APATHY OF VOTERS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30155, 12 June 1963, Page 14

APATHY OF VOTERS

Mr Shand’s Concern

(N.Z Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 11

Apathy of the voters was the main danger the National Government faced at the next General Election, the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) told a public meeting at Tamaki tonight He said he did not believe the party had lost any support in the last three years but it might be difficult to rally all the people who had voted for the party in 1960 “I fear the people are not interested in politics,” he said. “They are not turning out to meetings. I don’t know whether it is because of television but it is getting more and more difficult for politicians to meet the people and put their views before them.” Mr Shand, after a short address to about 80 people, joined With fellow M.P.s. Messrs- W J. Scott, D. J. Riddiford and D. Maclntyre, in replying to questions. Four other Government members, the Minister of Lands (Mir Gerard) and Messrs R. D. Muldoon, H Johnstone and J. B. Gordon, met the public in a similar discussion at Newmarket attended by 43 people.

Diplomat Dies.— Mr J. F. de Lequerica, the Spanish chief delegate to the United Nations, died today of cancer at his home in Northern Spain. He was aged 72. Madrid, June 10.