Socred-Labour link alleged

Press, 17 November 1981, Page 3

Socred-Labour link alleged

PA Wellington Social Credit has voted most of the time with Labour in this year’s Parliamentary session, according to the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay). At a meeting in the Rangitikei electorate last evening, Mr McLay challenged the Social Credit leader, Mr B. C. Beetham, to explain its voting record in public. “Of 60 divisions of formal votes during the 1981 Parliamentary session (excluding conscience votes) Social Credit voted with the National Government on only 15 (or 25 per cent) occasions but voted with the Labour opposition on 35 (or 58 per cent) occasions. “I do not believe there is any possibility of a ‘hung Parliament - with Social Credit holding the balance of power, but, as the Social Credit Political League claims that could happen, then before the election they

must make it clear who they will support." said Mr McLay. “It is not enough for them to indicate that they will support whichever party is the Government, and 1 am sure that will not satisfy their own supporters.” Mr McLay also said that Social Credit's claim to be different was based on its economic policies which had not been tried anywhere in the world and which had no support from reputable economists. “Social Creditors claim that their policies have been tested in two Canadian provinces — British Colombia and Alberta — but as a lawyer I have studied the Canadian Constitution and have found that no provincial government has the legal power to implement fiscal or economic policies. That is the sole prerogative of the Canadian Federal Government.” said Mr McLay.