S.C. billed as third party insurance

Press, 12 July 1984, Page 4

S.C. billed as third party insurance

PA Auckland Social Credit’s leader, Mr Beetham, wound up his party’s election campaign last evening by urging voters to elect more Socred members of Parliament to insure against “tryannical and dictatorial rule from whatever source.” Mr Beetham told 500 people at the Auckland Town Hall that it was time for the electorate to take out what he termed third party insurance for a democratic Parliament by putting more Social Credit members into the House.

Rangitikei, he said, was “in the bag.” Mr Knapp had regained the lead in East Coast Bays, while Social Credit was ahead in Pakuranga, according to the polls. “We may not be the Government after July 14 — but we could be,” Mr Beetham said, to rapturous applause. “With the extra seats that will fall to us, Social Credit will be able to act as third party insurance.” Mr Beetham said that he looked forward to leading a Social Credit team in Parliament that would shake it to its foundations.

Continuing the party’s theme that the other two major parties were “playing too rough,” Mr Beetham said it was time to put some Social Credit referees on to the paddock. “Then we will have some democratic three-way debate in Parliament.” Mr Beetham said Social Credit was the only party to have spelt out its policies and how to pay for them. National and Labour, he said, were asked for a blank cheque and open mandate to govern. National was promising more of the same, while Labour was offering a “great windbag of emotion.”