Election Prospects “Excite, But Worry” Mr Holyoake

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28873, 18 April 1959, Page 11

Election Prospects “Excite, But Worry” Mr Holyoake

(New Zeaiana Press Association)

HAMILTON, April 17. “New Zealand is in a unique political position today—in fact, I do not think that ever before in the history of our country has a party been defeated at a General Election only 16 months before been looked upon as the next certain Government,” the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holyoake) told a businessmen’s meeting in Hamilton today. “This is exciting, but it is also worrying,” he added. Mr Holyoake said the normal term for Governments in New Zealand was nine. 11 and up to 14 years, but for the first time most of the people considered could be months. He had no doubt that if there was an election tomorrow the Labour Government would be heavily defeated.

“There were some businessmen who talked against us last time,” he said. “They said we took too much in taxation and left them

nothing with which to expand their businesses. They, unfortunately, have found out their mistake. It is impossible to treat with a tiger and, make no mistake, the Labour Government is a tiger. It will completely destroy all freedom and private enterprise.”

Mr Holyoake said that if any person could face, with equanimity, the prospect of 11 to 14 years of the present Labour Government, it was far more than he could. There would not be one fragment of private enterprise left and when eventually they were beaten, it would take years to revert to freedom. “I know.” he said. “As Minister of Agriculture it took me many years of hard work and striving to have a Government department—the Marketing Department—abolished. This had been foisted on the country by the first Labour Government years before.”