CAMPAIGN NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26512, 29 August 1951, Page 8

CAMPAIGN NOTES

Mr Nash and Mr Bill “The most touching photograph of the year was the one taken at the time of the Laboun conference in Christchurch, showing Mr Walter Nash and Mr Toby Hill in rapt conversation. Toby's seraphic smile was reflected <in Walter’s beaming countenance, as these two trouble-makers discussed their future plans.”—Mr H. R. Lake (National), Lyttelton. Waterfront Work He had heard a story that the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) was going to work on the waterfront, said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash). “What is he going to do?” was asked, Mr Nash continued. “He’s going to unload red herrings," was the reply. Housing in St Albans « Details of building activity by the State in his own electorate in the last two years were given by Mr 1 J. T. Watts, the National candidate for St. Albans, speaking at the Thames street Baptist Hall last evening. Since the National Government took office 239 State houses had been started, built and occupied in St. Albans, said Mr Watts. There were 132 at present under construction, and contracts had been let for a further 43. Twelve sites had been approved in State housing blocks for the erection of shops.

Troops’ Kit on Wahine “I have here a letter from one of the young chaps who was on the Wahine,” Mr Nash told his meeting in the Liberty Theatre. “They had to get off with their sea kits only and without any personal effects. In a letter to his father he says that not a penny is being paid for the loss of personal effects. They ought to be compensated for their personal loss after it has been proved.” “Grand Leader’’ for “Grand National” “Mr McLagan is reported to have suggested that our party should be called the ‘Grand National’ Party. That is an excellent suggestion and we have a grand leader in Mr Holland,” Mr D. W. Russell (National. Avon) told 40 electors at St. Chad’s school room last evening.

Newspaper Criticised If he had his wav he would take away the right of the “New Zealand Herald” to be published as a newspaper. said Mr T. E. Skinner (Labour. Tamaki). The newspaper, he said, never had anv praise for the Labour movement, but every editorial was devoted to praising Mr Holland. “It has got past the stage of serving its purpose as a newspaper,” he said. “It has no right to the privileges of a registered newspaper as it is only a propaganda sheet of the National Party.”

Land gales Control “Under the Nash regime, New Zealand was becoming a nation of criminals. With rare exceptions, every property transaction involved a criminal offence, with under-the-table payments.”—Mr H. R. Lake (National), Lyttelton.

Poverty and Prosperity “Poverty anywhere menaces prosperity everywhere." said Mr Nash, Leader of the Opposition, speaking in the Liberty Theatre on the need for assisting countries with a low standard of living. Labours Record

“I am prepared to admit that the Labour Government’s record in some ways was a good one,” said Mr D. w. Russell (National. Avon) at St. Chad’s schoolroom last evening. “In 1949 it was a dying administration end that is why it was defeated at the polls. The party lacked imagination.” Motor-car Sales The sale of cars was the biggest racket in the country' to-day. New cars were driven out of the garages and round the block and then sold for £4OO more. It was impossible for the average man to buy a car under those conditions, and while he agreed that the Labour Government had not acted wisely in this matter he would do all in his power, if elected, to stop such a racketeering in cars.—Mr A. G Braddick, Labour Party candidate for Waimate. Communists and Labour “Hie point is not whom they hate but whom they will vote for,” said Mr R. M. Algie (National, Remuera) referring to Mr Nash's statement that Communists hated the Labour Party. “Mr Nash will have the support of those people or they will vote for no one. They only have candidates in city electorates where the Labour vote Is so strong that they cannot make any difference to the result It is only window-dressing on their part,”

Imo ‘The Government cannot honestly deny that the country's economic condition, not Communism, is the real issue,” said Mr J. A Bateman (Labour, Karori). “Communists polled about one per cent, of the vote where they stood. So small a tail could scarcely wag so big a dog.” Election Weapons "They have named the spot and the weapons, but now instead of having pistols they say we have poison ana daggers,* said the Minister of Lands (Mr E. B. Corbett) in Blenheim, discussing the Labour Party’s attitude to the election. “It is for the people now to say whether they uphold constitutional authority or whether they want a Government that is linked with Indiscriminate unionism which has the leaning to Communism." T»r fry Days “Mr Holland has said that December 13 was his lucky day, that July 13 was his lucky day, and that August 13 was his lucky day. All J ean say is that my lucky day is September I.”—the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash).

“Hopeful*' Labour Supporter A very prominent Labour supporter had recently sold his house on Cashmere Hills for a large sum, and when asked if he proposed to buy another house replied that he was going to wait until Labour got in. “He hopes to benefit both ways, by selling while the present good prices for houses operate and to buy when Labour reimposes land sales controls,” said Mr D. W. Russell (National, Avon) at St Chad's schoolroom last evening. Grounding of Wahine “Why was there no radar on the Wahine? That is a question I think should be asked,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) in the Liberty Theatre. “If there had been radar and it had been properly operated so that they could see the reefs and islands it may be that the Wahine would have been sailing on to Korea to-day.” Watersiders and W.F.T.U.

“In October last the executive of the former waterside workers’ union received instructions from the conference of the World Federation of Trade Unions at Bucharest to ‘strengthen your unity in the struggle for peaceform still more peace committees and intensify the campaign to paralyse military transport in those countries where preparations for a third world war are under way.' This instruction required direct action. The watersiders went on strike in February.”— Mr H. R. Lake (National). Lyttelton.

Education Problem* If Labour was returned as the Government the building of schools would be tackled and all realised that that was a big job. More classrooms would be provided and medical and dental bursaries would be reintroduced, boarding allowances would be increased and all requirements and materials for infant rooms would be provided. Hostels and residences would also be made available for teachers transferred from schools. A grant of £lO would also be made available to pupils entering the secondary schools to assist them in the purchase of school uniforms and other necessary clothing.—Mr A. G. Braddick, Labour candidate for Waimate. Fence Sitting “You cannot sit on a fence with two ears to the ground and hear anything.’’—Mrs G. H. Ross (National, Hamilton). Shopping Loads “Our women don’t need to be packhorses to-day. The load in their shopping bags is not heavy enough."—the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) referring to the 1949 election pamphlets of the National Party. Payment “What electors have to remember is that anything Mr Nash offers them thev will have to pay for.”—Mr C. H. Taylor (National, Miramar).

Tax Concessions The difference between the Labour policy and the National policy on income tax concessions was that Labour would look after those with Incomes below £l5OO, while the Nationalists considered those with Incomes above £l5OO, said Mr P. N. Holloway (Labour, Otaki).

Japanese Rearmament “So long as the Government, whether it is Labour or National, favours a peace treaty 1 which will allow Japan to be rearmed. New Zealand’s security is threatened.”— Mrs C. Birchfield (Communist, Island Bay). Wives’ Valve “You’ll have to treat your wives better when Labour becomes the Govemnsnt on September 1.” said Mr W;*A. Hudson (Labour, Mornington). “They’ll be £5O more valuable through your income tax.”

Promises “Within 18 months we kept 110 of the promises made to the people, said Mrs B. S. Burns (National. Wellington Central). “Put us back on September 1 and you will find that we will keep the remainder.”

Newspapers “I know the men who write on the newspapers are just like you and me and I grant that many of them cannot speak just as they would like,’ said'Mr C. J. Ryan (Labour, Oamaru). “After all, the newspaper is their bread and butter. But some of the editors have a tilt at us because they know Walter Nash’s main concern is for human beings rather than dividends, housing Costs In California a person could order a house and receive delivery in six days, said Mr J. W. Andrews (National, Hutt). With foundations laid the prefabricated house was loaded on a trailer at 8 a.m. and was on the foundations ready for occupation by the evening of the same day. The cost of house construction in California in January was three man hours a square foot. In New Zealand the cost was 10 man hours a square foot.

“Somersaults” “I remember the time when the Labour Party was against conscription, but they somersaulted and Mr Semple drew the first marble. People who somersault are not statesmen.—Mr T. F. Simpson (West Coast Liberal, Hutt). Board of Trade . • _ . , “We. will abolish this funny Board of Trade set-up,” said Mr T. E. Skinner (Labour, Tamalti). “Why should this one set of individuals answerable to no one but themselves decide what goods should come into the country and determine our standard of living? That is a job for a Government elected by the people.”

Houses For Workers . Mr D. M. Rae (National, Parnell) said that none of the National Government Ministers or members had State houses, although the Labour Party could put up a good football team ■from members living in State houses. It used to make him mad to see Labour Ministers of the Crown earning £llOO to £l2OO living in State houses and talking about giving houses to workers. ■

State House Rentals ~ , “The rentals for State houses, which were increased by the National Party will be restored to the former rates when Labour is returned to office.” — Mr R. McKeen (Labour, Island Bay). Seddon’s Successor “The Labour Party claims to be the successor of the Seddon Liberal Government. But everyone knows that the Labour Party was originally established to defeat the Seddon Government.”—Mr H. R. Lake (National), Lyttelton