“MUCH TO BE DESIRED”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29367, 21 November 1960, Page 11

“MUCH TO BE DESIRED”

Marlborough has just celebrated its centennial. Much has been done, but a great deal more is to be desired and a revival of the pioneering spirit of our fathers is essential to progress. My pledge is to work, if elected, in close association with all local bodies, authorities, organisations and individuals who aspire to have things done in the interests of this community. Alone I can accomplish very little, but as the spearhead of public opinion and initiative I hope to secure maximum benefits for Marlborough. I shall not sleep or rest so long as the exigencies services to the electors require my exertion. They will find my home, which is in Blenheim, open to receive them at all reasonable times of the day or night. My telephone is there for their convenience. As often as I am able to do so I will call on them. I shall not use this constituency merely as a ticket of admission to Parliament for the sake of personal aggrandisement. I was born in Blenheim, of parents born in Blenheim. My maternal grandparents were also born in Blenheim, while my paternal grandparents settled here about 85 years ago. Although I live in Blenheim, I shall not forget or lose sight of the interests of the farming community and those living in remote places, for Marlborough is essentially a primary-produc-ing province and her wealth comes from the land. I am opposed to all forms of dictatorship, including communism, which is foreign to our New Zealand way of life. Our political opponents both in and out of Parliament will tell you again and again that socialism is an outmoded philosophy which ought to be discarded in favour of so-called free enterprise as the basis of responsible government, but our record of achievement proves otherwise. Their argument is propaganda conceived in ignorance by men of small moral stature and equally small foresight and understanding, who have not the courage of their bwn convictions, to stand by their condemnation of Labour Party legislation when in power and repeal the lot; and who have no effective counter to what Labour has done for our people in times of adversity. A Yardstick The yardstick I use to evaluate the worty of the party to which I swear allegiance is the answer to two questions:—"Do I believe in the simple teachings of Christianity, for socialism as put into effect by the New Zealand Labour Party is but applied Christianity?” and “Do I believe in the fundamental principles of democracy, which entails due consideration for all manner of men irrespective of political party affiliations, colour or creed, pride and prejudice notwithstanding?” I challenge you also to put the questions. Or maybe you could set out the works of both parties in order of preference and then subtract from each part of their respective electioneering policy filched from the other’s past record, and judge them on what remains to individual credit.