ALLEGIANCE TO LABOUR
Mr Tirikatene On Opponents “I was convinced the Labour Party had served New Zealand,” said Mr R. Tirikatene, the Labour Party candidate for Rangiora, explaining his allegiance to the party to a meeting ait Burwood last evening. “I saw where the Tories opposed Labour’s fight for a humanitarian, benevolent setup,” he said. “When I heard the Prime Minister say the National Party looked back with pride on the introduction of social security I asked: could he be the same man who voted 40 times against its introduction? “Labour introduced the capitalisation of the family benefit. Now National supports it. The farmers were helped by Labour to pay off mortgages during and after the depression. Yet many are now staunch Tories. I am proud to serve Labour.” Mr Tirikatene said that bis National opponent, Mr H. E. L. Pickering, had said in Parliament that a lack of honesty was all too evident today, and that workers stole time by long spelling and extended tea breaks. “I ask whait Mr Pickering meant by that. Some workers may be lazy. But. to me, he seemed to brand every worker. He said we rob the hard-work-ing. “I believe the National Party have been praised when they have been called the Government,” he said. “About 49 committees have been set up. They palmed off responsibilities that any Government should be big enough to cope with. This country needs a Government that can do without scapegoat groups.” Mr Tirikatene complained of an advertisement published for the National Party showing a whip over a taxation return and a cartoon of Mr Nordmeyer. “They spent a long time on the Indecent Publications Bill. I wonder if they would like their children to see this picture of a man with an axe. It has an inference I would not like to take further." Of the Social Credit League, Mr Tirikatene said: “I can’t see a party being organised when they can’t organise themselves. We laughed when we saw how some had not been nominated.” Labour’s policy had come from the people, not members of Parliament, he said. “For example, people in a branch may have said: Why not have a national, paid holiday on Waitangi Day?” Labour had always opposed bomb tests. "I believe the Government did not protest.* enough. Labour proposes to go direct to the French Government, and would call a conference and meet them face to face.” Mr Tirikatene had an audience of nine.
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Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 16
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411ALLEGIANCE TO LABOUR Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 16
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