Labour Party Described As False Partv

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31211, 8 November 1966, Page 18

Labour Party Described As False Partv

The Labour Party was a false party because while it had said it was Socialist, it did not promise legislation to achieve this end, said the National Party candidate for Riccarton, Mr I. G. B. Wilson, in the Riccarton Town Hall last night. There was an audience of 50. He asked whether Labour had concealed its policy and adopted, for the purposes of the election, a policy that appealed. In many ways, it was a National Party policy, he said. I “Labour is not even true to its own principles, and you can’t be sure it won’t return to a vigorous Socialist policy when it has sufficiently fooled the people.” Mr Wilson said. “Lack Of Unity”

Labour delighted in restrictions and high taxation, and also entered business. This reduced people’s freedom of choice. There was also a lack of unity. “Labour is a bad product in search of a good advertiser,” Mr Wilson said. “But no matter how good the advertising, it won’t sell a second time.”

Some people said the two parties were the same. If they were judged on the number of policy points, there was no difference, he said. But if they were judged on their record and political philosophy, there was of course a difference. Mr Wilson said he did not blame the Labour Party for trying to copy the policy with appeal. The only policy difference in this election was Labour’s stand on Vietnam. But the National Party respected individual rights, lived up to its responsibilities, advocated free competition, and had leadership.

“I believe in a democratic society and a future within such a society,” he said. “People with a great range of political ideas exist in this society and I would fight to retain freedom of expression and freedom of religion,” Mr Wilson said. Labour had said it was a Socialist party, but its policy did not show this. There was therefore no room for a Socialist to express his ideas. Explaining his interest in Riccarton, Mr Wilson said it was important to plan for the future. “We must ensure motorways are planned to better advantage so that residential areas are retained as environmental areas,” he added. He mentioned the use of

major roadways, and asked whether commercial interests would find business would reduce because of the use of Riccarton road by traffic. Mr Wilson favoured a small university settlement, properly planned, that would become world famous, so that Ham would become as well known as Oxford. Growth In Riccarton

Growth in the area was rapid—one person every 12 hours, or four people, a family unit, every two days. It was vital, he said, that people of the electorate choose their member of Parliament with care, so that he could assist with planning. The National Party believed strongly in a forwardlooking education policy, Mr Wilson said.

Asked by a questioner whether he favoured State aid to private schools, Mr Wilson replied that this was dealt with by the National Party's policy and not by Labour. National's policy was to continue aid and give greater assistance to independent schools.