Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1938. QUESTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 September 1938, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1938. QUESTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE.

SUPPORTERS and opponents of the National Party should he able equally to agree that the policy manifesto issued by the Leader of that organisation (the lion A. Hamilton), though it possesses little enough in the way of window-dressing appeal, puts forward in concrete and understandable shape the essential issues upon which the electors of the Dominion will be invited to vote on October 15 next. All parties in this, country are committed to the acceptance and maintenance of a considerable measure of State Socialism. Mr Hamilton contends on behalf of his party, however, that under the administration of the Labour Party there has arisen a menace of Socialism! which attacks and invades the legitimate province of private enterprise. Lie says in plain terms that the task of the National Party, when it takes over the Treasury benches, “will be primarily to divert the existing trend of Government policy away from Socialism.”

The issue here raised is one on which a large proportion of the people of the Dominion no doubt have their own reasonably clear-cut opinions and on which they may very properly be asked to vote. There is no question of selling the railways or winding up pther established State enterprises, but there is definitely a question as to the extent to which the field of State ownership is to be extended, and this has an all-important bearing on questions of taxation and the management of the national finances.

A definite issue is raised, too, in the field of industrial regulation. The National Party pledges itself to maintain the Arbitration Court as a tribunal regulating wages and industrial conditions, but it proposes, while maintainingpreference to unionists, to abolish compulsory unionism.

Again, as an alternative to the system of State tenancy developed by the Labour Government, the National Party proposes to give individuals the opportunity of acquiring their own homes. Another vital issue is raised in the declaration that, if it is returned to office, the National Party will not operate the recently-passed Social Security Act, but will maintain, with some additions, including a complete health service for those who cannot pay, all pensions in existence prior to the passing of that Act and will establish a universal superannuation scheme under which all contributors will benefit -without any property or means test. . ■

While it establishes a dear line of division, the National Party manifesto gives due prominence also to the .fact that there is a certain measure of agreement between the political parties which stand opposed in this democracy. Mr Hamilton observes frankly that: “There are points of merit in some of the Labour Government’s legislation and those points ivill.be preserved.” What this means in detail is made pretty clear in the statement of the Leader of the National Party that it will not be necessary to undertake a policy of smashing and cutting, and in the details of his manifesto. Both the parties now bidding for political support are committed to the regulation of social and industrial conditions and to the extension of social services, but the National Party proposes to pursue its aims by much more gradual and cautious methods than are favoured by its Labour opponents, and to interfere very much less with individual freedom and initiative.

These issues are now defined far more clearly than they ever have been in the past history of New Zealand and a correspondingly decisive vote may be expected at the coming election. At the general election of three years ago, the position was confused and (Complicated in a number of ways. At the polls next month, the electors will have relatively simple and unobscured questions placed before them for determination.

These and other important departures from the policy of the present Government proposed by the National Party —amongst others far-reaching modifications of the dairy guaranteed prices scheme—must be left to speak for themselves. It is for the people to determine whether the drive into Socialism is to be accelerated, or the pronounced trend of the last three years is to be checked and in so'me measure reversed.

As to the broad objectives of social, industrial and individual welfare to be aimed at, there is little difference of opinion. As to the methods by which these objectives may most hopefully be approached, there is a profound divergence upon which the electors must pronounce. All that is fairly to be asked of them on the occasion now near at hand is that they should pay intelligent regard to their own welfare, which in sum is the welfare of New Zealand.