Speaking To Candidates

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32118, 14 October 1969, Page 10

Speaking To Candidates

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K. D. Coates

B. G. Barclay Labour Christchurch Central

Mr Bruce Barclay, 46-year-old Labour candidate for Christchurch Central, sees himself as a typical Kiwi. In many ways he fits the description of average New Zealander—he says he likes people, believes their feelings are more important than money, plays golf and bowls, enjoys walking, debating and his home, garden and family. He is also knocking on doors to his electorate—he had made 2000 calls when I saw him—with the confidence of an NLP.-elect for he says he fully expects to be voted into Parliament in a safe Labour seat Mr Barclay comes from a family with Labour traditions: his father, Mr J. G. Barclay, who is still alive, was Minister of Agriculture and Lands in the first Labour Government, and a cousin is member for New Plymouth. After working to the Agriculture and Valuation Departments, Mr Bruce Barclay went farming at Halswell where he ran a small town milk supply farm for 18 years. He now lives in the city. He is deputy chairman of directors of the Canterbury Dairy Farmers, Ltd. He has, of course, stood for Parliament before and to the Fendalton by-election led the poll on election night and was “an M.P. for 10 days" as he puts it Why stand for Parliament? "I believe fundamentally in the humanitarian principles of Labour; there’s certainly nothing in it for me,” he replied. “I don’t quite know how to put it into words, but I would like to contribute towards making New Zealand a better place to live in for New Zealanders. He went on to say his particular interests were housing, for young people particularly, and care of the elderly. “The trouble is that young people get over-committed,” Mr Barclay said. It’s all very well when both husband and wife are working—the high interest rates for house loans can be met, but it is later, when children come, that couples find themselves in difficulty." He believes that much more lower interest-rate loan money for housing should be made available through the State Advances Corporation. There would, of course, still have to be some criteria as to who was eligible, he added. What worries Mr Barclay, and this he mentioned several times to the interview, is the lending of money at high interest rates by the money lenders. He regards this as a shortcoming of our system and an unfair transference of wealth to a particular sector. "It is unfair because big financial corporations are cashing in at the expense of the wage and salary earner, as well as the farmer and the man who wants to start a business,” he said. “New building—banks and insurance company offices have been built in the central city area. I’m not saying that they are not necessary, but where is our sense of values when I find elderly people have to go to bed early because they have no money to buy firing?” Asked for his views on New Zealand’s international role, Mr Barclay said he wanted this country to be one all people

could be proud of. As far as possible, we should be independent and should make up our own minds. He maintained this was a practical possibility. “We were listened to internationally in the time of the first Labour Government and I believe we can again make our voice heard,” he added. Mr Barclay admitted that ha was not well versed to foreign affairs, had not been overseas and had not studied New Zealand internationally. Are politicans poorly regarded? "This Is said very readily, until some-one wants something,” he said. “But I would like to be as available to the people of Christchurch Central as it is possible for me to be and still carry out the job for which I was elected.” Saying he expects to be elected, he also plans to devote time regularly to calling on people. “A lot of people have ideas and concerns about the country but would never approach an M.P.,” he said. "Listening to people's complaints all the time could result in an inaccurate view of what people think.” Mr Barclay said he would not vote against the party. If he felt so strongly against some policy that he was unable to accept the majority decision, he would leave the party. But he did not give the impression that he ever expects such a situation. Mr Barclay said he was concerned with the growing violence. Increasing numbers to the police force would help prevention. “I don’t believe to bringing back the birch, but I do not know what the right deterrent is," he added. Some of the problems of young people could he helped, he said, by helping development in some areas, such as parts of the South Island, so that young people did not have to leave their homes to find suitable jobs. The community in which a young person was known and in which he had grown up could act as a stabilising force. He did not suggest how development in specific areas could be stimulated. He said he did not believe in the profit motive as a stimulant to development if it meant overseas investors operating industries such as shipping or bakeries. He favours more loan money available from Government sources at low interest rates for developing industries operated by New Zealanders. But he said he was not against overseas investment in industries as New Zealand could not develop itself. Essentially politicians are honest, he maintains. It is the interpretation that is sometmes taken from what is said that makes them qualify their statements so often, he says. The cost of living was the major problem in- the community today, and price control was necessary to meet this, he said. There is no artificiality about Mr Barclay and he does project the image he has of himself as a down-toearth Kiwi who is genuinely interested to people.