INDEPENDENT GROUP

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24023, 11 August 1943, Page 2

INDEPENDENT GROUP

♦ COMPLAINT TO PRIME MINISTER

INFORMATION FOR MEN OVERSEAS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 10. A telegram sent to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) to-day, signed by Mr A. P. Harper, Dominion secretary of the Independent group, states: "A week ago we asked that an election committee representing all election interests be set up to ensure that all received fair and equal treatment in the facilities provided for informing service personnel overseas of election issues. You replied that our views had been noted and would receive consideration.

"A week has gone by and nothing has been heard. Less than seven weeks now remain before the election, and it will be virtually impossible for policies and opinions to be printed and distributed to troops in all overseas theatres of war in this time. The Independent Group has so far not received one word of advice of the proposed arrangements. “Can you deny that you held discussions with the Leader of the Opposition? Can you deny that the political parties are preparing their material accordingly. Can you deny, in short, that the parties are prepared and ready to present their cases to overseas service personnel? Can you deny that this material is not already on the way overseas?

“Wo ask these questions because we believe that the country has a right to know whether the democratic privileges of men overseas are being guarded by the parties, or whether they are being usurped by the parties. New candidates and new election issues have a special claim for consideration, because men overseas will naturally know little of them. To deny these men access to the claims of such candidates is to deny a fundamental principle of democracy.

“Protecting Party System”

“Because the Independent Group is attacking the party system, and because you have entered into an agreement with the Opposition, the Independent Group lays the charge that you are deliberately protecting the party system by attempting to exclude the views of the Independent Group from service personnel overseas. Party candidates, including yourself, will knowingly have an unfair advantage over independent opponents.

“We can see in your election manoeuvring nothing more than an attempt to place the Independent Group at the greatest possible disadvantage. If troops overseas arc to be denied the opportunity of hearing our case presented by our own spokesmen in our own way, we shall press these charges before the people, before next of kin, and before returning troops.” A similar telegram was sent to Mr Holland who, the Independent Group states, merely acknowledged receipt of its earlier request. A spokesman of the Independent Group alleges that Mr Holland is hand in glove with the Prime Minister in this matter, and adds: “It will make little difference to the country whether Labour or the National Party rules. It will, however, make a vital difference if we rid the Government of party control. That is the real issue in this election.”

PRIME MINISTER’S

REPLY

EQUAL TREATMENT

PROMISED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. August 10. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P Fraser) has sent the following reply to the Independent Group’s statement: “Your telegram received. I regret your premature and foolish outburst. "The Independent Group, which is apparently indistinguishable from a party, or tfic People’s Parlv, or any other considerable section will receive the consideration, they are entitled to equally with the older established parties, and arrangements are being made accordingly, and will be communicated to all concerned in ample time to be taken lull advantage of. All the measures at the disposal of the Government will be used to bring political views before members of the forces, wherever they are situated. “Your suggestion that any party has sent material overseas, stealing a march upon any other party, is too unworthy to merit any reply. Your other extravagances call for no comment, except to state that it is a pity that anybody should occupy himself with expressing such nonsense.”

SERVICEMENS VOTES

MR FRASER EXPLALNS PROCEDURE

LICENSING POLL TO BE HELD

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 10. Giving a definite assurance that a licensing poll will be held in conjunction with the General Election, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon, P. Fraser), when the estimates for the Electoral Department were under consideration m the House of Representatives to-night, cleared up several points concerning voting at the forthcoming election as far as they concerned servicemen, and those directed into industry. Members of the New Zealand services overseas, he said, would vote on the national and local licensing issues, just as they would have done had they been at home. Members of the services in camps and stations in New Zealand would have the option of voting for Parliamentary candidates who were standing cither for their residential electorates, or in the districts in which the camps or stations were situated, if a voter had the necessary residential qualifications: but their votes on the licensing issues would be registered for their home electorates. Persons directed into essential industries would also have the option of voting for candidates m their home electorates, or in the electorates in which they were working: but this would not apply in the case of persons voluntarily transferring to essential industries outside their home electorates.

With regard to voting by servicemen overseas, Mr Fraser said that as soon as nominations closed they would be cabled, together with parly designations, and members of the services would have the right to vote right up to the eve of the election day. It was quite possible that their voter would arrive in time for counting in New Zealand on election night. Every endeavour would be made to strike a fair balance in placing the literature of the contestants before (he troops overseas.

AUCKLAND EAST SEAT

MRS J. A. LEE WITHDRAWS FROM CONTEST “ Tlie Press ' Special Service

AUCKLAND, August 10

At the request of the national executive of the Democratic Soldier Labour Party Mrs J. A. Lee has agreed not to contest the Auckland East seat as was her intention but to make a tour of New Zealand on behalf of all candidates of the party. The Democratic Soldier Labour candidate for Auckland East will now bo Flying Officer L. S. Dromgoolc, aged 31. a graduate in commerce from Canterbury University College. Before the war Flying Officer Dromgooie was employed in the Public Trust Office and was secretary of the Wanganui branch of the Public Service Association. He has seen service in Malaya and Java.

WESTLAND SEAT The National candidate for the Westland seat will be announced tomorrow, according to a statement made yesterday by a member of the Greymouth branch of the National Party.