Candidate Protests At Opinion Survey

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31211, 8 November 1966, Page 1

Candidate Protests At Opinion Survey

“I wish to lodge a protest on behalf of the Social Credit Political League about the Fendalton public opinion survey being made by the political science department of the University of Canterbury,” said Mr J. J. Forster, Social Credit candidate for Fendalton, yesterday.

“This inquiry, conducted by Dr. A. V. Mitchell and Mr W. P. Head, in only including two political parties, ignores the fact that there is such an organisation as the Social Credit Political League which, along with the National and Labour Parties, is standing 80 candidates in this election,” said Mr Forster. “The answers to the questions asked are contained in our policy and my organisation wishes it to be ■known that, in our opinion, to be denied the opportunity of answering these questions is an infringement of democratic principles and gives but little consideration to the effort and organisation required to stand 80 political candidates."

Dr. Mitchell, to whom this statement was referred, said he was sorry it was not possible to include Social Credit in this inquiry, but a postal survey must be kept as short and straight-forward as possible. It had therefore been decided to concentrate on the two major parties. “We are doing a lot on this election and other parts of our investigations devote proper attention to Social Credit,” said Dr. Mitchell. On the point about denial of opportunity to answer questions, Dr. Mitchell said the questionnaire was not addressed to any of the political parties, but to a random sample of electors. “We will be directly in touch with all parties later,” said Dr. MitcheU.