Christchurch Central seat

Press, 17 August 1979, Page 12

Christchurch Central seat

Sir, — Voters in the Christchurch Central byelection should take serious note of Mr O’Brien’s notice of support for Social Credit’s candidate. Mr O’Brien was a senior member of the Labour Party and a well-respected member of Parliament. His statement merely says what the man in the street already knows i.e. that both National and Labour are morally and politically bankrupt. Any new direction is only to be found in Social Credit and its policies. Any vote for anyone other than Mr Heffernan will only be a request for more of what we are already getting and surely we have had enough of that. — Yours, etc., D. J. GATES; August 15, 1979. ; Sir, — I was interested to read Mr Palmer’s views on abortion. I would like to ask him why should the unborn child suddenly deserve protection under the criminal law at three months and not before? Does the child suddenly become human after 90 days? Or has Mr Palmer been taken in by the constant propaganda of the proabortion lobby, aided and abetted bj* the news media, that the unborn child before three months of life is subhuman and can therefore be killed without compunction as the Nazis killed the subhuman Jews and gipsies; Whatever his views may be. Mr Palmer can be sure of getting the votes of most Christians, who will still their consciences on voting day and vote for him because he is Labour. — Yours, etc., E. J. O’CONNOR, Westport. August 13, 1979. (Mr Palmer comments: “I have stated my position on abortion and I have no further comment on the matterj whatsoever.”] Sir, — It is interesting that Sir John Marshall, I understand a director in one of New Zealand’s largest companies while claiming to be a supporter of competitive free enterprise; should be invited to unveil the plinth for the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association. Recent demands for continuing unbridled free wage bargaining between powerful, militant unions and monopolistic employers, especially the exporting sector having an assured

domestic market, allows monitoring consumer prices to meet resulting wage concessions plus expected extra profits, the main contributor to internal inflation. Smaller businesses are eliminated, unemployment increased, job opportunities lost. For 40 years the South Island has been dominated by socialist Labour policies. If we are to develop ■ our resources fully we need more members representing us in government instead of members of Parliament who contribute nothing but harassment, wasting valuable taxpayers’ money. Voting for Mr Duncan will give Christchurch and the South Island proper representation with brighter prospects for the future. — Yours, etc., L. H. CARMICHAEL. August 15, 1979.

Sir, ,— The petty squabbling about Mr Palmer’s Island status has gone far enough. I was born in the North Island and was adopted when I was a “wee un.” I was then brought to the South Island. Whenever I go back to the North Island to see my natural family they, and their acquaintances, call me a South Islander. Still their brother, and loved as one, but definitely a South Islander. — Yours, etc., H. YORK. 'August 16, 1979. Sir, — The telegram from Mr Gerald O’Brien, a past senior vice-president of the Labour Party, to Mr T. Heffernan, Social Credit candidate in the by-election, wishing him well, is indicative of the feeling of many Labour Party supporters who remember the results that emanated from the first Labour Party’s monetary reform policy. Many Labour supporters have confided in me that they believe in monetary reform but that Labour was the party that would implement it. Both Labour and National have promised monetary reform. I especially remember Sir Walter Nash in the ’sos saying that the privilege of creating the nation’s credit would be removed from the lending banks and would become the function of the Reserve Bank. It proved to be just another unkept promise. Mr O’Brien believes that Social Credit "still remains the only party committed to changing the unjust and immoral economic system.” — Yours, etc., JOHN J. FORSTER, i August 15, 1979. J Sir, — C. G. Marshall (August 14) writes, “that Labour’s claim of concern for the South Island has a hollow ring.” If such is the case • then National’s total absence of any such concern whatever for the South Island must have all the negative qualities of an electronic echo chamber. Your correspondent’s argument falls flat when one considers all the unfulfilled promises of the National Party going back to 1975. Three and a half years of total disregard for the welfare of this secondary Dominion cannot possibly be explained away by C. G. Marshall in logical terms. Therefore, his faint-hearted attack on Labour by way of the Christchurch Central byelection is so much wasted effort. — Yours, etc., ARTHUR MAY. August 14, 1979. Sir, ■ — Never before in the history of this country can we remember such costly and galloping inflation. When we think of ail the promises of main parties and their handling, or shocking mishandling of this country’s finance how could anyone have any confidence in voting for those parties? The indications are that the wickedness and callousness of the present money system will lead us further and further into the darkness of the money barons’ evil grip. This is a golden opportunity for the people of Christchurch to show their rejection of the present appalling chaos and give Social Credit another voice in the House. — Yours, etc,, ROD EATWELL, ' Renwick. August 14, 1979. _ J.JI '