NATIONAL PARTY METHODS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 273, 30 August 1946, Page 2

NATIONAL PARTY METHODS

ALLEGATIONS BY MR MACFARLANE (P.A.) WELLINGTON. August 29. Allegations that some National Party organisers were using methods that amounted to intimidation in obtaining members and funds for their party, were made by Mr R. M. Maciarlane (Government, Christchurch South) when lie spoke in the Budget debate this evening. Mr Macfarlane said he objected to fioine of the National Party’s intimidatory methods of obtaining members and funds for their party. Mr J. Thom (Government, Thames): Blackmail! Mr Macfarlane said legislation was necessary to prevent employers approaching their workers during working hours and intimidating them into joining the National Party. An Opposition voice: Trade union secretaries do that, too. Mr Macfarlane said the National Party also sent a circular to businessmen extolling the virtues of the party, and attaching a slip at the bottom telling the recipient how much he was expected to contribute to the party’s funds, naming sums of £2O or moje. An Opposition voice: Show us one! Mr Macfarlane: I have talked to a man who objected to receiving one of those circulars. Mr Macfarlane said trade unions look a plebiscite of their members as to whether their funds should be contributed to a political party. Mr C. G. Harker (Opposition, Waipnwa): And force the minority to pay. Mr Macfarlane said nothing could be more democratic than the ballot taken by trade unions- on this matter. He predicted that many people who had been infuriated by the National Party’s methods would not vote for Ihat'party under a secret ballot at the General Election, although they had be'en intimidated into contributing 2s Gd to its funds.