GENERAL ELECTION: NOTES AND POINTS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 306, 21 September 1943, Page 6

GENERAL ELECTION: NOTES AND POINTS

“"Do not let bureaucratic control in this country reach a stage when it cannot be removed." Mr. J. S. Satterthwaite (National, Timaru).

If £120.000,000 could be -spent, on the war in destroying mankind? the same could be spent after the war in benefiting the human race. —Mr. A. 11. Langslow (Labour, Patea). *

“Cheap sea food is necessary in this goitre land. The fishing industry should be organized on part naval, part fishing lines. Tltd Chatham and Auckland Islands and South Westland Sounds could thus be served. By this means shark freezing could be introduced to New Zealand anil iislt manures could be processed.’’—Air. L. C. Walker (Independent. Christchurch North). « « *

'The .New Zealand Labour Government is the luckiest Government in the world. The rise in prices syonchronized with labour's coming to power, and just when they had got into' a muddle and did not know which way to turn the -war began.” —Mr. W. S. Goosman (National, Waikato).

The Government had struck an admirable balance in its war finance between taxation and borrowing, bearing in mind the law of diminishing returns, Mr. G. Manning (Labour. Christchurch North' told a recent audience. Of the total cost of the war up to March of this year, about 50 per cent, had been raised from loans, and the candidate considered this an equitable distribution of the burden between present and future taxpayers, as*

The National Party claimed it would control the currency but unfortunately those behind the “conservative party ’ ot New Zealand bad controlled the currency right up to the time Labounr cam* in, said Mr. J. IL Winter, D.C.AI. (Independent .New Order, Hawke's Bay), at Te Pohue on Saturday night. Even when Labour came in it failed to carry out its pledge to control the currency.—“ Dominion” Special Service.

Ou a certain occasion 500 soldiers were readv to be transferred to another camp, said Mr. E. P. Aderman (National, New Plymouth) in a recent address. They had returned from final leave.- and were prepared for' transit. The trains were waiting with kit 'bags aboard ; all the forms were filled out; the men had been paid up to date; rations had been stopped as from the next meal; the men stood in their ranks; the'band was ready to march them to the station. All at once a message came through; “These boys have been working hard on the wharves. Give them five days’.leave.” "Mr. Fraser was in Auckland that day,” added Mr. Adelman.

“If we are fighting this war for a new world and a new economic order we don't want a repetition of what we had after the last war,” said Mr. R AL Macfarlane ( Labour, Christchurch South), in a recent address. “It is essential that at the peace conference there should be representatives of as many radical governments as possible. A radical government has been returned in Australia, and I want a radical government returned here to go to the peace table with Australia in order to write into the peace terms- something that will not bring about the deplorable state of things we had after the last war.” a * v

Captain Justin Power (Independent,Mastertoii) addressing the electors 'at Bideford on Saturday evening, said that it wa salmost beyond conception to realize that 95 per cent, of New Zealand’s exportable wealth was produced by the farmers, ,and yet the country was controlled by a section of the community who knew little or nothing about farming, nor had it any conception of the difficulties under which the farmers were working at the present time. The candidate went on to say that the wealth from the land was being used to raise the standard of living of everyone except the farmer himself.

“If there is one thing that has resulted .from this war,” remarked Mr. Will Appleton (National. Wellington Central) speaking in the Webb Street Methodist Hall, “it is the emphasis which has been placed on the necessity for living more in accordance with Christian principles.” For this reason, he said, he welcomed the active steps being taken by the churches to try and raise the standard of thinking of the people. There was a great deal of talk about the standard ,of living, but cultural and spiritual needs were equally important. a a a

Dealing with rehabilitation. Mr. E. L. Cullen, M.P. (Labour, Hawke’s Bay?, speaking at Mahora last week, said that up to July 31, 100 discharged servicemen had been'placed on small areas and individual holdings at a cost of £278,000. In two months 11 places would be balloted for. and before .Christmas 71. There were 010 farms on good first-class areas being retained for men now in the Middle East. A training centre at Tauranga trained men on nine different farms in all classes of farming. In the Wairarapa the directors of the training farm offered the full facilities or the, place to the Rehabilitation Board. IVairarapa farmers had trained returned men, on their own initiative, after the last war. 'There was also a South Island training farm at Rakaia. In all 200 men could he trained at one time. —“Dominion’’ Special Service. * * »

“The Labour Government and the National Party combined to increase the sales tax. Together they put 4/- a leg on trousers and 3/- a foot on boots and together they taxed pyjamas enough to give any man who slept in them a nightmare’’.—Mr. S. Hindmarsh (Democratic Labour, Palmerston North).

“Mr. Frost need not become so concerned about the National Party's desire to use the best brains of Parliament for the Government of New Zealand that he must give a pledge to the electors to 'become oppositionist when the National Party is returned to power on September 25.” said Mr. E. P. A’derman (National. New Plymouth), when addressing electors in Waitara. “When we advocated men of brains we never thought of him. In fact, even if National Party members did stoop to the babyish activity of sucking, it is problematical whether they would be rewarded with any worth while substance.”

The shortage of tobacco appeared to loom in the mind of a soldier who attended a meeting addressed by Mr. P. G. Connolly (Labour, Dunedin West) as a major political issue. When the candidate referred to the Government’s efforts to ensure that all people received a fair share of the country’s production, the soldier complained that be was not getting his share of tobacco. He later explained that he was on furlough and had been able to buy only one packet of tobacco in a fortnight “Under a National Government you would get no tobacco in a fortnight,” replied the candidate, amidst expressions of both approval and disapproval from the audience. He went on to explain that the shortage was due to the fact that two .ships carrying tobacco had not arrived on schedule.

“Monetary reform is needed in the interests of rhe people, and I cannot see how political soinersaulters can rehabilitate soldiers except on the old banjo,” said Mr. D. 11. Butcher (Democratic Labour, Hawke’s Bay) in an address last week. “If not for that reason, why have they asked road boards and county councils for a five-year plan? When Mr. Lee had charge of the housing scheme the interest rate was It per cent., but when he was kicked out it was raised Io 4 1-8 per cent.”

“A very pertinent question.” said Mr. Will Appleton (National. Wellington Central l addressing electors in the Webb Street Methodist Hall, “has been asked by a correspondent in ‘The Dominion.' " It was to the effect, be went on. that two of the largest timber firms in the Wairarnpa had been instructed by Mr. .lames Fletcher, the Building Controller, to semi io the Japanese prison camp a quantity of seasoned rimtl timber, notwithstanding their protest that the timber was being held for local cabinetmakers. Would Mr.''Fraser enlighten the electors as to whether the Japanese prisoners were making furniture io compete with New Zealand traders, and were lh-y being paid • union rates of wages

The regim“ of the Labour Party had seen the standard of Jiving in New Zealand raised from one of starvation durimr th'- depression tn the present, staudard. which was the highest in the world. .Mr. A. H. Ixiu-’siow (.Labour. I’at.ea.ji

Referring. during an address at Waverlev, to housing, A. Dangslow (Dabtiur, Patea) said that a forestry company was returning from Britain for mill and bush work. , , ,

“How did you get there?" asked a man of Mr S G Holland at question time at liis recent meeting in Invercargill. 1 travelled by car and we paid tor the petrol.” Mr. Holland replied. My opponent. the Prime Minister, flew to Invercargill and you paid for the petrol.

“Why have we never been told anything about the wonderful trade and barter agreement made with Germany by Mr. Nash and Mr. Langstone in 1909. Mhtn Mr Nash came back to New Zealand, war had broken out. No statement was ever made about this wonderful pact. Mr. L. Rollings (Liberal. Christchurch South). ...

“Waterfront workers are the most vilified persons in New Zealand. Abuse, half-lies, mis-statements and innuendoes are no political platform, and any party that resorted to them is bankrupt ot poliev/'_Mr. A. IL Langslow (Labour, Patea).

Everywhere there is evidence of a diminution of the menace to New Zealand. vet the War Damage Fund continues.’ It must be the largest insurance fund in the world without a claim of any consequence. Premiums should cease immediately and Parliament should decide the future of the fund. —SergeantMajor G. G. Hamilton (National. Otaliubu). a a * •

In the Stratford area. Mr. A. E. Marwick (Democratic Labour, Stratford) told a recent audience there were a number of farmers who supplied the milk consumed by children in the schools. These farmers were supplying milk at lOd. a gallon for eight months and 1/- a gallon during the winter. Apparently the Price Tribunal had slipped somewhere, because these prices were much less than those paid in the New Plymouth or Wellington areas, and it was time the position was rectified.

“Would you ever win a war with that kind of strategy?” asked Mr. G. Manning (Labour, Christchurch North), when he referred to Mr. S. G. Holland's statement that no man should be asked to go to the war twice till others had gone once. Mr. Manning said that meant replacing men trained to use. highly complicated weapons with untrained men. “It -was only put across to play on the emotions, regardless of winning the war,” he said.

“Some people are still under the impression that the Land Sales Act does not affect town properties.” said Mr. E. N. Pryor (National. Hawke’s Bay) at Hastings West. I want to tell you that if you have any interest in a house, section or business property' in Hastings you cannot sell without going before a committee appointed toy the Government, and if that committee does not approve of the price you cannot sell 'till you agree to their requirements. This will mean trouble, delay' and expense.”-—“Domin-ion” 'Special Service. .

, If candidates intended to do as they promised' during the campaign, then they should have no hesitation in giving electors an unqualified right of recall if they did not stick to their platform undertakings, said Mr. J, 11.- Winter (Independent New Order, Hawke's Bay), speaking at Te Pohue. Electors insulted their own intelligence by asking candidates who would not give such undertakings what their policy was, for it was perfectly plain that the only thing they definitely favoured was getting votes. So they' told electors what they thought Would bring this result. —“Dominion” Special Service.

“Surely we can give the Government some credit for making the surplus apples available to the schoolchildren,” said the Rev. Clyde Carr (Labour, Timaru), at a meeting of women at Timaru. “The people, also, are eating 50 per cent, more apples than they used to do—.” A voice: “And the pigs, too I” Mr. Carr: “If the pigs are eating them, it is because people are refusing to co-operate with the Marketing Division. They are sabotaging the good intention of the Government to help the producers.” The voice: “The Government refuses to take them!” Mr. Carr: “It is true that the Government declines to accept windfalls.” The voice; “They were not windfalls!”

Speaking last week, Air. G. H. Alackley (National, Alasterton), replied to the assertion made by the Independent Group broadcaster, Air. Clive Drummond, that National candidates tvere required to sign a declaration of allegiance and subservience to the party leader and that he (Air. Drummond) had been asked to do this, but had refused. Air. Alaekley stared that he had only signed one paper, his nomination paper. No personal or written undertaking had been asked for or expected. “On the contrary.” added Air. Alaekley, “National I’arty candidates were given absolute freedom, if elected, to vote iu Parliament according to tlieiz judgment and conscience. That was the verbal and written pledge given by Alt'. Holland to all candidates and to all the electors of New Zealand, and it would be honoured 100 per cent.”

“I stand flat against using the title ‘Democratic-Soldier-Labour Party,’ ” declared Commander R. R. Beauchamp (Democratic Labour. Riccarton), addressing a recent election meeting. “We stand for no class or sectional interest. 1 think that it was quite right for some branches of the U.S.A, to protest against the use of the word ‘Soldier’ in the party title.” »

The man who was doing all the “squealing about the Land Sales Bill was the person who farmed the farmer,” remarked Mr. A. 11. Langsiow (Labour, Batea) in a recent address. Quoting figures of men already rehabilitated, he said: “Not one soldier has been forgotten nor shall one under the Labour Government.”

Referring in a recent address to the miners’ strike at Iluntly, Mr. B. V. CooksJey. (National, Otaki) said that he believed it to have been a deliberate attempt to break up the War Administration. When Japan came into the war in December. 1941, Mr. Fraser should have called publicly for a non-party Government, and the existing Ministers should have resigned. This would not have been much of a sacrifice when the Government was now asking majors to go overseas as privates. Mr. Cooksley said that in this non-party Government Mr. Fraser could have been the Prime Minister and Mr. Coates Minister of War.

Quoting Mr. Reginald .McKenna in an address to shareholders of the Midland Bank as stating that “to control credit is to control all.” Mr. J. 11. Winter. D.C.M. (Independent New Order, Hawke’s Bay), speaking at Te Haroto. said that those who controlled national credit directed the policy of Governments and held in the hollow of their hand the destiny of the people. Yet Mr. Fraser had said that his Government would not attack banks, but would co-operate with them. It would be co-operation in defiance of the will of the people, commented Mr. Winter, who added that Labour’s failure to carry out its promised currency and credit control would bring its own punishment from electors at the polls.—“ Dominion" Special Service.

We deny that we are over-committed in our manpower. Even if we were overcommitted. it is our duty Io try and do it. We can always do a little more than we think we can if we try hard. Il is not a humanly impossible thing, as Mr. Holland and Mr. Lee are saying.—Dr. Finlay (Labour. Retnuera).

“Do you believe in unionism?" was a question put to Aircraftman D. A. Thompson (Democratic Labour, Masterton? at a recent meeting. “Most certainly,” the candidate replied. “Unionism is based on the principle of free assembly, ami as such is the inalienable right of I hi' worker. I believe that the principle of unionism should be extended to cover the entire community. Various organizations which would be insulted if you called Hu m unions are in reality nothing else. 'I hat there are. abused, that union fees are exorbitant. that there is no justice in one worker having to bold three or tour tickets in order to work for a living is ,'ipparent. hut surely the cure is in the hands of the workers themselves,

“The inefficiency of the Internal Marketing Division can lie taken as, a _ lair sample of State trailing under a Socialist Government." —Mr. A. S. Falconer (National, Dunedin West).

The only way the National Party could get hotter mid cheaper houses was by longer hours and lower wages. "Do any of you want to work 60 hours a week to provide Mr. Holland with cheaper houses?" —Rev. E. T. Cox (Labour, Egmoot).

"Socialism and Slate control ,is the very worst thing that could befall the workers of this country.” Mr. W. FL Overton (National, Kaiapoi) told some interjeetors at a recent meeting. "Why? came a query from the audience. "Because the workers will lose their bargaining power. In fact, they will have no bargaining power at all.. There will be only one employer.” replied Mr. Overton.

No Government, least of all a Labour Government, could all ord to be uncertain of the feeling of the people toward it. A Labour Government required the cordial co-operation of the people.—-The Prime Minister (Mr. P. Fraser).

Ap instance of Internal Marketing Division methods was quoted by Mr. F. AA . Huggins (National, Nelson) when speaking at Brightwater. In the flush of the season, he said, the department would not take the undersized apples and growers fed them to the pigs or sold them for cider. Then, when they were nearly all gone, the department came along and offered to buy them at ”/- a case, which was more than had been paid for the best-grade fruit.

"Any man in New Zealand who does not realize the power the ‘money barons’ in London have over us ought not to have a vote." —Mr. P. G. Connolly (Labour, Dunedin West), speaking last week. # a *

New Zealand soldiers in the Pacific, who were mostly married men, should get periodic leave in the Dominion similar to that enjoyed by members of the United States forces, who appeared to be largely bachelors. —Private T. Lyon (Democratic Labour. Gisborne), speaking at Bartletts.—"Dominion” Special Service.

“A new world is being forged in the crucible of war, and it. must be the young people of this country who fashion the new world order. This cannot be done by registering a vote every three years and being an observer the rest of the time; our young men and women must take their part in local politics and be capable of forming their own destinies.” —Mr. FI. J.. D. Aelaud (National. Temuka).

The Government’s handling of manpower had converted chaos into control, said Mr. A. 11. Langslow (Labour, Patea) in a recent address. Supporting the Imports Restriction Act, he asserted that Dominion-made goods were now being sent to every corner of the globe. a » *

Summing up his interpretation of his party's policy, Mr. D. 11. Butcher (Democratic Labour, Hawke’s Bay) said the party stood for full free medical attention, free education from kindergarten to university, stricter inspection of meat for soldiers, instead of the present farcical one, that the farmer should have all increases received for his produce overseas, consumer representation on the Price Tribunal, the use of the Consolidated Fund to extend electricity to the backblocks, and co-operative concerns in place of monopolies.

“Socialists and Communists are linked in this election fight." said Mr. E. N. Pryor (National, Hawke's Bay) at Hastings West. The official Communist paper, “The People’s Voice,” was suppressed two years ago. he added, but suddenly and without reasons being given it had reappeared' on the eve of the election. The latest issue contained a letter from Mr. Fraser thanking the Communist organization for its assistance.—“ Dominion” Special Service. a » *

The issue recently of an interesting little booklet, “New Zealand at War,” indicated that the Labour Party was at bay, said Mr. S. Duffy (Democratic Labour, Wanganui) speaking iu the Opera House on Sunday night. He added that this booklet was propaganda, put out. on the eve of an election, and produced at the taxpayers’ expense. The publication showed many aspects of the Dominion’s splendid war effort and quickly aroused interest, but as a propaganda medium it was planned with care and skill. Iu one section the reader was told that New Zealand's overseas debt had been reduced by £2,500,000—a’ misleading statement, due to a policy of borrowing internally instead of overseas. The public debt in New Zealand had risen by £70,000,000 since Labour came into power and was still rising.—“ Dominion” Special Service.

Curiosity was aroused at a meeting of women addressed by Mr. A. 8. Falconer (National, Dunedin North) by the presence on the speaker’s table of four bulky tomes. Mr. Falconer later explained to the meting that Volume 1, measuring two inches in thickness. contained the Statutes for the years 1940-42, while the three other volumes measuring 74 inches in thickness contained the “Regulations” for the same period. The Statutes, he pointed out, were the laws of the Dominion passed by the people’s representatives in Parliament, while the Regulations were often imposed on the people of the Dominion without, at. times, members of Parliament being aware of their import.

Instead of being the war leader depicted in Labour advertising. Mr. Fraser was vacillating in bis official capacity, and with his colleagues had run tbe, war on a month-to-month basis, said Private T. Lyon (Democratic Labour. Gisborne), speaking at Bartletts. After the fall of France, he went on. it shopld have been obvious that there was a long struggle ahead, and manpower commitments both for the forces and for production should have been planned accordingly. First, the size of the military commitments should have been limited to sueh as would ensure even reinforcement for the whole of the war. Instead, men had been called up at such a rate that if the war lasted two more years or longer the country, with its double military and production commitments would be seriously embarrassed. Secondly, the training of Grade 2 and 3 men. and . those totally militarily exempt, to replace Grade 1 men in essential jobs should have started at once. It did not, and there was the spectacle—through no fault of the men concerned —of reservists without commitments having Io stay behind on the production front while fathers with families were sent overseas. —“Dominion" Special Service. » * «

Conscription, the Labour Party had said, was a capitalistic dodge to enslave the workers, but the Labour Government had extended it to 18-year-okls, remarked Mr. F. W. Huggins (National. Nelson) in a recent address. Labour would have the Legislative Council abolished, but now they had filled it with their supporters, and in consequence had to defend it. They said that to put men from outside Parliament in the Cabinet was unconstitutional, but the present Prime Minister bad appointed three, which did not say much for the talent inside the Parliamentary section of Hie Labour Party.

“IVe are not quarreling with the social reforms the Labour Government brought in. or all the beautiful homes, schools, roads and overhead bridges they built. But if they are not going to face up to the eoiOrol of currency we will not get very fa7."—Private T. Lyon (Democratic Labour. Gisborne).

Under the Land Sales Act the returned serviceman who goes on the land is assured of a life of slavery without prospect.of release, and with no need, to make a will. Throughout his working life he will be under constant supervision from State officials, and his tenure will be neither freehold. leasehold nor toehold. Farmers should understand that if land values are pegged and interest rates and money values fall, then the farmers are being robbed.” —Mr. J. It. Haldane (National. Motueka). speaking at Takaka. —"Dominion" Special Service.

■'Tlic Democratic Labour Party, it given a majority on election day. would use their power of government and would not 'be dictated to 'by high-ranking army officers.—Private 'l'. Lyon (Democratic Labour. Gisborne).