STATE ABSOLUTISM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 82, 4 October 1938, Page 6

STATE ABSOLUTISM

DOMINION'S FUTURE

MR. BARKER'S ATTACK

A small but extremely vocal opposing element enlivened the meeting addressed by Mr. W. L. Barker, National candidate for Wellington East, in the Taia Hall, Kilbirnie, last night. The hall was unable to accommodate all who wished to enter, and there were many exchanges between the candidate and his critics. Mr. T. W. Leslie presided.

The political issue in« New Zealand was very serious, said Mr. Barker. That was shown when a man of Mr. J. A. Lee's radical inclination and fanatical determination to create the ideal State made a candid admission that we must go on to State absolutism. That admission was contained in Mr, Lee's book, which had arrived in New Zealand before the election when it should have arrived after. "You can imagine the embarrassment caused in the Labour camp," remarked Mr. Barker.

Today the movement was unquestionably towards State absolutism. The National Party's policy would make it possible for the people to get their, feet back on the ground and resume control of political and economic affairs. Without the continued investment of capital and labour in productive fields, the. productive capacity of the country must fall and the standard of living with it. The Government was ignoring the claims of legitimate industry and was undermining the confidence of capiial. It did not require much imagination to foresee the country's production declining.

Mr. Barker was dealing with overseas borrowing, when a member of the audience called out: "Who borrowed the money? Not the Labour Government."

"No. They could not," retorted Mr. Barker, amid laughter. He claimed that the Government must continue to force increasing taxation on the lowerpaid workers in order to achieve its ideals. The people could not possibly permit the power that should rest with responsible individuals and courts of law to be transferred to politicians drunk with the authority they already possessed. "A LONG WAY BEHIND." Mr. Barker declared that the Labour Government was creating the very state of affairs that Seddon had solved. "How can they claim to be following in his footsteps?" he asked. "Maybe they are, but they are a terrible long way behind." (Laughter.) Seddon never believed in absolutism. He. believed in individualism and creating opportunities for the people.

"I would not advise any young man or woman in this country today to marry, seeing the direction in which we are moving under this Government," said Mr. Barker. (Cries of "Oh.") "There is no opportunity for them, but if there comes into office a Government that will put the country on a firm foundation again, and give

youth some hope and inspiration for the future, that's a different matter."

New Zealand was moving towards the most serious financial crisis in its history. The financial structure was being undermined and if Labour continued in office the day of reckoning would surely come. (Dissent.) A compulsory loan from the trading banks would be the only method Labour could adopt to stave off that day, and there was ample statutory power to do that. •

At the conclusion of his address Mr. Barker answered a number of questions. A vote of thanks to the speaker and confidence in the National Party was carried by a very large majority, the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" overwhelming the minority's cheers for the Labour Party.