General Election

Press, 13 November 1981, Page 12

General Election

Sir.—Papanui's National candidate, Brian Keeley, characterises his party as the "free enterprise” party and Labour and Social Credit as.“socialist.” How naive. If he had taken the trouble to examine the National Government's income, expenditure, subsidies (“massive handouts”), superannuation scheme, “think big” projects, and massive deficits he might have concluded that while his party clings to free enterprise in theory, the present regime has become increasingly socialist in practice, pre-empting, in fact much of Labour's traditional policies.—Yours, etc., J. NGARIMU. November 10, 1981.

Sir,—J. Sharp’s suggestion that “committed Kremlin supporters” will vote National is laughable. The S.U.P. is adopting its usual policy again this year of standing only in electorates where they won’t spoil Labour’s chances. of winning. Labour’s abysmal performance in 1972-75 is largely responsible for the difficulties today’s children and everyone else are saddled with. Stan Hensley should be grateful to Ruth Richardson for pointing out the inconsistencies of Mrs Hercus on bureaucracy. Mrs Hercus was not advocating a Ministry of Consumer Protection on “Thing Big” policies but on policies which amount to meddling in everybody’s business. The country has been trying to cut down on bureaucratic empires which benefit mostly those on high-paid salaries who run them.—Yours, etc., J. F. GARVEY. November 10, 1981.