FULFILLING PROMISES

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 14

FULFILLING PROMISES

Govt Claims Record Labour had paid a lot of attention to the Waitaki electorate, said the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) in Oamaru last evening. “But I believe it did not see a Labour Minister in the three years from 1957 to 1960,” he said, addressing a meeting in support of the National Party candidate (Mr A. D. Dick). Thirteen Labour members of Parliament had been in Waitaki, he said. “There was obviously no need for us to come to the assistance of Mr Dick. It is obvious he could fight his own battles.” said the Prime Minister. Reviewing economic progress since the war, Mr Holyoake said: “There is a spirit of a little too much despon dency in New Zealand today We must not lose sight of the great strides we have made in the past, are making now, and will make in the future.” Farm production had increased since the war by £213 million, wool production had barely doubled, the number of sheep had increased from 32 million to 48 million and industrial output increased fourfold A new pulp and paper industry was established under the National Government. "I am very heartened by the aluminium industry’s investment of £l5O million. But the most exciting thing that has happened was the discovery of natural gas.” said Mr Holyoake. “With natural gas, iron and steel, we are making tremendous progress ” The Prime Mmistei reviewed the legislation in thu last session of Parliament and claimed it to be a record for the number of bills passed and the number of election promises fulfilled ‘‘Bossy interference, messy administration, broken promises, and crashing taxation were the actions of a Labour Government not worthy to be supported again,” said the Prime Minister. “They did not have a grip of the situation They could not even appoint a high commissioner to London or an ambassador to Washington “I am still suffering from repercussions because we were not properly represented.” The Prime Minister condemned Social Crediters for “contradictory statements” about their policy. “A vote for Social Credit in this byelection is a vote thrown away.” he said.