Election Bets Deplored

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31215, 12 November 1966, Page 3

Election Bets Deplored

(N.Z. Press Association) WHANGAREI, Nov. 11.

“The course of democratic process, particularly a General Election, should not in any way be influenced by financial considerations, and certainly not by wagers between candidates.”

The leader of the Social Credit League (Mr V. F. Cracknell) was replying to the challenge by the National candidate for Rodney, the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Scott) to wager £lOO on the outcome of the election in Rodney. Mr Scott issued the challenge at a meeting in Ruawai on November when he said that if Mr Cracknell would put up £lOO. he was willing to bet that he would retain Rodney for National. Mr Scott suggested the money be given to the Crippled Children Society. “I agree the Crippled Chil-

dren Society is a very worthy cause, and if Mr Scott believes it would welcome a donation, then I would suggest that he makes a donation of £lOO without further humbug,” said Mr Cracknell. He suggested that Mr Scott “does not try to juggle it round so that somebody else pays it on the off-chance that he will hold his seat in the election.” Mr Cracknell said he de-

plored the fact that Cabinet Ministers toured the Hobson electorate “at the taxpayers’ expense and literally point the pistol at the heads of the voters by suggesting that their elected representative in Parliament would not enjoy the same right and privileges as any other elected members of Parliament and would be, in fact, ostracised or blackmailed from the ‘Parliamentary Club.’ ”