LAWS FOR ONE CLASS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 148, 10 July 1937, Page 13

LAWS FOR ONE CLASS

Press AssoHntion.)

Colonel Hargest's Charges Against Government PROMISES NOT KEPT

iBy Telejrraph

WELLINGTON, Tliis Day. Stating tbat the Labour Government had legislated for the benefit of one class o£ the people and had failed to live up to its pre-election promises, Colonel J. Hargest, M.P., for Awarua, condemned its policy in an address to a publio meeting at Upper Hutt last niglit. He said tkat taxation and living costs had risen, that a transport dictatorship had been iinposed, that the guaranteed price had failed to help the farming industry and that the tiour-millhig restrictions had proved wastei'ul. Mr J. J. Maher, presided, and tliere was a large attendance, which included supporters of the National Party from the Wairarapa. "In the first four months it was in power," said Colonel Hargest, "the Labour Party found a surplus of £3,000,000. There was the opportunity to carry out the promise to reduce taxation— but nothing happened. When 3Mr Semple says he found the country bankrupt, he is not correct." In 1931 when certain legislation was necessary to adjust expenditure to the conditions of the depression, the Labour Party never once lielped the Coalition Government. "Had we gone on as they wanted us to," he said, "the country would have been banbrupt long ago. If another crisis occurs we would be expected to put our shoulders to the wheel ; indeed, we would be a vcry poor lot if we didn't." Reduction of Taxatlon. "That £3,000,000 surplus could have been. used to decrease taxation, but it never was. The Government's ext.rn taxation i'alls most unfairly on some sections of the c.ommunity with results that are almost unbelievable. >. The land tax is nothing but confiscatory. The promise to reduce taxation has never been carried out and no reason why has ever been given." He said that a man in Christchurch wkose income wa& £1086 had to pay taxes amounting to £1416. He appealed against this, but was told that before his appeal would be consitlered he had to pay the taxes. 'He raised £400 to do this,. "and was then told because he was able to raise the money Ue could noji possibly be suffering any hardship." Prior to the last clectioa the Hon. D. G. Sullivan said in Christchurch that tlieLabour Government would reduce the housewife's weekly food expenditure from 12/- weekjy to 9/-, Colonel Hargest continued. "In spite of this, and a great deal of other lip servic'e and anything else the Government has tried to do, costs have gone up in everything — drapery and clothing 20 to 24 per cent. in the last 18 months; groceries 10 per cent., boots 20 per cent., coal 7/- a ton; freights, rents, everything is up. l'erbaps it is impossible to stop the rise in living, but in spite of increased wages the workers are no better off." "This Government has a duty to du to the community as a wliole, not to sections of it. Jf the National Party gets into power it is not going to slash wages — .any statemen t that it will can be given the lie — but we are out to give business generally the chance to expand, not to regiment it." The present Government was acting true to socalistic form. It was finan'cially reckless and guilty of class prejudice. "Coming into power on a democratic vote, no other Government lias been so dictatorial in its methods and control. Any responsible man who says democracy will bo gone if the Labour Party does not win the next election, and who rants around the country say« ing that any other Government would de-francliise the working man, is simply making absurd statements. Never has a Government been so far removed from democracy as this present one." Borrow Without Limit. JVlr Nash, as head of the Eeserve Bank and Treasury, could borrow or lend without limit. He had complete control of import and cxport credxt, and' uad the power to take control of all tinance in the country without Parliament havjiig any say at all. There was also abso.ute dictatorship in transport. Mr Sempie had tho right to tako away a nian's service and his living. Ihe ehiciency of the railways had only improved because of private transport services. "The moment the Government gets the monopoly of transport, jack tne railways will go to the same old state." "Mr Nash saw a great chance of ca.pitalising discontented farmers by the guaranteed price,- but to-day the farmer is getting a price for his produce which is hopelessly inadequate to mcet 'all the increased costs. The fariners to-day are sti.ll discontented because they feel they have been sold," lntcrcst, he said, had not been reduced. "Compared with last year, i'ann costs \Vere up about 3d a pound of butterfat. "The position is getting worse. The dairy aecount is going to be about £oOO,OUO iu debt because ot the gurunteed price, which is going to have the ellect of increasing the price of a pound of butter by 3d. Consumers hcro will liaye to pay £7-50, (K)0 more for their butter and overseas consumers between £6,000,00 and £6,000,000. The guaranteed price is siripJy an excuse to socialise the dairymg industry." By Government interference tho price of bread had been raised. Because of other extra costs some llourmillers were in the position of being unable to carry on. At presen. they are .working under a quota. They are not allowed to exceed this, but if they do they have to pay a premium of £4 a ton on their flour. "An American told me that iis Government held an unbroken record for being unable to do anything econotnioally, with. ability and disinterestedly. That goes for Ncw Zealand'a present Govornment, too,"