General Election

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31225, 24 November 1966, Page 16

General Election

Sir, —Mr Holyoake seems to think he needs desperate measures to win the election. His attitude to pirate radio, how he admires them, etc., in fact, his utterances were half-prom-ise of establishment. This must appal old die-hard Tories and “squares” who ironically support National. It also appals this writer, who, though not a supporter of Mr Holyoake, considers the ether already overloaded with shrieking and moaning of guitar-twanging idiots without the addition of pirate radio, which would broadcast nothing else but the noises of these morons. Mr Holyoake changed his tune on pirate radio, evidently thinking that the crowd on the Auckland wharf was evidence of popular support. But anyone who studied the pictures of the crowd would note that they were not solid taxpaying citizens,—Yours, etc., J. DENNEHY. Greymouth, November 23, 1966.

Sir, —The hysterical utterances on the Yellow Peril and Hark the Red Horde appear nothing more than an attempt by the Government to occupy much of the Labour Party’s time, and their own, ignoring conveniently the vital function of elected government: New Zealand domestic economics. The deluge of emotionalism from both leaves little room for human intelligence. The Social Credit League sets out as fl political party to analyse our present disordered system, and proposes a remedy based on logical conclusions. We do not see the Prime Minister convincingly defending Government borrowing, crushing taxation, incentive - killing credit squeezes, constantly rising price structure, and a depreciating currency. Let’s skip the political harangue and listen to the clear-headed reason which the Social Credit Party is propounding.—Yours, etc. J. MATTHEWS. November 22, 1966. Sir, —Those correspondents who are so bitter about the possibility of superannuitants getting a fair deal are completely at sea on the actuarial position regarding pension schemes. These are really paid out of current deductions, which are a percentage of to-day’s inflated salaries, so that, even without taking the huge increase in contributors into account, there are at least three pounds coming in for every one pre-war. We who paid in with real money are paid out in to-day’s “queer quids”—worth about 5/7 in the days when honest work was not sneered at. Even the employers’ contribution was earned the hard way—a consideration for sticking to a job which was unpleasant compared with those “outside.” Inflation means fat returns for pension funds, and they should be made to disgorge some of them to those who paid in.—Yours etc. VARTAN J. WILSON. November 23, 1966.

Sir, —It was rather in dismay that I read the correspondence signed by “David” on letters to the Rangiora Labour Representation committee and his complaint of no replies being given. “David” knows only too well that his numerous letters were handled by and through solicitors acting on our behalf. Incidentally, most of “David’s” letters were arguments rather than requests, etc.—Yours etc. ALLEN B. EDER, Chairman, Rangiora Labour Representation Committee. November 22, 1966.