Groceries to give away

Press, 15 July 1987, Page 2

Groceries to give away

By

DAVE WILSON

The National candidate for Lyttelton, Mr Philip Hall, wants to give away a basket of groceries. But there is a catch to the gift, one the National Party Intends to exploit in the election campaign. Yesterday Mr Hall and the member of Parliament for Walpa, Mrs Katherine O’Regan, trekked the aisles of the Redcliffs supermarket collecting a basket of groceries to measure the shift in grocery prices since the Labour Government took office.

The grocery basket ploy was widely used by the member for Lyttelton, Mrs Ann Hercus, during her 1984 campaign. Mr Hall says his grocery basket is a replica of the items bought by Mrs Hercus in March, 1984, when they cost $88.29.

But rather than disclose the cost of the basket today, Mr Hall intends to feature the goods in his speaking campaign round other supermarkets in the electorate — and to use them for a competition. “Whoever correctly identifies the present cost or is closest to it will win the basket of groceries,” be says.

Mr Hall will announce the winner at the end of his campaign. ' “For one lucky person or family their budget will stretch further, if only temporarily.”