LIVELY MEETING AT ST. ALBANS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27498, 4 November 1954, Page 14

LIVELY MEETING AT ST. ALBANS

ADDRESS BY MR ALGIE

An audience of about 270 attended a meeting addressed by the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie) and the National Party candidate for St. Albans (Mr J. T. Watts) in St Matthew’s hall last evening. Mr z Algie, in his first 15 minutes, had even more interjections than the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman) at Woolston, and the chairman (Mr H. G. Livingstone) appealed for a fair hearing. Mr Algie then seemed to confound his critics by paying some compliments to the Labour Party and after that his speech had few interruptions. Since he was questioned on Tuesday about alleged reductions in grants for research he had ascertained this was not true but in one year (during general economies) it was not possible to allow all that was requested. If the basic wage was £lO. the workers claimed £l5 and the Arbitration Court awarded £l2. that was not a reduction, Mr Algie said. e “The basic wage isnt £lO, you know,” a man called. “If yours isn’t you are underpaid, replied Mr Algie. , Two issues would be faced by those Sing to the polls, said Mr Algie. “The hour Party stand for ... “Not communism.” cried interjectors, and then there was a storm of comments from the floor, which Mr Algie dismissed as “The outpouring of mere idle vapourings from pretty empty minds.” The Labour Party stood for a policy which would not work without controls but the National Party could function efficiently with a minimum, Mr Algie said. He listed controls applied by the Labour Government, and when he said he had heard members of the Labour Party say that lands sale control would be restored if they were returned, there were angry shouts of "It's a lie. It’s not true. Keep to th “Th?nian on the platform has rights. Let him enjoy them.” Mr Livingstone requested from the chair. In matters of foreign policy there was not much difference betwe<m the parties. Mr Algie said. Both had first lovaltv to the Queen, Empire. and-New Zealand, and the Labour Party bad ran a good foreign war. The deposition seemed disturbed about the Anzus Pact. The United States did not want it to be too wide and felt that Britain could not be admitted without including such countries as Holland “ d .. Fr “?? e kn«*>rt3w step was taken with the full and assent of Great Britain, Mr Algie ■aid.