A WATCHING BRIEF

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue CXXIII, 10 April 1937, Page 15

A WATCHING BRIEF

CALL TO YOUNG MEN

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

A call to the younger men of the

country to watch carefully present-day political , developments,, and .to take part in an effort to restore freedom of enterprise, confidence to capital, and real prosperity and security to the country, was made in a statement issued yesterday by the Young New Zealanders' Association^

The association was recently established under tfte presidency of Mr. H. McCormick,. LiL.B., with the object of endeavouring to awaken and "develop the interest of young New Zealanders in national political affairs. "The policy of the association in all matters," the statement reads, "Will be directed towards the preservation of the liberty of the individual and regulated on:the principle that the, State is for ' tha people and not the people for the State. . . - "Statements published recently and. attributed'to'Mr. A. E. Mander, formerly general secretary of the New Zealand- Manufacturers' Federation regarding the bureaucratic decisions made upon secret reports of departmental ofucials/together. with the statement of Mr. A. J. Sinclair, secretary-, manager of the Te Awamutu Dairy Company, at the Auckland Creditmen's Club, regarding the .^situation in . the dairy industry/;' are /sufficient justification for a strong appeal to the public to take note of what is happening in New Zealand at the moment as a result of legislation passed by the present Government during' last session. While it is the concern of every citizen to take an active" interest in public affairs, it is in particular the responsibility o<f younger men carefully to watch present-day political'developments in their relationship to the future prosperity of the country v . // ,'. .: "In view of the present Government's policy of State control of finance and industry, it is necessary for all those opposing that policy to unite in a.determined effort to preserve the British system of free-, enterprise, reasonable competition, arid, equality of opportunity. The Young Ne\v. Zealanders' Association intends to work to this end and seeks the co-operation of all younger men who think likewise. "The association will be entirely independent, of all political parties, but will encourage its members as individuals to assist the National Party . in. building an organisation which will make possible a united effort to provide a sound and practical alternative to the programme of the present Government. "The position in New Zealand is further aggravated by the fact that taxa.tion is drawing off from business enterprises ";• practically the= ■;; whole of the pums that th£y. would normally use to. rebuild their 'reserves to meet .the next depression, and should the .exhaustion' of our Rational-credit position^ (with a; cessation;;of Government spending) co-( incide withl.the cessation.: of'armamentspending ;.abroa.3 we"i';shall:..face ) these" three^ohditi6ris'.rr(l)':A( period: of fallr, ing prices,; with' a^cttrtailirig' of private enterprise and resultant unemployment;- (2) a cessation of public spending, with a" consequent demobilisation of labour - employed in State enterprises;. (3) our institutions of private enterprise prostrated by excessive taxation.:and unable through depleted reserves to carry on successfully. "The present is a time for husbanding both-national and private credit, arid the-Young New Zealanders' Association- will endeavour to popularise this idea so that the country will be prepared to meet;any financial and economic difficulties that' may arise.;>•;. ■.'. " '"The" Young New Zealanders"' 'Association1 will :strive'to do"lts part.by or-: ganising younger men. into,.a body, capable of influencing public opinion on the following submissions: (1) It'.inust be the'-'duty-;' ..of the,-• Government:'. to create. that''condition or •:relation.'..betweeri/the State and: enterprise' which will mean freedom to develop (not exploit), .and which means confidence for, capital; (2) leaders of private enterprise must plan the undertakings which will provide the employment which means prosperity for our-people; arid-it must; be'the duty of those who seek .the privilege of the" ownership'of private wealth, to.use:it for such:pur r poses.. ' ' '~.. .'<-. --■■' i "■""There'can be no doubt that reasonable prosperity for all is in this modern age .possible, and the Young New Zealanders' Association* will seek : to; co-operate with others-'in formulating a policy of development; for. New Zea-: land that will result in restoring-free-dom of enterprise, confidence to caipital,and real prosperity-: and: security: to' the: country." !, ' ■ ■■":■•■