of bread. A man who is caught watering milk is imprisoned in this country, but what do you do to a man who inflates currency — you send him to Washington." Taxation The present Government had proved itself to be one of broken promises, said Mr. Maher. They promised they would lift the saies tax, but this had not been done. During their term oL office taxation had risen out of all proportion. He admitted that there had to be some allowance made for the war, but considered that ' the saies tax should have been lifted by now. He said he had once put the figure derived from this tax at £13,000,000, but it was actually nearer £16,000,000. It had been originally placed on the people in 1935 because the Government was hard

pressed to keep the unemployed going during the slump, but he saw no reason why it should be continued. Now' they were promising to lift the sixpence in the pound national security tax in May, continued Mr. Maher, but he doubted if anyone could place much reliance on that statement as it came from men who continually broke their promises. "If I made promises like that and failed to keep them I would be ashamed to face you people again," he said. Housing "As I said before, the policy of this party is for everyone to own something," said Mr. Maher, when speaking on the policy of the National Party in regard -to -housing. Their plan was really an improvement on the old State Advances system. It was the most important plank in the party's programme. Under the National Party's scheme each tenant of a State house would be given the option of purchase. Every weekly payment would increase the owner's equity in his house, and at the end of 40 years, or 30 years, where the insurance and maintenance rates were paid by the owner, the house would be free of debt. It was also pos.sible for tenants to make straight out purchases, provided they arranged their own finance. No tenant would be disturbed by the introduction of the scheme. All houses built during the next three years for occupation by the owner, which did not exceed £1750 in value, would qualify for a free of interest suspensory loan of £100 for eivilians and £200 for ex-service-men. Cancellation of this loan would take effect after five years' occupation. To prevent trafficking or speculation these houses would not be permitted to be sold within the first ten years without first being offered to the State, which would pay the original price, less depreciation, said Mr. Maher. Public servants living in State houses, and whose promotion took them to another town, would be 'provided for under this system as the arrangement would go on as before. Homes for the people was the most urgent need today, the building of tunnels, and other such projects could take second place. Social Security The National Party had never been opposed to Social Security, said Mr. Maher. It was the duty of any opposition party to criticise and comb out new legislation for flaws. "Some people had the habit of taking sentences used and distorting them to give a false impres>ion. Mr. Holland was only anxious to see if the scheme was going to be a success, and where the money was coming from. I would have done the same thing myself."" Mr. Maher said he was a supporter of the present social security benefits with the improvements proposed by Mr. Holland. "These improvements in my opinion are vital. They will enable a man of 60 earning £6 a week to continue working for five years, earning during that" time £1560, instead of receiving £520 during that year as a pensioner, during the rest of his life he will draw £2/12/6 a week instead of only £2." Mr. Maher added that in his opinion there were many men of that age who felt the need to contir.ue working. They liked to have something to do otherwise they felt their health would soon break down. Atlitudc to Conscription "Mr_ Semplg once made a statement that no conscripted man would leave New Zealand, and yet I recall seeing a photograph of him' in a daily newspaper drawing the first marble which sent a conscripted man overseas," said Mr. Maher, when criticising the Government's policy during the war. "We were in a state of unpreparedness. We had ho guns and an inadequately armed Home Guard. If the enemy had invaded our shores the womenfolk would have had to fight them off with broomsticks. If the Labour Party goes back I hope it will see that our defences are kept up," he added. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr.. Maher answered several questions. Those present passed a motion of confidence in Mr. Maher as the candidate for the Otaki electorate.