NATIONAL PARTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 September 1938, Page 6

NATIONAL PARTY

SALIENT POINTS IN POLICY MR HAMILTON’S BROADCAST TONIGHT NO WAGE OR PENSION CUTS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The salient points of the policy which will be stressed by the Leader of the National Party (the Hon A. Hamilton) in his broadcast address tonight will be as follows: — “Wage-cutting has no place in the plans of the National Party. The party realises that the pay envelope is the most important event in the lives of a great majority of the people. We are just as keen as anyone else to maintain and improve the standards of living. The party does not stand for any cutting down of pensions. Women are not given a fair deal in the taxation proposals of the Labour Party. The National Party will see that they are given relief. “The encouragement of marriage is, in the National Party’s opinion, one of the most important questions the nation has to face. There will be a generous health service for those who cannot pay hospital and medical fees. HOUSES IN THE COUNTRY “Because intensive farming offers one of the best avenues of providing New Zealanders with suitable homes and permanent occupations, a vigorous land settlement programme will be operated. Finance will be made available to young men taking up farming. Homes will also be provided for rural workers in suitable localities. Attention will be given to the provision of all-weather reads, rural mails, telephone services and electricity in backblock areas. “The party will work for the maintenance of the education system. Sectional prejudices will be torn out root and branch, and replaced in the schools with an outlook for the common good, and national welfare. “Private investment will be encouraged, and there will be full co-opera-tion with private enterprise. Revolutionary socialism must be checked. Freedom will be etsablished for all operators in the transport industry. This applies to road, rail, air and sea. The party is definitely opposed to monopolostic control of any section of the country’s trade and industry. The rights of the small trader and small 'farmer will be safeguarded. CHECK ON FREE SPENDING The present Government’s policy of free spending will be checked. The National Party stands for the private ownership of houses as the basis of national life. Tenants of State houses will be given the right of purchase. Allowances of up to 90 per cent will be available to home builders. Building societies will be encouraged to provide capital to young home seekers. “The Defence system of the country will be reviewed in light of the new strategical situation that has arisen throughout the world. Defence policyshould be based on the assumption that in the last result New Zealand may have to defend herself until assistance arrived from overseas. “Farmers will regain the ownership of their produce. The Dairy Industry will be consulted on finance and marketing, and the party will offer them stability through the provision of a guaranteed minimum price and, if they desire it, will co-operate with them in marketing. “Taxation will be reduced. A start will be made by cutting down or abolishing the unemployment tax on wb-_ men, with an income limit of £250, gold duty, petrol tax and radio licence fees. The party will not put the Social Security Act into operation. Existing pensions will be maintained. Free maternity service will be provided along with pensions for widows without children and pensions for orphans. The special wages tax of one shilling in the pound will not be charged, but the existing tax of eightpence will be continued.”