FATE OF COUNTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1938, Page 7

FATE OF COUNTRY

NATIONAL PARTY LEADER’S APPEAL TAXATION & WELFARE DENUNCIATION OF LABOUR “STUNT” DESIRE TO GO FORWARD . (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “Tomorrow you must decide the fate of a country. In this personal message to you, at the close of a remarkable campaign, I wish to state a clear case,” states the Hon Adam Hamilton, leader of the National Party, in a special appeal to electors. "The so-called ‘free benefits’ offered in the form of an election bribe by the Socialist Labour Government, have to be met out of the pockets of the 400,000 families of the Dominion.

“YoUr family is one of them, and I scarcely need to point out the commonsense fact known to every man and woman who had budgeted for anything —a holiday, a week or a month’s household expenses or a business — that the more moderate your means the more harshly you are affected in ordinary living by heavy additional taxation. That is -why the National Party will not increase taxation, but will reduce it.

“Socialist Labour has produced an election ‘stunt’ in the Social Security Bill. It is hastily thrown together, illconsidered, unbalanced and impracticable. - For the great majority, better and cheaper provision can be made by a voluntary personal arrangement. For the minority, a better arrangement for a complete and not a partial free service could be made, and the National Party will make it. “And the cost of it all? The Socialists throw up their hands in horror if I, or any of the thinking electors of New Zealand, mention the word cost. But, ask yourself—have not you—has not your family—have not your friends —the right to ask what a so-called ‘free benefit’ will cost? That is what you would do if you were buying clothes or food, or anything else. PROMISED BENEFITS AND COSTS “We are today within a few hours of the election, and still the Socialist Labour Government is silent as to the total cost df all the provisions it will have to make, and is ominously silent on the question of how much this will cost you—your family—your friends—in taxation. It is admitted that there is a very big gap between the millions in sight from taxation already announced, and the millions more required to meet other necessities that are part and parcel of the proposals. “The social security extravaganza, which is actually only partial in many of the things it provides, will cost you Is in every £1 you earn each week. That is an increase in taxation of 50 per cent. But it does not include any provision for real unemployment—that will require millions more; it does not include superannuation —that will require millions more again. “How much more will you, your family, and your friends, be taxed to bridge the huge gap which the Socialist Labour Government itself admits is present? The cost to you will immediately be about 2s in the £l, as the National Party estimates it, and here is further unimpeachable evidence:— “Mr Maddex, the British actuary, specially brought out to New Zealand to advise the Government on the scheme, stated: — “The Government’s scheme will cost 3s in the £ 1 on the national income in 10 years time.” “And he said again:— "The financing of the scheme depends not only on the maintenance of production, but also on the maintenance of markets and prices. “How can any country flourish under free, happy conditions, if it increases and increases the taxation buiden on its people, particularly its young people, from whom future progress and inspiration is expected? STATE AND DEMOCRACY “The State is being made the be all and end all of everything under a Socialist regime. The individual ana the family with all their virtues—the encouragement of individual loyalties, self-reliance, thrift and enterprise—are being slowly strangled. Today the Socialist State squeezes you while it hands you sugar-coated pills that deaden you to the squeezing process. Soon the State will own you—and soon it will think for you and act for you and your say in the matter will have disappeared, to dwell with the shades of the former previous rights undei Democracy —free speech, a free Press and a free radio. “If the people are not awake to tne threats to all that to Which their precious heritage entitles them, then my confidence in a sweeping National victory is indeed misplaced. But I know that they are aware. I know that no enticement— however/ cleverly baited by subtle Socialist distortion —will prevent them from sweeping Socialism from the Government of this fair Dominion.

“The National fight is a fight for justice, it is a fight to the death, and it is a fight worthy of the support of every forthright and courageous Britisher in the Dominion. The members of the Socialist Labour Government— who have truly earned the description oi ‘The Greatest Tax Gatherers in the World'—must be swept from the Treasury benches.

“You will find nothing in the Labour policy anywhere that suggests reduction in taxation. The National Party will not only give the farmers the ownership of his produce, besides an advance without recourse, but will give taxation relief to every section of the community, amounting to nearly £l,500.000 at least. OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL “In the issue today between British democracy and State Socialism, there arises the fundamental issue of race preservation based on family life. I cannot believe that New Zealanders have so far departed from the spirit ot their ancestors as to embrace Socialism. “You must realise that a victory for National is not to go backward —but to go forward with opportunity for all. The National Party's policy carries a practical message of inspiration, hope and reconstruction for all. Its purpose is sound progress built on family life —encouragement and help for the young people and protection for the aged. It promises the extinction of State dictatorship and the restoration of British democratic principles. “I appeal to every patriotic New Zealander to support the National cause—the cause of British ideals and British freedom, and I promise you, one and all, on behalf of my party, that every pledge in the party's policy will be honoured in letter and spirit,”