General Election

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31221, 19 November 1966, Page 14

General Election

Sir, —I would like to know what disciplinary action, if any, has been taken against the soldiers who passed the resolution quoted by Mr Holyoake. If, as reported, Mr Holyoake is not worried over the legality of the resolution, may I point out that a member of the armed services is not permitted to issue an address to electors or to divulge information of a service nature except through authorised channels? Further the commanding officer of a unit is responsible for taking disciplinary, action against the persons who contravene this regulation. These are gazetted regulations from an Order in Council. As the armed forces are expected to be voiceless and faceless, politically, I consider that the use of the quotation by Mr Holyoake is the first step towards Nazism. —Yours etc. FREEDOM. November 17, 1966. Sir, —You state that the Keynesian Progress Party has few known adherents. The same might have been said of the German National Democratic Party before the recent Hesse elections. Surely it would have been more useful, even considering your space limitations, to try to assess the possible reaction of St. Albans electors to Keynesian ideas. The lending of equipment to underdeveloped countries, linked to “general schemes to bring about a steady acceleration of development and of capacity to buy our food exports,” must appeal to many traditionally National voters dissatisfied with our present overseas salesmanship.—Yours, etc., ADHERENT. November 18, 1966.

Sir,—“P.J.A.’s” comment that people flocked to hear the Christchurch Central Communist candidate is presumptuous; many considered his lecture to be a comedy show. As for the schoolboys’ arguments against communism, one can for give them when the candidate himself said he was representing “New Zealand’s nine million workers.” Perhaps “P.J.A.’s” letter was a subtle form of propaganda.—Yours, etc., R. MAC. November 16, 1966.