NO CLASS-CONSCIOUS RULE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 7, 1 October 1937, Page 9

NO CLASS-CONSCIOUS RULE

1 Our Own Correspondent)

National Party Calls For Support of Democratic Principles REGIMENTATION LEADS TO DICTATORSHIP

(From

WELLINGTON, Last Night. "A class-conscious Government can never succeed in New Zealand .where we have a compact community, close knit by democratic institutions. Legislative insistence on class distinction can oply result in the breakdown of democracy." With this as its keynote a general statement of the policy to be followed by the National Party was made at the Dominion conference of the party to-day by the leader, the Hoip Adam Hamilton "At this stage of our political affairs it is not necessary for us to give a detailed manifesto of policy,' said Mr Hamilton. "We are endeavouring to give only a broad general outline and, in doing so, we feel justified in calling for the support of the many thousands of people throughout our country who are already experiencing the threat of a class dictatorship. "We promise the country progress on lines embodying the essential principles of democracy — directive • and not coercive, concluded Mr Hamilton. "National interests cannot properly be served by factions clarnouring for material gain, Ethical values must count in politics as tliey do in national life; spiritual values f must also play their parts. Materialism will be the curse of New Zealand if it is allowed to continue. " The statement is as follows: —

Our first objective is to restore to all people of the country their heritage of freedom which by legislative and administrative acts has been filched from them during the past two years. We believe a state of aifairs has arisen in which reckless and haphazard management of the country 's actiVities has proceeded tb such an extent that any fall in world prices would be followed in New Zealand by a deprcssion even moro devastating in its efEects than the last. In time of expanding econamy nothing is being done to build up reserves. Our resources are being dissipated and we are now far worse fitted to with* stand an economic crisis than we were ■ in 1931. In order to restorg and strehgthen the best features of our national life it is necessary for us to restore confldence and stability in our financial system. State control as distinct from political contrOl is the principal objeetive and it is essential that the dangers inherent in the present form of political control Bhould be removed. . Private enterprise has a legitimate

call on the credit facilities or the nation and we shall provide for a private system of financial management which will provide for private enterprise that steady flow of cheap money which is necessary for its continued ekpansion and development and which cannot be made available when colossal sums are diverted to dubious and often unwarranted State enterprises. This can best be aehieved by a strong central bank nationally controlled and separated from the influences of both politics and commercial profit. lEven in a system of State control the imaintenance of safeguards against oolitical profligacy is vitah We maintain that the agricultural industries of the Dominion constitute the backbone of our national life and we insist that these industries have shown themselves capable of successfui co-operative development which cannot be continued under a regimented system pf production and marketing. Each primary industry must be allowed to control and m&nage its own affairs, iacluding marketing, with a defihite assurance of Government assistance and co-operation wherever necessary in order to close the gap between costs and prices and ensure to the farmer a standard of reward comparable with that obtained in other industries. At present the income from the farmers' production is being used to raise the standard of living of everyone but the farmer. The larmers of New Zealand must not be forced to sell their produce at a price fixed by a monopolistic middleman — in this case a department of State. It wiU be our aim to maintain and increase our xural population. We believe all suitable land should be made available for settlers on farms suflB.c.iently large ia .area and quality to provide ample scope for a settler and his family. We hold that secondary industries cannot perf orm their proper national service under the present system of bureacratic control and we shall give industry and commerce that full degree of freedom necessary for their economic development although wo shall stipulate that progress in industry must mean progress ior all those en- . gaged in industry and if both are to share in the benefits both must be prepared to shoulder their responsibilities. The worker is entitled to security of tenure in ernployment and the highest possible standard of wages. These .wili be secured for him by a policy of co- ' operation bet'ween the State, the employee and the employer. The position of the married man who is undei*taking the responsibility of maintaining and educating his family will be lightened by means of such advantages as the ex* tension of family allowanecs. While approving the ideals of the League of Nations we regard a stroag-ly-defended Britisk Empire as tho greatest safeguard of world peace. We resist strenuously tho imputation by our political' opponents that they have a monopoly of humanitarian ideals in legislation. In the field of social legislation many of our objectives are similar to those of Labour but whereas Labour is settiag out to achieve them by a process of Lvelling down we will achieve them by a policy of building up. Labour seeks to rcdueo everything above a predetermihod average to the dead level Gf "averages." We maintain that the position of the man above the average is that for which we should strive and our aim •will bo to provide opportunities so that more and more of our ple can steadily improve their position. In all consideratioan for the futuvo we undertake to provide opportunity for the rising generation. We will develop aud expand the social strvices to the full extent just.ifie'i by the ctmntry's ecouomy and resources. We shall begin with th'e retucued soldiers who have becn pitifullv overlooked during the past two years. Wo shall dsvelop a scheme of uuemployaient msurance which will d0 ava.y with tho liocessity for sustenance." itealth sorvices will be a inatter of our immediate coneern and we are convinced that tho position of the man on a lower income can be uiaterially improved with regard to me^ical §nd hospital neryiesa by. a. system

ux eontributory health insurance withont the necessity for a grandioie scheme involving heavy taxation. Much * tvill be done in extending the hospital staffa so that the health sorvices • can be provided in the homes of the patients instead of costly institutions, Maternity services will also be develop* ed on the same lines by training additional nurses for non-institutional work. Pensdons will be maintained and where possible extonded and the invesitigations which were the subject of a •xeport to the last Government will be made the basis of a national superannuation scheme. Already the people of the Dominion ;are taxed beyond the limit and with the introduction«of an unemployment . linsurance scheme we shall aim at a progressive reductions in unemployment taxation. ' Taxation will be reduced and, the general ineidence be placed on a fair and equitable basis, removing entirely the disproportionate weight which is being carried by the middle income classes. These Teductions will have the immediate effect of bjinging down the present high cost of living. We will the encourage Maori people to attain their highest possible development and we will assist the young Maori people to highor education and technical training and we will make provision for those who desire to farm their own lands as we are convinced this provides the greatest hope of the Maori race. The traditions and customs of the Maoris will be preserved and we shall do everything to strengthen the position of the people with whom we are proud to share our nationhood. We stand for the preservation of the Courts and judiciary from political interference and pressure. The proper plaee of the transport service is complementary to the State railway service and encouragement will be given to privale enterprise to undertake and develop this service under an impartial system of licensing and control. We promise the country progress on lines embodying the essential principles of democracy — directive and. not coercive. We wiU attach -full importance to ethical values, preserve the liberty of the individuai in his work and in his lfeisure, and handle the national affairs so that there will be freedom for all men of enterprise to ; ,receive the full i&ward of their endeaIvour.