POINTS FROM ELECTION LETTERS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26511, 28 August 1951, Page 9

POINTS FROM ELECTION LETTERS

“What’s Sauce for the Goose, etc.’’: “I was delighted to read in this morning’s paper that dear Mr Holland is suffering no ill-effects from his heckling in Auckland. I wish I could say the same about my family of young children and their lack of warmth, sugar, citrus fruits and woollen goods during the last winter. No doubt Mr Holland has a larger purse than mine and so could buy these things, so building up his strength for a strenuous election tour."

“C.S.” commends the election candidate who said “Personalities will be kept out of my campaign." “Here is a man," writes the correspondent, "who is evidently strong through the evolutionary process. He no doubt has a sound policy, which he would endeavour to put into practice instead of wasting hi* time ana the people s money in indulging in personalities."

John Burbridge: "Within a dog-eat-dog economy, irresistibly both factions, one with spur*, the other with golden hopes, drive the blind public donkey over the precipice. A civilised economy will be based upon common ownership of public utilities."

“Labourite” writes: “On perusing correspondence about the election I notice quite a number of correspondents, while criticising the attitude, pf Mr Nash regarding the strike are themselves neither for nor against and so will not cast their vote on election day. It was the attitude of people such as these that gave the Government the sweeping victory it claimed in 1949, when thousands failed to vote.”

A correspondent whose letter on superannuation appeared yesterday over the nom de plume "Non-Nationa"’ corrects a printer’s error. The nom-de-plume used is “Non-Nashional.” “J.T,": "In the first speech of hi* election campaign of 1946 Mr Holland said: “I proudly hoist the flag of capitalism.’’ There are two evils confronting us to-day: capitalism and Communism. Of the two I beg to say that capitalism is the greater. It is capitalism that creates world wars, slumps, and depressions. It was capitalists who locked the waterside workers out last February, because ‘hey asked for a 6 per cent, rise in wages. The capitalists wanted a 50 per cent, rise: they did not ask for It, they took it, and the people will have to pay."

“Beware”; “Christmas is but four months away and the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Lyt telton are lavishly promising gutedged presents lor all and sundry; but methinks the poor old reindeers and sledge will break down under the weight and that the stockings will be like Old Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard —empty.” F. J. Frampton (Cooper's Creek): “Mr McCombs, in his broadcast, gave a pitiful picture of the Education De-partment-old dilapidated school buildings, shortage of teachers and everything that was bad. Has he got a short memory? Was he not Minister of Education up to 20 months ago?"

‘’Country Before Self" expresses appreciation of the address given by Mr J. T. Watts last Thursday evening, and adds: "It was indeed refreshing to hear a candidate give us such a sane, straightforward statement of work accomplished, unaccompanied by abuse of his orpoients. as was given us by Mr Watts. One felt one had learned

something of interest, in contrast to other speakers, whose speeches seem to be mainly hurling abuse at their opponents.” “New Zealander”; “There is a lot of commonsense in the comment of your correspondent Mr Kitson, The watarsiderg’ failure to load meat for Britain caused hardship for the al. ready oppressed people in Britain—oppressed by the maladministration of the British Labour Government,” “Worker”: “The Labour Party is trying to make us believe it caused the present prosperity of New Zealand. This is far from the truth. It is the early settlers and their descendants whom we have to thank for all our prosperity." Nora Sanderson: “Those persons who still contend that a vote for Labour is no gain for Communism surely cannot be following the situation on the waterfront. Anyone who votes for the present Labour Party, with its weak and dangerous attitude toward Communism, must be either a knave or a fool."

“One of the Many”: “For the benefit of one of your correspondents the late Mr R. J. Seddon was not the first to introduce the social security schema. He did provide a scheme for all eligible old people who had reached the age of 65, entitling them to 10s weekly. May I ask what steps the Tories took to improve this plan during the next S 7 years? The late Mr M. J. Savage end nartv when elected in 1935 introduced social security, which made the ivjng conditions better than had evet seemed possible after the endless years of the depression.” “60 Years a Worker": “It will ba conceded by all thinking and fair, minded people that under the National Government New Zealand hag a high Standard of living; wages have been increased by £50,000.000 during the year. Social security benefits have improved to such an extent that New Zealand is now the finest welfare State in the world, with all commodities necessary for mankind and a sound, honest Government. It is a land of plenty, but is suffering from excessive charity seekers and industrial wreckers."

“Nalional”: “The following is an extract taken from a letter received from England in June. “Things are going up all the while. We have just got oyr new ration books. Fancy being on rations again, This Labour Government have made a mess of thingsI wish they were out. You sure are lueky to live, in New Zealand.’ ”

“National Again" complains ot revo'ting pamphlets which were circulated by members of the Labour Party ?t a meeting at Qtahuhu railway workshops. “Some of these pamphlets c-n--tained some of the mo«t disgusting verses published in New Zealand in a long time.”

“LT.R.A"; “The Labour Party’s song seems to be rising costs and broken promises. The Labour Tramway Board promised to reduce fares; instead of which, when it was elected, fares were increased considerably. We have also a Labour City Council. On receiving my rate notice a tew days ago I was surprised and disgusted to find hew much rates were increased, especially the tramway rate, which jn my opinion should be wiped out."