MR NASH SPEAKS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26512, 29 August 1951, Page 6

MR NASH SPEAKS

Two Theatres Used In Christchurch

ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME The Liberty Theatre had insufficient accommodation for all who wanted to hear the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) speak last evening and fully half an hour before Mr Nash opened his meeting, his first and only one in Christchurch during the election campaign, the theatre’s 1286 seats were filled. When it became obvious that the theatre could not hold all who wanted to listen, arrangements were made for the Civic Theatre to be used and about 900 persons sat there and listened to the address over loudspeakers. Another 200 stood in Cathedral square outride the Liberty Theatre and also heard the address through loudspeakers. Mr Nash, who spent most of his time reiterating his party’s policy, was given an enthusiastic welcome as he walked down the aisle of the thgatre led by two pipers and a drummer. Applause and cheering lasted almost two minutes and some people stood on the seats to cheer. , Before he began his address Mr Nash was given musical honours. Again as he left the theatre the crowd sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow, shouted “Good Old Walter” and cheered. Mr Nash had difficulty In getting away from the entrance and into the taxi which was waiting to take him to the Civic Theatre, where he gave a brief address. At the Civic he was met by the pipers and escorted to the stage amidst cheers and applause. “I affirm that the objective of the National Government from the point of view of the working section of the community is to undermine the industrial unions, and to destroy the unity of the industrial movement and the political Labour movement,” Mr Nash said. “It’s objective is to benefit the wealthier section of the community. Look at land speculation, the removal of price controls, increased trading bank advances, the transfer of accident insurance to private companies and the removal of subsidies. All their legislation has benefited, in the main, the wealthier sections.

I Labour’s Objective "Our objective is totally different. We believe that we are on the verge of building a new society where the dignity of the individual will be recognised. We think that the power in the world is coming to those who serve either with their hands or with their brains, and that is where it ought to be. I want to touch my hat to the man who takes wood and fashions it into buildings or furniture, to the men who drive trains, buses, or cars. Those are the men whom we ought to revere. We ought to cease having respect for someone because he or she has money. We ought to revere them for what they are and not for % what tfiey have got.”

His party believed that the men and women who did the work of the world were entitled to the full fruits of their own industry, Mr Nash said. The people must give co operation and service. When voting people would have to decide whether they wanted the National Government to carry on for three more years and whether they were prepared to be “fooled” again, or whether they wanted a sane, ordered economy where those who worked were cared for, those who could not work were cared for and those who did not want to work were not so well cared for.

"I can see the vision of the next generation and progress being made like unto that which was made between 1920 and 1950.” he said. “If the progress is in like degree then this country will be correctly and rightly named again God’s own country ” Freight Surcharge The waterside workers had wanted an increase of 15 per cent., but the shipowners had imposed an increase of 50 per cent, Mr Nash said. They had said on July 28 that they proposed to drop the 50 per cent., but mentioned that an increase would be mad* in September. “Why take It oft in July? he asked. "To allow the election period to pass? I don't know why, but I do know that they took an extra 3s 9d for every carcase of lamb that was sent away, an extra 6s BJd on a hundredweight of butter, and £1 12s 9d extra for every bale of wool. They would have continued to take it now if they had thought it would not affect this,election. “There is only one way out that I can see. We ought to’increase the order of reference of the Waterfront Commisswn to provide that it inquire mto the profits of shipping companies. The Government said it was useless to put that In as an order of reference because the companies were owned and registered in Britain. We wiU get over that bv asking th* Government in Britain to organise a joint inquiry.” . . Mr Nash said the Labour Party would not allow a system whereby one or any section of the industrial movement said to the whole of the community what price it must bay for services. It would say that there must be a conference with an independent chairman and that the decision of the chairman must be accepted. Jf it became necessarv to take emergency powers freedom of speech or of assembly would not be interfered with, and within 10 days Parliament would be called together to discuss the emergency powers O? the stage with Mr Nash were Partv candidates for Christchurch electorates. After his address a vote of confidence in the party and in Mr Nash as leader was carried on a. show of hands and Wer ° n 0 hoBtile

MR HOLLAND AT GISBORNE

ENTHUSIASTIC HEARING GIVEN (New Zealand Press Association) GISBORNE, August 28. An audience that filled the Opera House to-night gave the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) an enthusiastic reception. Mr Holland spoke on the lines of his previous addresses. Hundreds unable to obtain admission stood on the balconies and outside in the street in drizzling showers. They heard the address relayed over a loud-speaker system.

Mr Holland was loudly cheered when he arrived and was greeted with the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”

The few hecklers, most of whom were women, were skilfully handled by Mr Holland, who frequently silenced the more vociferous. At the conclusion of his speech, Mr Holland said he bore no ill will to the hecklers, but he said they must be careful to safeguard the democratic right of ensuring a fair hearing for everyone He was accorded a vote of thanks, amid cheers.

ELECTION PLACARDS PULLED DOWN

INCIDENTS IN ONSLOW ELECTORATE (New Zealand Press Association)

m WELLINGTON. August 28. Two election boards in the Onslow electorate, erected in the interests of the National Partv candidate, Mr J. S. Meadowcroft, have been torn down curing the last few days. One board, measuring about five feet by four feet, was reported today to have been nulled down last “This is the third time this board has been interfered with,’’ said a member of the Tawa Flat branch nf the National Party to-day. “The second time it occurred those responsible were caught in the act, but a promise was given not to take the matter to the police if they saw to it that it did not happen again. As a result of what happened last night the po’ice are being notified.’’ Another sign in Linden was also pulled down on Saturday or Sunday night.