Labour formula for law and order

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 20

Labour formula for law and order

“It does not cost anything to restore law and order—all it takes is leadership and good Government,” the Labour candidate for the Lyttelton electorate (Mr T. M. McGuigan), told a meeting called by the Sumner Residents’ Association last evening. “We will make sure that the larrikins and their bikes and bombs are taken off the road,” Mr McGuigan said. Terrible gaps in the education system contributed to New Zealand’s social problems, and they must be stopped, Mr McGuigan said. This, like law and order, would not cost a vast sum of money. Twenty-three of the 46 men on the Government benches in the House were farmers,

whereas the candidates for the Labour Party were truly representative of the whole community. “We have a team that can provide the leadership that this country needs. We have men from all walks of life—and this has been the real progress of the Labour Party over the years.” The Ministers responsible for the main parts of the 1969 National Party policy had been “given the sack” and so had the former Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) —and their successors had failed to overcome the problems facing the country, Mr McGuigan said.

In 1969 there were 531 unemployed in New Zealand, and after three years of National Government the figure was 10,500. A Labour Government would ensure that every person had a job to go to. Full employment was the basis of family life.

There must be a programme of regional development, and New Zealand industry should be protected against dumping, Mr McGuigan said. Better health services must be provided: “Under a Labour Government the hospitals of this country were available to all.” “I do not believe for one moment that our policy will cost $6OO million,” Mr McGuigan said. In the last few weeks the National Party had announced measures that were going to cost more than s2oom. A Labour Government would make available lowcost housing loans. In 1969 the National Party had promised “more houses and better living”—but today young people could not afford to buy sections.

The land was being eaten up by developers who bought at a reasonable cost and sold to young people at exorbitant prices, Mr McGuigan said.