N Z. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1917, Page 1

N Z. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

testing at Dunedin DUNEDIN, March 9. A meeting of Dunedin citizens was held in the King’s Theatre last night, called by the New Zealand National Association, to hear addresses by Mr Janies Uraigio, M.P., and owners. Second Division men were specially invited to attend, and there seemed to be a fail- number of them present.

The proceedings began with the singing of the National Anthem.

Cr Sincock, who took the chair, s«.v« that those present were assembled as the nucleus of ilio Now Zealand National Association, and he would let them know what the constitution was:

1. To express our deep loyalty to the Empire, and to use our best endeavours to promote and increase nmc sentiment upon all. 2. To see that legislation is enacted that will protect those who have participated or arc actively participating in the great struggle for freedom. 3. To have legislation framed that ensure that adequate provision be made for all dependents of those engaged in the war.

4. To urge that such system or systems of graduated taxation be introduced as will provide for adequate sepaactive pensions and other requisite allowances being made to dependents of soldiers.

5. To insist that stringent measures should be enforced in connection with enemy subjects. G To take active steps towards State action and organisation which will result in a reduction in the cost of living. 7. To submit and urge the adoption of proposals from time to time in connection with other matters concerning the interests and welfare of the people of the Dominion.

8. To support candidates subscribing to the views of the Association for locai and general elections. Cr. Sincock went on to say that although the association had a political signifigance they had no intention whils the war was on, at any rate, of interfering with party politics; but they had the intention't to urge with migh'; and main on the government to uo what was the right and proper thing for the soldiers and their dependents. It was our duty to see that the benevolent institution or/the old men’s home . was not the final resting-place of our heroes. (Applause.) Mr Craigie had a special reception. He was going to speak, he said, not as a politician, hut as a citizen ot New Zealand, and although he did not intend to criticise the National Government (to whom and to Sir James Allen he proceeded to accord credit for many notable things accomplished), still ho was sure that if the Government had shown more courage in some things, and stood out boldly to do the rigjit thing they would have had all the multitude of right-minded people in New Zealand with them. Voice: They don’t want to ao tlie right thing. Mr Craigie continued that, living as we did so far from the centre of the big catastrophe, and in a moment of unprecedented local prosperity, the people of New Zealand were living in a fool’s paradise. Who were making j the sacrifices. Only the hoys, and the fathers and mothers of the boys, who were fighting at the front. Wild extravagance was never more rife in New Zealand than now, and if he weic Dictator of New Zealand he would stop a lot of things. The Government should set an example to the employers of New Zealand. They were running excursion trains, which were always crowded, race trains, and the like, at 'the time when the hoys were kneedeep in the water in the trenches fighting for our existence. This was no time for people to he gallivanting about the country seeking pleasure, and if the people did not know that this was not the proper time for pleasure thoGovcrnmeiVL -should let them know it. Ho was a Democrat but if people would per sist in travelling for pleasure ho would raise the faros and he would stop racing until tHo war was over. This was the prelude to the speaker’s. address. He now proceeded .to outline some proposals tor the benefit of the soldiers and their dependents!. To begin with lie said there were the men who were called in tile ballot and had to leave business and farms built up by years of work and saving. It was the duty of the Government of the City Council, of tlie local bodies, to see that the businesses! and holdings which these men had left were kept for their return, , and were so kept that they wore just as good in asset as when the men went away. (Applause). What he would like to sec dene was the nationalisation of the man-power and the woman-power of the Dominion. At the present time one man volunteered or was taken In the Ballot, another was found to be physically unfit. One went, the other stayed behind. 1 want to see a ballot for men between 20 and 60 years of age, and I want to see men who are unfit soldiers of the King ni New Zealand, and on soldiers’ pay. We want to organise every scrap of manhood, for two reasons— fo keep up the productions! and to help conserve the interests and ‘look after the dependents of tlie men at the war. (Applause). Presently the First Division would he exhausted, and the call would come to the (.Second Division. There was no doubt it would involve a very great and trying sacrifice for some married men. He could conceive no greater mcrifioe, indeed than that to ho made by the man who had to leave his wile and two or three or more children. Here, too, an inequality of sacrifice was inevitable. On the one side of the street would he the man who had to leave his €-1, £o, or £6 a week and accept a soldier’s pay. while on the other side would he the mail who was unfit, and retained his £4, £5, or £6 a week. The men jn the former posi-

tion were, perhaps', most troubled by the thought of what would happen to their wives and their children if they never returned. The pension was totally inadequate for the education which men desired for their children. The money must be provided for better measures, and what they had to do was to rouse public opinion, so that the Government would he compelled to make adequate provision.

IV o have conscripted the man with the family. Wo must go further and conscript the wealth to pay for that man’s family. 1 know that the mere phrase “conscription of wealth” causes some people to lift their heads in holy horror, but money is not sacred like human life, what is tlie conscription of wealth to the. conscription of the father of a family (Applause.)

The country has been very successful in launching the loan of £11,000,000 hut he wanted to know where the patriotism came in.' The investors were getting 4.V%. and it might, mean as much as 51 per cent., so that if they were patriots they wore paid patriots. When wo wanted another loan he would like the Government to make a levy upon the capital of the country. (Applause.) The capital wealth of New Zealand was about £300,000,000, and a 10 per cent, levy would be about £30,000,000. Voice: Take the lot! You don’t take 10 per cent, of a man. (Laughter) Mr. Craigie went on to y.ny that instead of asking people to lend money at interest for the next- loan, a graduated levy should he made, starting with a fairly low percentage for the thousands, and making it pretty stiff when it came to the hundreds of thousands. The Government should pay interest on this levy at the rate of 5%., and the interest should go not to the people levied upon, hut into a sacred trust account (you cannot trust a Government; you do not know what their future will he) to he held for the dependents of the soldiers.

Ho was pretty well off himself, the money he had being his life’s earnings. He was willing to give pound for pound to the last pound, hut he wanted the other men to do the same. He knew wealthy men who had given generously, and he knew others worth from £60,000 to £IOO,OOO who had given nothing. He knew of one man in this Dominion who, after a good deal of pressing, promised to give £5, hut when they went to collect it he said they must have made a mistake —he meant ss. Under the speaker’s scheme the man who had given liis hundred’s or his thousands would receive credit for wliat lie had paid, and the niggardly one would get tlie full measure of the conscription of liis wealth. Voice: Put them under clause3o. In conclusion, Mr Craigie said: I want our soldiers to he made independent when they come hack. Be generous to 'those boys who have risked their lives for us. If they want to go on farms, get the farms for them; pm houses on them and stock them; and if they want to go into business help them to go into business, and the payments' very light for'the first 10 years Be generous to these fellows!” (Applause). A voite of thanks was accorded the speakers. The meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem and cheers for tlyj hoys aft the front.