LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26263, 7 November 1950, Page 3

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

LABOUR v PARTY’S CAMPAIGN

MAYORAL CANDIDATE’S OPENING SPEECH

“We never fight under false colours,” said Mr R. LI. Maclarlane, M.P., the Labour Party’s mayoral candidate, when opening the party’s local body elections campaign, before an attendance oi about 300 in the Civic Theatre last evening. “When we fight as a Labour Party, we fight under tire New Zealand Labour Party’s banner, whether locally or nationally. The Citizens’ Association are good Tories.” As fer as he was concerned, there would be no personalities, although he would refer to differences in the Citizens’ Association, said Mr Macfarlane. It had been obvious that there had been considerable manoeuvring over the choice of the Citizens’ mayoral candidate. There had been some stringpulling. But no one would be under any illusion. Cr. J. N. Cterke and Cr. W. S. Mac Gibbon had worked together on the City Council. Cr. Clarke had never shown any radical opinion on the council. Both represented ‘ Tory opinion, and had always shown that by their votes on the counciL The Citizens’ ware saying that a member of Parliament should not be Mayor. His view was that the mayoralty was a position of honour and should not be held permanently. He was a meinber of Parliament and held other positions when he was elected Mayor in 1938. He was not expected then to give up his livelihood. Was Mr Henry Holland, a prominent businessman. expected'to give up business interests \yhen he was elected Mayor? Dr. H. T. J. Thacker was a practising doctor as well as a member of Parliament. Mr J. A. Flesher was a barrister and solicitor, but he was not expected to retire frbm his business. The Rev. J. K. Archer was a clergyman. Was it ever suggested that he should retire from his church? For five years Mr D. G. .Sullivan was Mayor and member of Parliament, but no one could say that the people of Christchurch were neglected.

Mr Mac Gibbon was one of the busiest of businessmen. If he wap elected Meyor, would the Citizens’ Association’ say he should give up his business interests? He would say emphatically + hat the association would not do that. Parliament sat for only a certain time each year and air transport msdc travel quicker. If the people gave him a Labour City Council and a good De-puty-Mayor. he w’ould be assisted. The Citizens’ Association was “trotting out a bogy” in questioning the holding of the mayoralty by a member of Parliament. «

The cry of the Citizens’ Association of party politics in local body elections was an old bogy. At the last local body elections throughout New Zealand the present Prime Minister, who was a vice-president of the Citizens’ Association, adopted the Citizens’ and made it plain that they were the National Party. The link was definite. Nearly all the present Citizens’ members of the City Council supported the National Party. If the Citizens’ won this time, it would be hailed as a victory for Mr Hplland. The people knew how the cost of living nad risen, and the election of a Labour council would be the answer in Christchurch to the National policy. Outside Interests

All the differences in the Citizens’ Association arose over the question ol amalgamation. Most of those opposed to amalgamation lived outside tne city. Men who favoured amalgamation on the City Council opposed it on the Tramway and Drainage Boards; it was a strange spectacle. Quite a number of members of the City Council lived outside the city. What, he was cavilling at was that persons living outside the city dictated the policy of the City Council. Mr J. J. Brovin lee had said .non-electors dictated thfe policy. Labour's policy anticipated a poll on the same day as the elections; but something happened. The persons who determined the Citizens’ policy brought jsome pressure on no less a person than the. Prime Minister to stop a poll being held on election day. “If we are to have a better and greater Christchurch, we must be in favour of amalgamation, ’’ said Mr Macfarlane. “If a poll had been taken oh election day we would have urged you to vote for it. For a better city, we must have a town planning scheme not stultified by the present boundaries. All the Labdvr candidates represent all suburbs. Most of the Citizens' candidates live outside the City—mostly in one suburb. The question to be determined on election day is whether the city is to be governed by those living inside or outside the city. We believe that under the ward system the people would have better opportunity to judge their candidates and would be assisted by having smaller ballot papers. ' There is nothing parochial in that, for no one would suggest that a representative for a ward’ would not work for «the city as a whole. The electors would also come into closer contact with their candidates.” ( Housing and Rates ' Discussing housing, Mr Macfarlane said the City Council had not built one house in the last three years, yet, in death-bed repentance, it brought forward a scheme to build 124 houses at North Beach. The land was a reserve, and there was no certainty that it would be available. Labour was opposed to two-unit houses and substandard houses.

Most of the increased rates was due to the demands of the City Council. Business firms could pass on the increased rates. Labour would frame its policy so as not to place a burden on the people. The culprits .of the smoke nuisance in Christchurch could be observed from the Port Hills. It was time that, if the nuisance did not abate, the industries should be removed outside the city. Labour realised the difficulties in obtaining cement in doing work on channelling, which was’ in a deplorable condition. The Government, had assured better supplies of cement. The permanent roads were sanctioned by a Labour Council which placed a £220.000 loan before the ratepayers. “Only apathy has defeated us in the last four elections in Christchurch,” concluded Mr Macfarlane. The# disastrous fire at Ballantynes had cast a gloom over the city on the eve of the elections three years ago and many had not voted. Citizens' Personnel

The welfare of thousands was internally bound up with local government. said Mr A. H. Nordmeyer (president of the New Zealand Labour Party). After discussing housing needs and hospital services, he said it was important that the human element should not be overlooked. Labour’s candidates were proud to come forward as Labour. They did not come forward under any guise. Was it an accident that the Prime Minister happened to be a vice-president of the Citizens’ Association? Would he allow his name to be associated with an < rganisation that was not true blue national? Did the list of vice-presi-dents include a worker or a Labour Party supporter? He suggested that any body which claimed to be representative of -the citizens of Christchurch' should represent all the citizens of Christchurch, not only those who worked in Hereford street or lived in Fendalton. Unless one wore the old senool tie, one held little chance of attaining eminence in the Citizens’ Association.

“Why this humbug?” asked Mr Nordmeyer. “Is it not painable that the association is none other than the .National Partv under another name, whatever disclaimers they may ?nd their protestations of innocence. ’ He appealed to the people to return Labour to local bodies as an» indication of what would happen to the National Party two years hence. Asked if Labour would hand over the tfamways to a private company. Mr Nordmeyer said such a step would be against Labour’s policy. Inhere was, however.-no hope of any private ■ company wanting to take the tram- . ways over. A vote of confidence in the policy and candidates was carried. Mr T. Martin presided and only two interjections by one man were heard. All the Labour candidates were on the . platform.