DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31199, 25 October 1966, Page 3

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Candidates Sought The recently-formed Democratic Political Party is seeking candidates to contest the General Election in Riccarton and Christchurch Central. The party was founded in Wellington about three months ago, and the promoter, Mr H. J. Hughes, a Tawa baker, said that candidates would be put forward for Wellington electorates and possibly in Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton and Palmerston North. Mr Hughes himself expects to contest the Wellington Central seat. “Most of the people we get are those who have been involved with the National or Labour Parties and have become dissatisfied with the way they carry out their policies,” Mr Hughes said. A policy statement defines the role of Government as “protecting and maintaining the natural democratic way of life of the individual as laid down in the United Nations Charter.” The party supports borrowing overseas, military integration and New Zealand troops in Vietnam, a referendum on drinking hours, increasing age and social security benefits to match the cost of living, and control of overseas investment in New Zealand. It opposes State aid to private schools, and disagrees with increased immigration to provide more labour.