Charges By Labour “Irresponsible”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29764, 6 March 1962, Page 14

Charges By Labour “Irresponsible”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 5. Mr Nash’s recent charge that the Government was "plotting” to impose charges tor medical prescriptions, was typical of the irresponsible statements being made by Labour Party speakers in the Waitaki by-election, the Prime Minister, Mr Holyoake, said in a statement tonight. ‘"’’he ever-increasing cost of pharmaceutical benefits is something that the National Government has been greatly concerned about, and for this reason a special committee was set up last year to Investigate means of keeping these costs within bounds,” said Mr Holyoake. “This whole question is still being studied and the committee has not yet finally reported, so that no matter how Mr Nash may speculate, the Government is not yet in a position to ‘plot’ anything,” Mr Holyoake said. It had als been alleged by Mr Nash that the World Bank mission would lay down conditions which would have to be complied with before any loan would be granted. He had been refuted by the leader of the mission, Mr Holyoake said. “Mr Nash and others have talked about Labour’s efforts to encourage the decentralisation of industry. When they

were the Government and had the opportunity to help the South Island, nearly all the industries established under secret agreements with the Labour Government were sited in Auckland,” said Mr Holyoake. Also typical of the irresponsible accusations and “bogies” raised had been statements that the National Government intended to increase taxation, wipe out subsidies and do away with milk in schools, said the Prime Minister. “Mr Nash and his colleagues are following the usual tactics of Labour speakers,” said Mr Holyoake. “I do not remember an election when they did not try to scare the aged, the sick and the needy with statements that Social Security and other benefits would be cut,” he added- "To try to scare those less able to care for themselves is a despicable form of electioneering.”