MISS HOWARD’S OPTIMISM

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28445, 27 November 1957, Page 16

MISS HOWARD’S OPTIMISM

Labour Landslide Predicted “I’m always the most dismal pessimist before an election; but I'm really confident of our success this time.’’ said Miss Mabel Howard (Labour, Sydenham), speaking at the corner of Grafton and Charles streets last evening. Although it was raining, there was an audience of about 40 on the footpaths and many more in 30 parked cars. “I’ve just been through the North Island,’’ Miss Howard said. "The only place where we did not have overflow meetings was at Tuakau, and we were competing with a circus. Auckland meetings were tremendous and we will win two and possibly three seats there. In Hamilton,, we had 1200 and the National candidate only 45. It looks as if Hamilton is swinging to Labour.

"Masterton was not expected to produce a crowd, but we had 850, so we have a chance to win Wairarapa. Mr J. J. Maher (Otaki) has been saying some silly things and he’s going +o be beaten. "I believe we will win Lyttelton. That electorate has taken in the Labour part of St. Martins and when Mr Lake makes such peculiar statements it is a sura sign he is afraid. I have no doubt about Sydenham. I don’t mean me. I’m only an incident. But we are very jealous of our record of the greatest majority in three elections. "Who will win Fendalton?” a man asked at question time.—“l would not give up hope even there until the numbers go up,’’ said Miss Howard. "My prediction is that National majorities will tumble by thousands and that there will be a landslide for Labour,’’ Miss Howard said. Mr Holyoake had said the family allowance was sacrosanct. "That means holy,’’ said Miss Howard. "We intend to raise it from 10s to 15s to bring it to parity with the £1 10s National which is worth one Labour £.

"The National Party in the remaining few days will increase the volume of the question: ‘Where is Labour going to get the money from’,’’ Miss Howard said, speaking of the £lOO tax rebate. “We will get the £19,000.000 we need to help everyone from exactly the same place as Jacky Watts would get the £18,000,000 he wanted to give to the self employed.’’ There had been a waiting list of 45,000 for State houses. Miss Howard said the National Govern ment claimed to have reduced that to 19,000 —but it was done by applying an income bar. “My home on Sundays is a procession of people with tales of woe because they can't get a home. We’ll make housing our No. 1 project,’’ she said.