CAMPAIGN NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26514, 31 August 1951, Page 10

CAMPAIGN NOTES

Odds For To-morrow “I understand the bookmakers were offering 10 to one against us at the beginning of the campaign. Now it’s two to one in favour of the Labour Party,” said Mr J. G. Barclay, Labour candidate for Selwyn, last evening. Freedom of Choice “If elected I.will be able to vote in the House on all questions as I wish without being ostracised or lined up by the party,” said Sir Donald Cameron, National candidate for North Dunedin. "The Prime Minister would be the first to approve of a member doing this.”

Freedom of Speech “I am definitely opposed to rowdy meetings. It is all wrong, whether speakers are my colleagues or opponents, that hooligans should try to stop public men from being heard. The right to speak is sacred.”—Mr R. Semple (Labour, Miramar). Strong Opposition Wanted Cheers from one section of his audience greeted the remark of Mr J. T. Watts (National, St. Albans): “It is important that we should have a good strong Labour Party.” Another section cheered when, after a pause, Mr Watts added: “as we want a good strong Opposition in Parliament.” A Matter of Thought “Don’t you think . . .” began an interjector at a street-corner meeting held by Mr J. B. Mora (Labour, St. Albans), last evening. “Yes, I do think. That is why I am standing for the Labour Party,” said Mr Mora. A Champion

In politics Mr Holland took the place Sir Donald Bradman did in cricket. He was a champion, said Mr D. W. Russell (National, Avon). “When the numbers go up on Saturday he will still be batting at the wicket. He will still be Prime Minister.”

Communist “Bogy” “So far the public has seen no evidence that the recent industrial trouble m New Zealand was directly inspired by Communists or for Communist purposes.” _ This extract from a leading article in “The Press” on June 8, was quoted by Mr J. G. Barclay (Labour, Selwyn) last evening in support of his claim that Communism was a “bogy” raised by the National Party. “So far I have not seen any Communists in Selwyn,” he said. Definition of Socialism “A few years ago Labour stood for ultimate Socialism,” Mr R. G. Pilling, National candidate for Mornington, told electors at Corstorphine. Lenin, he said, considered Socialism as a period of transition to Communism. Bernard Shaw described it as the same as Communism, but better English, and William Morris, the father of English Socialism, regarded Communism as the completion of Socialism. Japanese Peace Treaty Before New Zealand should put her signature to the peace treaty with Japan it should be discussed in the House. It would allow Japan unconditional rearmament and in 10 years the effects of that signature might become very obvious. About 80 per cent, of the arms supplied by the Americans to Chiang Kai-shek fell into the hands of the Communist Chinese. What would happen if the Japanese went Communist?—Mr P. G. Connolly, Labour candidate for Dunedin Central. “Iron Curtain”

The press was sympathetic to anyone wanting to improve the industrial and economic conditions of New Zealand but the watersiders did not trust the press. “That to me is suspicious. The watersiders wanted to keep the press out.” That was another instance of the iron curtain” that the waterside workers had drawn about their affairs because they did not want them known.—Mr W. P. Macdougall, National candidate for Dunedin Central. No Rationing The Labour Party had no intention of introducing rationing to New Zealand, said Mr J. B. Mora (Labour, St. Albans). The only rationing to-day was the high prices which prevented persons buying goods. Private Enterprise “I believe private enterprise is the best system for New Zealand. It suits the character of our people best.”—Mi J, T. Watts (National, St Albans).

Heckling “I don’t see why they should squeal about a bit of heckling. There’s always been heckling, but all this fuss is done for a purpose—to divert your mind from the economic position,” said Mr J. G. Barclay (Labour, Selwyn) last evening. When Mr Fraser was touring the country in the last election he came in for some heckling, but he (Mr Barclay) did not see any protest against it in the leading articles. He himself had had heckling to contend with when, as Minister of Agriculture in 1943, he had travelled through New Zealand. He did not object to a bit of it, but he believed a candidate was entitled to a fair hearing. “Last Desperate Throw’’ “It was the last desperate throw of a gambler who knows he has lost the confidence of the people through his neither for nor against attitude. He knows he will never have to carry them out.’’—Mr J. T. Watts (National, St. Albans), referring to the election policy of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash).

“Tory” Rehabilitation Urging greater rehabilitation benefits last evening, Mr P, J. Alley, Labour candidate for Fendalton, said that his brother, Mr Rewi Alley, had bought a farm after serving in the first World War and worked in the backblocks on it for six years. He had to clear scrub, kill pigs, pack his wool out, and at the end of six years he walked off the farm without a penny. “That’s a Tory Government’s rehabilitation for you, he said.

State of Emergency “In September, 1950, there was a waterfront strike. Parliament was sitting at the time, and we declared a state of emergency. It was put to Parliament and the Labour Party voted in favour of it.”—Mi’ J, T. Watts (National St. Albans). Property Prices Lawyers and land agents were the only ones to benefit by the National Government’s action in lifting controls on property sales, said Mr P. J. Alley (Labour, Fendalton) last evening He knew of a man who bought a house in St. Albans for £2200, put a coat of paint on it, and sold it for £2600. Money for Housing It was extraordinary that Mr Nash could now promise money for housing at 3 per cent., when two years ago he had said that to do that would distort the whole financial structure of the country, said Mr J. T. Watts (National, St. Albans). “It is typical of his promises, which he knows he won't have to carry out.” Prices

“The Prime Minister blames the Korean war for rising prices. But Labour governed New Zealand through a much worse war and kept prices down better than anywhere else in the word.’’—Mr J. A. Bateman (Labour, Karori).

Social Security “It was started long before the Labour Party took office,” said Mr J. T. Watts (National, St. Albans) referring to social security. “In Great Britain it was started about the same time by a Tory Government. In America it was started by a Democrat Government. The Labour Party used to try to put the wind up the old people by telling them their pensions were not safe if we got in; but we have increased pensions and the whole structure of social security has been improved out of all sight. We were the first Government to introduce bonus payments.”

Prime Minister’s Opponent “Mr Holland thinks I am such poor stuff that I am not worth coming to have a crack at,” said Mr P. J. Alley, Labour candidate for Fendalton, commenting on the few appearances of the Prime Minister in his electorate during the campaign. Housing Programmes “State houses were never meant for wealthy people. The Holland Government has stopped the rental of State houses to people on high salaries,” said Sir Donald Cameron, National candidate for North Dunedin. Sir Donald Cameron said the Labour Party had done very well with its housing programme. but last year the National Party had gone “one better.” Subsidies

“Subsidies always have been and, I hope, always will be—subject to certain fluctuations—a part of Labour’s policy, because they help those in the lower income group.”—Mr C. J. Ryan Labour candidate for Oamaru.