NATIONAL PARTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1938, Page 5

NATIONAL PARTY

THE HON A. HAMILTON’S MANIFESTO Restoration of Personal Freedom SOME DETAILS OF PROPOSED POLICY (By Telegraph.- -Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The restoration of personal freedom, the maintenance of the highest standard of family life, and the future development of New Zealand along the tested lines of British democracy are the main planks in the policy of the National Party, according to the policy manifesto which was issued last night by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton. A summary of the National Party’s programme can be given as follows: — Restoration of .personal freedom and the legitimate rights of private enterprise. Financial assistance for the purchase of homes, including houses at present rented from the State; a housing .jscheme for farm workers; and the provision of loans for young married couples for the purchase of furniture, the loans to be written off in accordance with growth of the family. The establishment of a Ministry of Social Welfare, with planned provision for all social services. No cuts in wages, pensions or Civil Servants’ salaries, and no mandatory increase in working hours. The Arbitration Court and preference to unionists to be retained. Compulsory unionism to be abolished. The provision of pensions for widows and orphans, and the institution of a free maternity service. Liberalised family allowances. The completion of Public Works. The restoration to the farmer of the ownership and control over his own produce. Increased land settlement with an assured right of tenure. Assistance for the manufacturer. Abolition of unemployment tax on women. Gold tax to be abolished. Petrol tax and radio licence fees to be reduced.

“In the days of our fathers, New Zealand was known as a land of opportunity,” said Mr Hamilton, in issuing the manifesto. “Today, under the pervading influence of Socialism, opportunity for young men of enterprise no longer exists. “We give to the people of the Dominion an assurance of hope for the future. We promise them a restoration of personal freedom in their work and in their leisure, and we promise to maintain the highest standard of family life as the only sound basis for the future of society.” BUILDING UP THE FAMILY. Amongst the policy proposals which Mr Hamilton outlined in detail were the following:— “We will give all State tenants the right to freehold tenure and, in addition, we are prepared to grant loans of £lOO to young couples for the purchase of furniture, the advance to be reduced with the birth of each child of the marriage until it is .cancelled out at the birth of the third child. Family allowances will also be provided at the rate of 4s a week in respect of each child over the second. “One thing which I want to make perfectly clear is that it will not be necessary to undertake a policy of smashing and cutting. There are points of merit in some of the Labour Government’s legislation and these points will be preserved. However, the underlying basis of Socialism will be immediately removed.” t SOCIAL SECURITY. On becoming the Government, the National Party will not operate the recently passed Social Security Act, but will provide all pensions in existence prior to the passing of the Act. In addition to existing pensions, provision will be made for: — A universal superannuation scheme. A complete health service for those who cannot pay. Pensions for widows. Pensions for orphans. Free maternity service. Liberalised family allowance. The effect of this will be:— (a) No increase in wage tax. (b) Women will not be required to register. (c) Sixteen-year-olds will not have to register or pay wage tax. (d) Domestics will be exempt from wage tax. (e) Women having income other than wages not exceeding £250 per annum to be exempt from unemployment tax.

NATIONAL SUPERANNUATION. The National Party strongly supports the principle of National Superannuation, but holds that the funds should be administered as a separate trust entirely independent of ordinary Government finances. The scheme should be financed by direct contribution from income, entitling every person to the benefits under the scheme on reaching the stipulated age, and without any other income or property “means test” whatever. Those persons, including .State employees, and others in private superannuation schemes, who have made provision for their own security in old age—provision at least as adequate as provided in the State scheme —shall be exempt from any compulsion to subscribe to the Sta*te scheme, byt they will be entitled to the benefits of the scheme if they subscribe voluntarily. REDUCTIONS IN TAXATION. The National Party will, wherever possible, reduce the taxation burden of the people. We will reduce the petrol tax by at least one penny a gallon. We will exempt from unemployment taxation:—Wages and salaries of all women. “Other'income” of women provided it does not exceed £250, pensioners, relief workers and sustenance men, persons under 20 years of age, and domestic workers. With a view to stimulating the development of low-grade gold-bearing areas, we will abolish the export tax on gold. Radio licence fees will be reduced from 25s to 15s a year. DAIRY PRODUCE PRICES. On the subject of dairy produce prices, Mr Hamilton said in part: “We will give effect to such measures as will ensure that farmers are able to pay competitive rates of wages, are assured of reasonable interest on capital value in farms and stock, are enabled to meet increased costs imposed by legislation —including tariffs —and are ensured a remuneration commensurate with the service they render, comparable with that obtained by other members of the community who render equal service. This will' be accomplished by a lowering of costs, or by a compensating payment for farm produce, or a combination of both. Regarding the present so-called guaranteed price, the National Party will honour all commitments which have been entered into by the Labour Government with regard to the current season’s dairy produce. .