Rangitikei by-election

Press, 22 February 1978, Page 18

Rangitikei by-election

Sir, —- Bruce Beetham’s victory at Rangitikei was so clear cut over the two major parties that one must regard this man and his party as a distinct threat to the twoparty Parliamentary club at the next General Election. Giving a man of Mr Beetham’s personality a seat in the House can only dispel doubts about Social Credit’s much-needed monetary and industrial reforms and boost Socred’s chances of holding the balance of power in the new Parliament. There is one other definite seat (i.e Kalpara — formerly Hobson) which Social Credit will win at the General Election. The Labour Party had better quit gazing hopefully ahead at National and look backwards at the advancing threat of Social Credit. The National Party cannot be complacent either, as former supporters may switch in protest to the other conservative, anti-socialist party in New Zealand. This is going to be a very intere sting political year. — Yours, etc..’ T. J. KAVANAGH. Greymouth, February 19, 1978.

Sir, — Two rather more valid implications can be taken from the Rangitikei by-election than that suggested by a contributer to “The Press” on Tuesday. First, the voters rejected not only the policies but the attitudes of both Labour and National. In National’s case it was a man whose career exemplified the capitalist ethic who failed, and for Labour the banner of disaster was carried by an unusually good candidate. Second, while both Labour and National lost votes, Socred and Values gained. This indicates that when the traditional parties are discredited people are inclined to support the alternative candidate most likely to win. In Rangitikei it was Mr Bee-

tham. Given the same trend elsewhere, it could well be Values that emerges with vastly increased support. Increasingly, the demand for a return to sanity in politics will be reflected in support of alternative solutions like those proposed by the Values Party, — Yours, etc.,

IVAN FINLAYSON. February 21, 1978.