Fund plan draws gasps

Press, 26 August 1978, Page 4

Fund plan draws gasps

Social Credit has budgeted $120,000 for a final election campaign, reports the Press Association from Auckland. Socred delegates gasped when they heard the figure at yesterday’s conference but representatives of the league's advertising consultant, U. S. P. Needham, of Auckland, calmed things by saying that according to advertising-industry gossip National was spending SIM and Labour between $250,000 and .$500,000. Delegates were also told

that the league needed $35,000 to make up the $120,000 fund. One candidate jumped to his feet and immediately gave his “day’s drinking money,” a $2O note. The hat went around and soon after, the president of the league (Mr George Bryant) announced that $llO5 had been collected from the conference floor. He said that another $2OOO had come in from around New Zealand since

the conference began, and he later indicated that officials were confident of raising the $35,000. The league has already spent more than $lOO,OOO on advertising and promotion since the last election. The leader of the league (Mr B. C. Beetham) expressed concern about the effect of the lack of cam paign funds on candidatechances. “I’m still not satisfied i (the league) will be as com petitive as it should be,” h said.