Liberals ‘Expose Dictatorship’

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 14

Liberals ‘Expose Dictatorship’

The reinstated Liberal Party could not be expected to have its affairs cut and dried in the manner of National and Labour, says a comment by the party’s executive committee on the Prime Minister’s decision to ask for radio time for the Liberals.

The statement, issued by the chairman of the committee. Mr A. A. Mackintosh, says it is interesting thai strong action by the Liberals and outraged public sentiment had driven Mr Holyoake from an “untenable position” regarding radio time for his political rivals. “That Mr Holyoake should have chosen to adopt tactics more suitable to a party dictatorship than to a democracy is an indication of his basic tendencies. Given the opportunity, he would doubtless apply similar, over-bear-ing restrictions in other, and even more important, matters of state,” says the committee.

Its statement continues: “Thus it is clear that the embryonic Liberal Party has already done good service to New Zealand in exposing and curbing these latent characteristics of dictatorship. "It is obvious from Mr Holyoake’s laboured defence of his action that he now realises he has overstepped the mark and made himself look ridiculous, not only in New Zealand but throughout the civilised world, in forcing the Liberal Party to enlist the services of Australian radio in order to reach the ears of the people of New Zealand. “Mr Holyoake attempts to excuse himself by saying that the Liberals were unable to enumerate the candidates they intend to put up. We would remind Mr Holyoake that the Liberals have been dormant for many years, and it is only due to'our lack of confidence in the present Government that we have been reinstating ourselves as an active political party over the last year or so. “Thus we can hardly be expected to have our affairs cut and dried in the manner of National and Labour, both

of which parties are still tramping the old, familiar round they have followed through their active lives into their present dotage. “We cannot avoid feeling that Mr Holyoake, as leader of the National Party, would be well advised to give us outlines of any constructive policies his party may have under consideration for the improvement of his party platform, rather than deVoting so much verbosity in attempting to belittle the Liberals—a group he affects to despise. “Surely we must agree that the Broadcasting Corporation should be entirely free from party political pressures, and all Parliamentary aspirants should have equal opportunity to explain their viewpoint over the air.”