MAKING MONEY TALK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 487, 17 October 1928, Page 9

MAKING MONEY TALK

Sir Joseph Ward Expounds New United Party’s Platform URGE FOR INCREASED CAPITAL BEFORE an almost record-breaking audience in and outside the Town Hall last evening, Sir Joseph Ward, Leader of the United Party, unfurled his new political banner and declared his policy. In the course of a vigorous address he urged the need for a complete change in financial administration and a new influx into New Zealand of capital on an unprecedented scale.

Although the meeting was timed to begin at 8 p.m., the Town Hall was packed to overflowing before 7.30 p.m., and many ticket-holders had difficulty in obtaining admission. Loud speakers had been erected on both sides of the building and, by their aid, the surplus of the big crowd was able to hear the address. The United Party leader was given an enthusiastic welcome, and at the close of a particularly cordial meeting a motion of confidence in the party was carried spontaneously. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, occupied the chair and introduced Sir Joseph, who spoke for a little over an hour. A CLEAR POSITION After observing that the nature of his reception would make the heart of any public man beat in unison with his hopes, he said that 66 candidates of the United Party were standing at the forthcoming elections. The party would not be the inflnitesimal quantity that its opponents would have believed. Records of the last election showed that he was representing over 200,000 supporters. Hie own position was a clear one —he stood under the United banner in the manner he had stood before. He was a Liberal; he stood as a Liberal. There were Nationalists, Liberals and Workers in the party, and they had never been asked to forego their previous principles or beliefs. HEAVY PUBLIC DEBT A few figures—figures, he said, that would show what the country’s position was since the war. Since March, 1920, the public debt had risen by £50.000,000. During the eight years this had increased the burden of the breadwinners by £B9 5s Bd. The land tax and income tax collected last year represented nearly £23 a head, or on customs alone £l4 15s a head—more than double the last year of the war. In addition to that were the rates apd licences of local bodies. He was advocating a tremendous change. It was not any use his opponents saying that all was well. All was not well. There was an increase of £50,000,000 in the debt, and a complete disappearance of the £17,000,000 surplus which he had left. And to-day, they knew, that there was but £173,000 left this year by the Minister of Finance. It was an extraordinary condition, and an alteration was required urgently. “This country has not got enough money by millions/' Sir Joseph declared. “There are some people who really believe that the banks are to blame, but this is not the case. The fact is that New Zealand wants for its settlers, its workers, and its trade, more millions than have ever been in the country at one time before.” He was urging a very important change, and if hia party were put in, he undertook to bring into New Zealand within 12 months £70,000,000 for the use of the people, and he would not ask them te bear 6d tax. New Zealand needed a supply of money that would enable loans at 42 per cent. The money would be raised in London at 4| per cent., with a discount of 6 per cent. UNCOMPLETED RAILWAYS Of that £70,000,000, he included £10,000,000 for the completion without delay—within four or five years at the most—of the uncompleted railways that had been dragging along like snails. In the accomplishment of this, the people would not be taxed one penny piece. If the Public Works Department were strengthened and tenders called so that the Taranaki-Auckland railway could be completed within three yearn, the effect would be to bring Taranaki *ne day nearer to Auckland, and the railway would pay the whole of the interest. At present it was losing interest, and all the others in a similar position were the same. The whole lot would not require more than £ 10,000,000 to complete them, after which all would he earning interest and opening up land. Canada had 69,000 miles of railroad, and he wanted to see the introduction of the system that had made Canada and the U.S.A. He knew that people had had application for money in for 18 months and two years without obtaining the loans needed; £400,000,000 of fresh money was in London every year, looking for investment. Was there any better investment than the men and women and the railways of the Dominion, with the State behind them? With the altered legislation that wits so necessary. this could be done. “When I hear the question, ‘Can it be done?’ my answer is that when I prepared the State Advances Act it was declared that I would never get the money,” he said. “To-day almost 40 millions have been lent, and it is still being lent. It can be done, and done without hurting business men or business. It would be real statesmanship for the Parliament of this country to prepare a sound financial scheme for the two undertakings I have touched upon. TOURIST TRAFFIC “Last year Canada got £27,000,000 from tourist traffic alone. If I were a betting man I would wager that we have not received £1,000,000 from tourist traffic in New Zealand. And yet, there is not a country in the world to compare with the Dominion if we had the proper railway facilities. A few millions left in this country would of gTeat benefit, directly and indirectly, to every person in the country.” A Voice: What about the unemployed ? Sir Joseph: I have already told you, but you were outside. (Laughter.) SETTLING THE LAND Continuing, Sir Joseph said that the Minister of Finance said that there would be no money available for •and settlement for a few years. The Minister of Lands said it was better to look after those already on the land.

could make a comfortable living, as was being done in other countries. The brains that brought in the larger settlement scheme many years ago could bring in a scheme for the settlement of smaller farms. A Voice: What about leasehold and freehold ? Sir Joseph Ward: I believe a man should have the right to buy the freehold. but that ho may hold the leasehold Just so long as he requires it. As a matter of fact, continued the speaker, very few of those who had taken up the 13,000,000 acres of land bought by the old Liberal Government had since converted their land to freehold. IMMIGRATION POLICY “I am against immigrants coming Into this country in the winter,” said Sir Joseph Ward. “However, I believe this country could hold a great number of people, and if we have the foresight to finish our railways, and to get money for the development of our land, we will have another 400,000 people in New Zealand at the end of eight years.” To have our population increased by an extra third would mean that the financial burden of the country would be decreased for the individual. He was strongly of the opinion that a greater population was a vital necessity, and would undoubtedly assist trad© and thereby increase work. The main factor was to see that the country was not overrun during the winter months, and to be certain that all immigrants could be absorbed within a reasonably short period. “Our country Is not settled yet,” he said. “It is a prolific country and could actually hold more than the British Isles, while from the production point of view no portion of the Old Country could beat us. We cannot remain as we are while Britain has a population of 50,000,000.” It was necessary that our system be reshaped, continued the speaker. If more money were available all our machinery would be at work again. It would take time, however, and could not be rearranged in a day. % LAND POLICY “X believe that we of the United Party, are going to get the opportunity to show what we can do,” declared Sir Joseph. First of all, the aggregation of land must be stopped, and as this practice was detrimental to the close settlement of the country, effective means should be taken to bring it to an end, and a tribunal would be set up for that purpose. Compulsory acquisition of land Party, voluntary methods of purchase would be advocated by the United Party, voluntary methods of purchase being adopted wherever possible, though, should these fail, the compulsory provisions now on the Statute Book would be amended, made more effective, and applied. “I stand for closer land settlement upon more liberal conditions and. the more rigid prevention of the aggregation of lands suitable for subdivision,” said Sir Joseph. “I stand for assistance in Crown Land settlement, where the nature of the land renders it desirable, particularly in deteriorated areas; for a roading policy designed to assist in opening up settlements without requiring such a heavy rating burden upon the land; remission of interest or rent where necessary and desirable; more expert valuation of the land on a productive basis.” The group settlement scheme should be inaugurated, he said, and should be financed on the table mortgage system on easy terms. A commission of inquiry should be set up to inquire into the conditions of native lands. The natives should be looked after, but it was necessary to discover if any land was available for farming in the North Island, without doing any injustice to the natives. STATE TRADING Though the Prime Minister had adopted the slogan, “More business in Government and less Government in business,” the State was now interfering with private enterprise, which was not right. The private trader paid his rent and his taxes and should be left alone. The instance of the unfortunate men in the motor business was well known. He (the speaker) was aware that the railways must be protected, but at the same time justice must be done to the private trader. What was really wanted was a Minister of Transport. MOTOR TAXATION The largest employer of labour in New Zealand outside the railways was the motor industry. Were those people to be taxed out of existence? He recognised that motors had to pay for the upkeep of the roads but there should not be a system that half harried the life out of the industry. The business of the Government should be to help the secondary industries of New Zealand. They ought to be fostered. He was not in favour of adding to the burden of the customs taxation but the question had got to be examined In order to help industry. It was necessary also to free the essential foodstuffs. If the cost of living was to be brought down this w'as the first thing to be done. Although more had to be done for industry than had been done for some time past, it was necessary to watch that the productive side was not killed by the imposition of unnecessary burdens. Sir Joseph said he stood for the maintenance of the free, secular, and compulsory system of education. He stood for electoral reform and contended that there should be preferential voting. He w'as an advocate of the maintenance of adequate mail and passenger services outside New Zealand and weekly services from Melbourne to Bluff. ' . .. He was in favour of removing the shackles that hampered trade. When he was Postmaster General he had refused to allow the post office to act as an agent for the collection of money from outside vendors. He understood that this system was in operation today, and if he had his way he -would stop it to-morrow. NO VISIONARY PARTY In conclusion Sir Joseph said that he had been in public life since 1887 and could claim that he had always tried to do his best. He could say now that the United was no visionary party. If placed in power they would do their duty, help fairly both the weak and the strong, do justice to people In

“I say we can do both,” declared Sir Joseph amid applause. Over-valuation of land must not be allowed to stand in the way, and a scheme for smaller land settlement must be introduced, so that those with B mall means or practically no means

both town and country, legislate in favour of no man as against another. Cheers and prolonged applause marked the close of the address after which a motion of thanks and confidence was proposed by Mr. E. Aldridge, seconded by Mr. T. U. Wells, and carried practically unanimously. BABY AND “DIGGER” DISTURBERS OF PEACE SIR JOSEPH CARRIES ON The smooth-running of Sir Joseph Ward's meeting in the Town Hall last evening was interrupted early in the proceedings by a leather-throated infant and an equally noisy adult. Considering the size of the audience and the numbers who were obliged, after many fruitless endeavours to enter, to stand before the loud speakers outside the building, the gathering was a most orderly one. Discord crept in. however, shortly after the United Party leader had begun his address. It was the cheering that did it. The baby, clutched in its mother’s arms in the packed gallery, simply would not stand such a racket. Its mouth opened, and Sir Joseph’s? opening remarks were accompanied by a prolonged wail. “I sincerely appreciate the cordial nature of your reception,” said Sir Joseph, carrying on bravely. But the baby cut in on a higher key, and he hesitated. “Take that kid out,” cried one man, and after a few loud howls the youthful interrupter departed in the arms of a blushing young woman who was followed by a still more dfeeply blushing young man. That ironical laughter, invariably associated with political meetings, followed them. Next came an interruption from beyond one of the side doors of the building. It began with a few heavy thuds of fist on wood. “Hey!” said a male voice. “There’s a reporter out here —he can’t get in.” The perspiring face of a pressman appeared at an open fanlight, but after scanning the sea of faces it withdrew, hurriedly. “Hey, Joey Ward!” called the same voice. “There are a few old diggers out here who want to come in.” Sir Joseph apologised politely for the smallness of the hall. He regretted his inability to right matters “Hey, Joey Ward!” the voice repeated monotonously. The thumps on the door continued. Then Sir Joseph wisely disregarded all but the business of the evening. He carried straight on, and gradually there came silence. LIBERAL FLAVOUR GIANTS OF THE PAST A distinctly Liberal flavour was imparted to Sir Joseph Ward's meeting last evening, when the United Party leader referred to past associations and declared frankly that he was still a Liberal. “I stood before your monument to Sir George Grey in the park this morning,” he said. “I remembered him as I had known him —soldier, statesman, friend of the poor. “I allude to him because of this: I selected Auckland for two reasons. First, because Parliament was here in the early days, and secondly, because it was the city of Sir George Grey—by far the greatest man New Zealand has ever had.” He had been told, he said, that his political opponents had been trying to stir up mischief in Invercargill because he had delivered his opening speech in Auckland, but he was sure that his Invercargill friends were too staunch, that the mutual goodwill between Auckland and Invercargill was too great for such propaganda to be effective. The Liberal note was again sounded by Mr. Aldridge who, in proposing a motion of confidence in Sir Joseph, dwelt on the chain of Liberal memories following the name of Sir George Grey. The United Party’s leader, he said, was the last of the Liberal giants.