Timaru by-election

Press, 27 May 1985, Page 20

Timaru by-election

Sir,—Once bitten, twice shy, is a sensible saying. All superannuitants (along with those who are expecting to live to 60) should think well before casting their votes in the Timaru by-election. We can all make a mistake but only fools make the same mistake twice. Therefore electors in the groups I am referring to ought to either strike out the Labour candidate’s name or refrain from voting if not prepared to vote for one of the other candidates. The reason for my recommendation is simple. Superannuitants were given promises about national superannuation by Mr Lange. As soon as he was elected Prime Minister the promises were not kept. There is no way I would ever trust such people again, hence this letter. Timaru elector’s actions will not change the Government, but will give a message to those who make promises then break them, and then refuse to even meet a representative of the Government or Railway Superannuitants’ Societies regarding the written promises.—Yours, etc., ROBERT HOLMES. Picton, May 22, 1985.

Sir,—lt took Sir Robert Muldoon nine years to get rid of National Party philosophy. Roger Douglas needed less than a year to do the same to Labour. He even used Sir Robert as bogy man to get his economic ideas accepted by the F.O.L. The advent of the New Labour Party in the Timaru byelection is not suprising. Perhaps the old Labour Party is not yet swallowed up by a Margaret-Thatcher-type one. This could be just a Labour backlash—Yours, etc., A. M. COATES. May 25, 1985. Sir,—The message to be conveyed to the Government by the Timaru by-election should be one of strong encouragement and enthusiastic support in its planned programme to restore prosperity and social equity to the country as a whole. The moaners and “Me First” brigade must realise that it would take at least six to nine years to recover from the effects of 10 years of bad government. Labour’s top echelon are certainly the most capable and dedicated team the country has seen this century. In contrast, National for the last two decades has been completely bereft of policy other than to get back in next time. Electioneering has been confined to anti-Labour ranting, already again in evidence. For those who historically find themselves still unable to vote Labour, either of the two fringe parties is worthy of support. — Yours, etc., J. N. SMITH. Auckland, May 23, 1985.