“PRISONERS”

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20742, 28 February 1939, Page 8

“PRISONERS”

NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS HIGHER 7 AXES PREDICTED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday “ People in New Zealand are prisoners In their own country. Even their own money is locked up. Mr Nash is warder and Mr Savage gaoler. The old cry of “ Freedom under the Union Jack ” does not mean anything In New Zealand to-day.” This was the picture painted by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, In an when he arrived from thdsouth this morning. “ The people of this country do not realise the seriousness of the import and export restrictions,” declared Mr Hamilton. “ The real effect is that we are prisoners. If the New Zealand citizen to-day wants to take a holiday overseas he has got to apply to the Government for a permit and the Government will then decide how much of his own money he can take out of the country. Reactions Already Evident “ Unless a man has money overseas the old cry of freedom under the Union Jack does not mean anything in New Zealand to-day,” continued Mr Hamilton. The policy being pursued by the present Government was bound to bring its reactions. Already we had severe reactions in the form of drastic, restrictive quotas. Brief reference wall made by Mr Hamilton to the Social Security Act. There was little now the National Party could do, he said. They had fought tooth and nail during its passage through the House. All that was known at present was that the Government did not propose to operate the free medical provisions of the Act In the meantime. That would mean a saving of £2,000,000 or £ ,000,000 a year, but the whole tax was going on. Imported Artisans The proposed Importation from overseas of 1000 artisans indicated that the Government was not usefully providing for all New Zealand’s own artisans, said Mr Hamilton. There must he plenty of men available, many of them on public works, who were not prepared to leave their jobs to take a chance in the building trade. “ I have noticed that the Government has been commended by some businessmen on its decision to review the anomalies in the land and income tax,” concluded Mr Hamilton. “ I am convinced when the Act is reviewed the people will not be too happy about it. They will get a big surprise, for a review of the anomalies is almost certain to mean increases.”

“MEANS MORE” FREEDOM TO-DAY MR SAVAGE’S REJOINDER HIGH LIVING STANDARD (Bv Telegr*mi—rro«»c Ascnriatlnn) WELLINGTON, Monday Statements criticising the Government's policy which were made in Christchurch to-day by'the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, were replied to by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in an interview' this evening. Mr Savage said that freedom meant, more in New Zealand to-day than ever before, becajse people could only be free when they had a decent standard of living. People could not be free when they were poor. “ Mr Hamilton states that New Zealanders are prisoners in their own country* and that their own money is locked up,” said Mr Savage. “ These people had no money to lock up before the present Government assumed office. I would sooner be a prisoner under the conditions to-day than be free under the conditions that prevailed before we came into power. If this means being a prisoner, let us lock up a few' more people. If the conditions that existed for three or four years before this Government mean freedom, then save us from freedom. People did not apply for permits to travel before we came into office because they did not have money. It has taken Mr Hamilton a long time to find that out. Professor Algie evidently helped him ” Prosperity Reflected*

Referring to Mr Hamilton’s comment about the import and export restrictions, Mr Savage said: “The worst that can be said about it is that the efforts nod labour of the men and women of New Zealand are protected against inroads on their standard of living by the competition of cheap products from overseas. One has only to look ut the totalisator figures, motor registrations. radio licenses and the. returns of business turnover —prosperity is reflected all along the line. Thank heaven for that. 4 ‘ The Social Security Act is the best measure on the Statute Book of this or any other country and is an attempt to give real security to the people of this country,” said Mr Savage, in answer to further criticism. “ The Government is going to operate every part of the Act at the earliest possible moment and no blame will rest at the door of the Government for any hold-up. Mr Hamilton will have to look elsewhere for the blame. We are not going to use tHe social security tax for any purpose other than that for which it Is levied.” “ Do-Nothing Policy ” Mr Savage said the Government was usefully providing for all artisans it could obtain. If there were not enough in New Zealand to overtake arrears of work, it was owing to the do-nothing policy practised by Mr Hamilton and his friends when they were in office. If Mr Hamilton could say where artisons were available in New Zealand, the Government would be right after them. In addition to obtaining men from overseas.’.steps were being taken by the Government to train New Zealanders. a thing Mr Hamilton did not do. The Government of which M r ' Hamilton was a member turned apprentices out of the workshops into the streets. “ The Government is out to put the incidence of taxation on a better basis than when it came into office,” said Mr Savage. “ That cannot be done in five minutes, however. We will try to correct a lot of stupid practices of jiift past***