STRONG PROTEST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 227, 24 September 1943, Page 4

STRONG PROTEST

APPEAL REPUDIATED

MESSAGE TO INDEPENDENTS

(0.C.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. An appeal to all Independent Group (People's Movement) candidates to withdraw from the election was made by Mr. P. L. Brady, chairman of the Wellington North branch of the group, to-day. The statement says: "As chairman of the Wellington North branch of the Independent Group I have concluded that the one certain result of the candidature of many Independent Group representatives next Saturday may be to cause vote-splitting and thus keep the present Government in office. It appears to me that many Independent Group candidates have no hope of success and can only confuse the issue in the electors' minds. "Moreover. I believe that doubts which some people entertained about the policy of the National party and Mr. Holland's leadership have been completely dispelled by his broadcasts and his address here last night. It is felt that the policy of the National party is a progressive one and that under Mr. Holland there will be a proper measure of freedom of judgment for National members to save the people of our Dominion from further infiltration on our individual and national freedom. I suggest that, with a due sense of responsibility considering the vital issues at stake for New Zealand and knowing that you have the welfare of your country at heart, you should follow the fine example of Mr. H. S. S. Kyle, Independent Group candidate, who has withdrawn from the contest at Riccarton." Mr. Brady denied that he had acted as an agent of the National party. "Effort to Mislead Candidates" Mr A TH Tlnvv nrrmnisor nf flip

People's Movement, which is sponsoring the Independent Group candidates, said that Mr. Brady had no standing whatever, and his statement was an attack upon decent men who desired only to serve their country. "I have ascertained from the secretary of the Independent Group, Mr. A. P. Harper, that this telegram was never referred to him," said Mr. Davy. "Mr. Brady has attempted to mislead the Independent Group candidates." "This is the worst attempt yet seen in the political life of this Dominion to stab a political movement in the back," says a joint statement from Mr. Rugby Malcolm and Mr. Clive Drummond, Independent Group candidates in Wellington. "There is no Wellington North branch of the Independent Group and Mr. Brady has no official standing whatever. He has acted as chairman for some of Mr. Malcolm's meetings. "Mr. Brady to-day approached us, the two Independent Group candidates in the Wellington area, with a proposal that we withdraw from the election, and asked Mr. Malcolm, whom he met first, to meet .Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, Mr. Malcolm's National opponent, and then go down to meet Mr. S. G. Holland, Leader of the National party. Mr. Malcolm indignantly refused, saying that he had an obligation to fellow-members of the group, intending supporters and the people of New Zealand and in no circumstances would he retire, particularly in favour of Mr. Hislop." "The appointment with the National leader and Mr. Hislop was indignantly turned down. Mr. Brady was later seen to meet Mr. Hislop, however, and later again this telegram was sent to the outside candidates of the Independent Group: 'It is obvious that an attempt to .mislead them into believing that someone with an official standing in the Independent Group desires them to stand down in favour of the National party. We see in this a deliberate attempt to get the Independent candidates out of the election.' " Auckland candidates sent telegrams indignantly repudiating the suggestion to retire.

"CHEAP SALLIES"

DR. FINLAY'S COMMENT

At his meeting in the Anglican Church, Orakei, last night, Dr. Finlay replied to remarks made by Mr. Algie. "Mr. Algie accuses me of lowering the level of the campaign by referring to personalities," said Dr. Finlay. "He should be the last to suggest this, as I understand that many of his speeches have been filled with what I feel to be rather cheap sallies at certain members of the Labour party who have had only limited educational opportunities. It's Avhat a man says, not how he says it, that counts; but more important than either of these is what he does. If a man is doing a good job I don't care if he drops an 'h' or two, but Mr. Algie seems to be more concerned with social graces than with good work."

"But perhaps Mr. Algie's weakest case is his comparison of our respective ages. When he charges me with emerging from my youth I can justly reply that he is entering his anecdotage. In any case, my failing—if youth be a failing—is one that time will mend, while his will surely get worse; for while I grow older every day, Mr. Algie will never be any younger."