‘Workers told how to vote’

Press, 17 August 1981, Page 10

‘Workers told how to vote’

PA Wellington Workers were taken by bus from the Kinleith mill site to vote in the 1975 General Election and instructed on the buses how to vote, a Government member of Parliament asserted in the House.

Mr K. R. Allen (Tauranga), who made the assertion, said, “You know who paid for those buses, who organised it, who took the shift workers down to the polls?

“The member does not know it, and I think he is very wise to . express his ignorance,” he said, directing his comment to Mr J. W. Ridley (Lab., Taupo), who was making an unsuccessful attempt to introduce a private measure, the Income Tax (Rebates for Rostered Workers) Bill. Mr Allen did not elaborate, saying that the matter was

well known to members of the House. But Opposition members objected, shouting: “Why wasn’t there a prosecution?”

Dr G. A. Wall (Lab., Porirua) said Mr Allen had implied that Mr. Ridley was not only aware of, but privy to, some disorder or breach of the Electoral Act. He said Mr Allen’s comments should be withdrawn.

The Speaker (Sir Richard Harrison) said Mr Allen’s statement could be answered in debate, and the only matter he would consider was whether it was relevant to the bill. It was not relevant, and discussion should keep to the contents of the bill, the Speaker said. Mr Ridley, in his reply, said there was a polling booth on the Kinleith site, and there had never been any need for buses to take workers to vote.