Undertaking by candidate

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33075, 16 November 1972, Page 10

Undertaking by candidate

(Prom Our Own Reporter) NELSON, November 15. An undertaking written, signed and witnessed on stage to stand down from Parliament if he was elected and in 18 months had not pressed for legislation to stabilise costs, reduce taxation, reduce housing loan costs, raise pensions to the minimum-wage level and reduce rates, was given by the leader of the New Democrat Party (Mr J. B. O’Brien) at an election meeting in Nelson this week.

Mr O’Brien, a candidate for the Nelson seat, challenged all other candidates to give a similar undertaking. He fold an audience of about 85 that up to now the electors had not told their members of Parliament what they wanted, and insisted on getting it.

“You should direct your members because if you do not, you can be certain that somebody else will,” he said.

He was certain too that most New Zealanders were far from satisfied with the! present Government. Among the reasons he cited for this! dissatisfaction were inflation,! and the tendency of the country to turn inwards and to wander about without a sense of direction. Also, there was the revolt of youth against authority, drug and sex abuse, promiscuity and permissiveness — all of which were now being accepted as the norm, said Mr O’Brien. “Is it an accident that we have been led to this point by those who lead our nation.” WOMEN “OFF PEDESTAL” The women of the country must be "put back on their pedestal,” he said. “When

you take our women off the pedestal, then you are well on the way to destroying our nation completely.” More emphasis had to be placed on the mother, who should not be forced to go out to work to augment the shrinking pay packet of her husband. On housing, Mr O’Brien said that it cost about $16,000 to build a house in Nelson and a loan for this would bear interest, at 7 per cent, of $22 a week. “Before the householder owns it, he will have paid for it three times over,” he said.