Farming And Industry

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31205, 1 November 1966, Page 1

Farming And Industry

“Farming once again is in its rightful place,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) in his campaign opening address last evening. “I shudder to think how another Labour Government would knock farming back.”

After giving a survey of farming statistics and production, Mr Holyoake said increasing energy would be devoted to the expansion of market opportunities.

National Government, he said. The National Party believed that consistent expansion of industry was essential for the development of the economy, the raising of standards of living, and the provision of jobs. It adhered to the belief that this could best be achieved by private competitive enterprise with a minimum of regulation or control by the State.

At the same time a National government would step up the development of land. There had been a spectacular increase in factory production during the term of the

Annoyed By Questioner The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) was cheerful when he opened his election campaign in a packed Civic Theatre last evening. He parried questions and interjections from political opponents and those who object to the war in Vietnam, and at times turned questions into a joke. But he became almost angry at the end of the meeting when several men and women insisted on calling for a statement on Rhodesia. When the chairman, the Mayor (Mr G. Manning), invited Mr H. S. Cordery. the chairman of the CanterburyWestland division of the National Party, to propose a vote of thanks, a man stood up and asked why Mr Holyoake “had avoided the most important of all questions— Rhodesia.” Was Mr Holyoake afraid? he asked. “I’m not afraid of anyone,” Mr Holyoake said. “I think I know you from another place,” he said to his questioner. He added that the meeting had been advertised as having no questions, but he was happy to meet his questioner any time, any place, under any conditions, if his courage was challenged.

The Prime Minister said he would agree that Rhodesia was important, but not the most important matter. “If my friend does not know what stand I took at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ conference, then he is not as good a man as I think he is. I will continue to take the stand, whether it is popular or unpopular with other Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth.”