WAIRARAPA CONTEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1943, Page 3

WAIRARAPA CONTEST

ADDRESS BV MR J. J. MAHER AT UPPER HUTT NATIONAL PARTY POLICY AND AIMS. CRITICISM OF LABOUR RECORD. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Mayfair Theatre, Upper Hutt, was crowded last night when Mr J. J. Maher, National Party candidate for Wairarapa, opened his campaign. He received a rousing reception on entering the theatre accompanied by Mrs Maher, who was handed a bouquet. The Mayor, Mr J. Blewman, presided. Mr Maher spoke for an hour and a half, dividing his remarks evenly between criticism of the Labour Government’s record and an exposition of the National Party’s policy. Indicative of the keen interest was the large number of question asked and answered. Going on to state that he was New Zealand born and bred, Mr Maher said he had lived in the district for about 45 years. For that reason he had asked for the privilege of making his maideli speech in Upper Hutt, where he had started work on a dairy farm, subsequently purchased his own farm, and had served on the Hutt County Council and the Hutt Valley Power Board, of which he had twice been chairman. He was also chairman of the Primary Production Council.

“You all know me. I have life-long friends here,” he said. “I want also to make it clear that I intend to fight this election cleanly. It has been said that the election will be a dirty one. So far as I am concerned there will be no dirt whatever.” (Applause). He was one of those who felt that there should have been a truly national Government for the duration of the war, that there should be no contentious legislation, and no outside domination by persons who were not elected by the people. The Prime Minister had been in favour of a national Government, but had been overridden by those in favour of continuing the imposing of socialistic legislation backed up by Trades Hall interests, who had a big voice in that legislation. '

A voice: “Why not?” “Let them come on the public platform then and stand before the people as I am,” said Mr Maher. (Applause). Mr Maher criticised treatment meted out by the Government to Mr Scrimgeour. He said he had no particular brief for Mr Scrimgeour, having, in fact, been very strongly opposed to his semi-political broadcasts. But Mr Scrimgeour had been sacked largely because he was no longer a “yes-man,” and objected to being dictated to 'by trade union officials. The speaker’s opinion was that the treatment meted out to Mr Scrimgeour was unfair and did not reflect credit on the Government.

STATE CONTROL OVERDONE. After dealing with his record as an employer, which he held would stand up to any test, the candidate spoke on the benefits of private enterprise, which he claimed had played a tremendous part in file development and progress of the British Empire. It was part of ■ the British character to own something. The trend of much of the Labour Government’s legislation was to strike a blow at private enterprise. No better example of this was to be found than in the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Bill, which aimed at the socialisation of the land. Already the Government controlled exchange and transport. Now it was aiming at controlling production. Moreover, this meant the creation of a further army of civil servants. Since the Labour Government had been in power the number of civil servants had increased by 26,000. This big increase in non-producers could not be considered beneficial to the country’s economy. The economy of the country depended in the first instance on its primary production. Mr Maher dealt in detail with the National Party’s policy in regard to taxation, housing, education and social security. The National Party had plans for a gigantic housing scheme. For all desiring it, the freehold would be made available, and 90 per cent of the necessary finance would be advanced to ordinary applicants and 100 per cent to soldiers. The sales tax would be removed so as to enable a substantial reduction to be in the cost of housing. Labour had promised to build houses at a cost of between £6OO and £7OO. Today those houses cost nearer £l5OO.

OVERHAUL OF TAXATION. • An overhaul of taxation would be made by the National Party to assist the family. Labour had claimed before coming into power that taxation had reached its limits. The person who knew most of the harshness of taxation was the housewife. Strong support for social security was expressed by Mr Maher. The National Party would carry it on. It also proposed to revise hospital rating to remove present injustices. In dealing with education, Mr Maher referred to the rapid growth of the Upper Hutt district, and the need there for a high school. (Applause). He also advocated decentralisation _of industry to enable more use to be made of healthy urban areas and assist in their development. This would also solve much of the present overcrowding in cities. A. tribute was paid by the candidate to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, whose record as a soldier and business man, in which he had advocated and practised co-operative ownership with the workers sharing in the successes of business, made him an ideal citizen to become the next Prime Minister. (Applause). A motion of thanks to Mr Maher, which included best wishes for success, moved by Mr D. Thomas, and seconded by Mr D. Greig, was carried by acclamation.