ON THE HUSTINGS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 227, 24 September 1943, Page 7

ON THE HUSTINGS

POLITICAL POINTS WHAT CANDIDATES SAY It is pitiful to see a party like the Nationalists trying to get into power with statements.so baseless and hypocritical as appear in their advertisements.— The Minister of Education (Mr. Mason). * * * * After four years of war New Zealand has the best housed and best fed people in the world. That is not Labour talk. That is the view of Sir John Orr, the famous British nutrition expert.—Mr. C. R. Petrie (Labour, Otahuhu). * * * * Don't ask me why the Government did not do this or that in the last war. I am not living in the past but in the future. Some of the Labour Government members might not like you to question what they did in the last war.—Dr. R. G. McElroy (National, Roskill). * * * * Nationalists seem unable to put their finger on the so-called manpower muddle. There is obviously no weakness in our fighting forces. And there is no weakness in our production, which has increased. Where, then, is the muddle?— Mr. C. R. Petrie (Labour), Otahuhu. * * * * The chap I am sorry for is the P. and T. worker. We should all be sorry for him, because Mrs. Dreaver's gestapo is after him. — Flight-Lieutenant Curran (Democratic Soldier Labour), Auckland West.

I know a man who had a staff of 25. To-day he has a staff of five, all Maoris, and he only sees them on pay days.— Flight-Lieutenant Curran (Democratic Soldier Labour), Auckland West. * * * * All this talk of "yes-men" levelled against the Labour party by Mr. Holland and his friends is nothing but an attempt to put up a smoke screen for one purpose and one purpose only—to hide the policy the National party hasn't got.— Mr. F. Hackett (Labour), Grey Lynn. * * * * The Government promises a housing programme of 14,000 houses in the year after the war. This would need 4000 extra carpenters alone. Already 10,000 men have been demobilised, and the Government in the last two years has trained only 150 carpenters.—Dr. R, G. McElroy (National, Roskill). * * * * We don't stand for regimentation and interference and the multiplicity of boards set up. I don't say that in a case of war we don't have to suffer regimentation, but what we stand for is that, as soon as the war is over, these controls will be tapered ofT and we will return to our normal lives.—Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Fortune (National), Eden. * * * * The National party say they are a new party, but they have merely put a new front on the old shop—the old prosperity shop "round the corner." The management is just the same. They have a new commissionaire, but the hands behind the counter are the same.—W. C. Hewitt (Independent Group), Waitemata. * * * * The only way to stop this immorality in Auckland is by bringing the boys home from the Middle East. You won't do it by regulations or by more women police. Children are growing up without their fathers, girls without their brothers, and it is wrong. If Australia can bring the A.I.F. home, so can New Zealand.—FlyingOfficer Dromgoole (Democratic Labour), Auckland East.

There is not much difference between the two parties, Labour and National. I am sure that both are anxious for the well-being of all New Zealand. Their ends are the same, but there is a world of difference in the means. I don't want anyone to move a vote of confidence in me. You should base your decision on the different philosophies which motivate the two parlies.—Dr. Finlay (Labour), Remuera. * * * * I have been told that a statement was made In a newspaper that Major Skinner had said that Servicemen had not actual rights under rehabilitation unless there was hardship or disability disclosed. I want to tell you that Major Skinner was misrepresented. All Servicemen who have served at home or overseas are entitled to rehabilitation rights.—The Minister of Social Security, Mr. Parry (Labour), Auckland Central. ♦ * * * We have no intention of interfering with social security, wages, the 40-hour week or the unions. These will carry on as before, but with this difference—that, instead of having men associated with them who speak of class distinction, we will preach getting together and pulling our weight. We want to show the world what a population of one million and a half can do, and it can be done if we co-operate. — Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Fortune (National), Eden. * * * * How many of you remember June 10, 1000, when Mr. Scddon walked up the gangway of a steamer at Sydney. He turned and with a wave of the hand lie said: "Good-bve; I leave now for God's Own Country."" Yes, it was God's Own Country, but you have let the "devil" in, In the last few years. Your opportunity will arrive to clean the slate on the 25th and make it once again God's Own Country.—H. w. Glynn (Independent) Group). Roskill. # * *• * One of the worst things a candidate has to fight against, and one of the most malicious means of vile propaganda, is the whispering campaign. This has already started against me. A whispering campaign has been started stating that I am not going to the poll. I wish most emphatically to deny this and state that I am in this fight for the principle of the party versus the people, and on that principle intend to win this election. —Staff-Sergeant H. W. Bagnall (Independent), Auckland West.

All my life I have been interested in the social welfare of children and it has been my policy to have the children kept as far as possible under the care of their natural parents. I have had that policy confirmed by observing that in 992 per cent of the cases the welfare of the children is more keenly considered by the natural parents than by those who had not created them. For that reason I say that the social welfare measures, which are the children of the Labour Government, would be better cared for by their natural parents than by the Nationalists, who were hostile to their very birth.— The Minister of Social Security, Mr. Parry (Labour), Auckland Central. * * ♦ *

A man said the other day that he wouldn't vote for me because I had been In the country for only five minutes and because I joined the army only to get into Parliament. Well, I have three children, of whom I am very proud, born in this country. One of them was born here in Grey Lynn 14 years ago, and I don't think either Peter Fraser or John Lee can claim that record. If, in September, 1939, I joined the army to get into Parliament, I at least deserve credit for choosing a more difficult route than any member of the Cabinet.—Staff-Ser-geant G. E. Plane (Independent), Grey Lynn.