PEOPLE’S SERVANT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 270, 27 August 1946, Page 4

PEOPLE’S SERVANT

ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT “LABOUR RULE UNFAIR” “The Government should lie the servant of the people. The present Government lias forgotten this. 1 believe that, on November 27, the people will show who is master. Our endeavour is to serve every section of the people.” In these words, Mr R. G. Gerard, M.P., speaking at Tinwald last evening, differentiated as between the Labour and National standpoints. “It is the Government’s job to govern,” he. added. 1 “1 believe our present Government lias been unfair. It is not fit to govern, and j. am going to say so in -The next three months.” Mr Gerard outlined many of the aims of his party and emphasised the belief in free enterprise as opposed to the Government's aim of “ultimate Socialism,” leading up to the taking over of the people’s homes even. The present Government was not truly representative of the people whereas the National candidates would be representative of every section. Regarding the " Budget, Mr Gerard Stated that, prior to returning from overseas, the Rt. Hon. W. Nash told the people that he was coming hack with an election-winning Budget. The National Party members circularised the idea that the Budget would not be bad, and so said the Labour members. “When it wasn’t up to expectations the National Party was blamed as usual,” lie added. ' Mr Gerard believed that further tax remissions could have been made. Mr Nash said on July 19 last year that the wisest thing to do was to take all fhe money available and spend it in a better way than the people would fio. The National Party believed the people should have the opportunity of spending the biggest proportion of the money they earned. His party leader, Mr Holland, pointed 1 out Mr Gerard, bad replied to an in the “Southern Cross” claiming there was dissatisfaction with Mr Holland as leader. “That attack was dishonest and dastardly, for Mr Holland has the trust and respect of all National members, and is completely satisfactory to Parliamentary members,” said Mr Gerard. “I believe that attack was designed to deceive the people.” . i

The meeting was presided over by Mr W. Bryant and at the close a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Gerard.