CONSTITUTIONAL SOCIETY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29336, 15 October 1960, Page 4

CONSTITUTIONAL SOCIETY

“Election Campaign” To Open In City

The Constitutional Society will open what it calls its “election campaign” with a public meeting in Christchurch next Thursday evening, after the first meeting in the South Island of its general committee that day. “The society is not sponsoring any candidates for election to Parliament, but it is sponsoring principles which have been forgotten for too long in public administration in New Zealand." said the society’s chief executive officer, Mr A. F. Manning, yesterday.

“The society is a strictly nonparty organisation, but it is fighting for the return of freedom, and the end of State dictatorship, by constitutional means," he said. The function of the society in the election would be to advocate safeguards necessary to protect the people from growing State dictatorship, and to question candidates about their support for the highest democratic principles, Mr Manning said. Dr. O. C. Mazengarb, QC., of' Wellington, will be chairman of the meeting in Christefiurch, and will speak on "The Disappearance of Parliamentary Government”

Other speakers will be Mr A. C. Brassington, of Christchurch, on "The Need for a Second Chamber of Parliament;” Mr H. L. Gibson, of Dunedin, on “Freedom and Private Enterprise;" and Mr J. H. McDonald, of Westport, on “Local Government"