MR LEE OPENS CAMPAIGN

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24043, 3 September 1943, Page 6

MR LEE OPENS CAMPAIGN

DEMOCRATIC LABOUR PARTY (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sepetember 2. The Leader of the Democratic Sol-dier-Labour Party (Mr J. A. Lee) launched his party’s election campaign in the Town Hall at a meeting attended by about 2000. Much enthusiasm was shown. At the close, Mr Lee was cheered and the audience sang, “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow." Democratic Labour had more than 50 candidates, said Mr Lee, and he predicted that his would be the largest party in the next Parliament. “The Nationalists are anti-Labour.” he said “Labour is anti-Nationalist. We are pro-New Zealand." He endorsed Mr Holland’s assertion that New Zealand’s manpower was becoming overcommitted. None more than he wanted to see New Zealand fight on to victory: but the over-commitment was and there was an urgent need for a realistic revision of manpower requirements The Prime Minister apparently had made the same discovery as Mr Holland since the start of the election campaign, as his reported utterance, at ,New Plymouth showed Quoting from his party’s platform he said the party was not in favour of conscripting those under 21, or of sending fathers of large families to overseas service. Over-commitment was pulling the pillars from beneath industry and had resulted in shortages of consumable commodities It threatened a great reduction in ’ income and he would predict that if it were not checked, the present Government would impose another wage reduction in the form of an additional 5 per cent, war tax. Mr Lee devoted much of his address to advocating public control of currency and credit and accusing the Labour Party of having been false to its election pledges of 1935 and 1938 on this subject. A vote of thanks to Mr Lee. wishing him and his party good luck on polling day. was carried against a few dissentients. and amid enthusiasm.