MR NASH AT HAMILTON

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28870, 15 April 1959, Page 14

MR NASH AT HAMILTON

Labour Campaign Opened

(New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON, April 14.

There was every indication tonight that the Hamilton by-elec-tion would be a lively affair when the Labour Party campaign was officially opened by the Prime Minister (Mr Nash). More than 1000 people crowded into a 950seat theatre and 600 more listened outside.

By no means were all in attendance Labour supporters. There were many interjections and the spontaneous applause and enthusiasm of former meetings in Hamilton was lacking.

When the Mayor (Mr R. Braithwaite) was introducing Mr Nash, he referred to the Prime Minister’s "amazing vitality” and how he “went everywhere in the country.” He remarked he did not know how Mr Nash did it, and an interjector shouted: “Glaxo.”

A little later in the meeting, Mr Nash, referring to the misery of the depression years, drew an interjection: “Carry on, Billy Graham.” Mr Nash said he would like to discuss P.A.Y.E., to which the reply came: “You’re game.” Mr Nash said that he had heard that the trade delegation which had gone to Australia had already booked £1 million of orders. They had gone at their own expense, he said. A voice: Good old private enterprise. When Mr Nash referred to the £lOO tax rebate several persons out: “You got it all back, and more.”

Mr Nash shattered precedents by agreeing to answer questions, but he adroitly parried several on vacant New Zealand diplomatic posts overseas.

Mr Nash spoke for an hour and a half and in this time surveyed Labour’s record since 1935. He admitted the cost of living had risen 6.2 per cent.' since the Labour Government came to office in 1957 but, he said, the Cabinet was closely watching the position.