MORE CRITICISM

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20744, 2 March 1939, Page 4

MORE CRITICISM

LABOUR DOMINATION MR HAMILTON'S ATTACK ELECTION PLEDGES BROKEN I (By Teleg*. anh—Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday ' “Oaol Is a place where liberty of j action is entirely restricted, and by that I standard I am certain 1 was right when j stated recently that the people of I New Zealand to all intents and pur- | poses are in gaol to-day as a result of I the increasingly thorough domination lof the Labour Government,” said the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, at Hawera to-day. ”The present drastic restrictions,” he added, 1 are the first of their type to be introduced in the British Empire, and, besides being entirely unnecessary had prudence and sound judgment prevailed they are oppressive to an extent incomparable with British principles of freedom and justice. “The importance of taking national politics as seriously and as sensibly as we take local body affairs or our own business arrangements must be realised to-day.” Mr Hamilton continued. “A\ e do not allow ourselves to be deluded in even local body affairs if the administration is extravagant, oppressively costly or dominating. National government under the Labour administration has been all of these things, but because of large promises, the saying of one thing frequently and the doing of another, the people seem to be mesmerised.” Deprived of Livelihood Mr Hamilton mentioned what he reI ferred to as just some of the examples iof contradiction under Labour dictation. There was Mr Savage’s personal plea that he would not hurt anybody. Sections of the community were directly hurt immediately after this particular election promise, which at the time was given great emphasis. Livelihood was t-aken from a great many citizens by drastic arbitrary means, which, although forecast as inevitable by the Opposition, were categorically denied by the Government in its efforts to carry the election. People were told, and apparently many believed, that ialk of restriction of liberty was merely an idle attack by the Opposition. “Why should anyone who has worked hard and put by enough to enable him to take a holi- ! day have to go cap in hand to Mr Nash j to ask if he can do so?” Mr Hamilton asked. “So on and on goes the drive against individual rights. Inconsistent Appeal “Then again, the Government has clearly expressed its contempt for capital and the investor and even this week a responsible member of the Government has slated in public that the Government is out after the ‘dividend king.’ On the other hand, the Government is making an appeal |to the investing public to assist in i building the nation through the expansion of local industries. “What confidence can there be in suoh an appeal from a Government which has already hunted out of the country a sum estimated at somewhere about £17.000,000? The Government told captial to get its running

shoes on when it came into office and It did. Now the running shoes are being taken away. Threats and contempt have reaped their just harvest.” FINANCIAL STRAIN UNFAIRNESS ALLEGED “IDLENESS AT A PREMIUM** (By Telegraph.—Pres? Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday “In a Government principally distinguished for lack of responsibility and unfairness, it is not surprising that the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. J. Savage, should be so consistently unfair in his criticism of past governments,” said the leader of the National Party, the Hon. A. Hamilton, at New Plymouth to-night. “The Prime Minister has assumed credit for a host of benefits not of the making of his party. It is easy to be abusive in seeking popular and passing notoriety, but the people of New Zealand since the election have had the truth forced ■upon them by drastic Government action, and the sincerity of my statements will soon be more generally realised. “The financial outlook for taxpayers is anything but happy,” said Mr Hamilton. “The full strength of the Reserve Bank, intended for use in times of stress, already appears exploited, the Government having strained Its resources with advances amounting to r. 17,000.000 and wijh further investments at £3,500,000, making the immense total of more than £20,000,000. Since this is so, it will not be surprising If in its embarrassment Ihe Government decides to write up the. assets of the bunk in some undesirable way. Capital Hunted Out “This situation has been brought about, by the unsound policy of the Labour Government, and by that alone.” Mr Hamilton continued. “Even capital that- might, have assisted has Loon hunted out, of the Dominion deliberately. Industry and thrift, have been discouraged and idleness has been placed almost at a premium. Such a state of affairs deserves the sober reflection of every taxpayer. The whole trend of the situation must force evorvone to the conclusion that, even if accentuated inflation is not yet with us. i! has already begun and cannot he wholly slaved off much longer.” REMITTING MONEY NO BARRIE!.,:' PROVIDED MR SAVAGE EMPHATIC ! (By T« ■ >ph 1 \«?nriation) WELLING i < »N. Wedimsdav 1 The inlY-rence ! ■ Vu.Mralian ! building tradesmen aing eiuploy- ! ment in New Zealand may experience 1 difficult v in rent It m- nmno\ I" thoh* ! relatives in Australia was replied to 1 by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. , M. .!. Savage, this evening. -Gould you imagine any 'nan eom- . in- over here to work if lie could not i -wnd money back to Australia to ke-b ' ills wile and famiJv in Sydney?” j <wkrd Mr Savage. We haw not j reached that standard. There ia pro-

vision in the exchange regulations for the remittance of money in circumstances such as these. The men will he able to do what they like with all the money they like to earn in the building industry. That is a different thing to allowing speculators to drive holes through the regulations and thereby sabotage the Government’s policy.” The Prime Minister said lie did not wish to comment on Mr Stevens’ other references to New Zealand. “ It appears that Mr Stevens is busily engaged in fighting a political battle and I am not desirous of participating in the conflict,” said Mr Savage.