MR. FRASER’S TOUR

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

MR. FRASER’S TOUR

Confidence in Result Of Election SUPPORT OF WAR EFFORT With his meeting in Palmerston North last, night, the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, completed his election tour of the Dominion, and for the remainder of the campaign be will be in his own electorate of Wellington Central. He said yesterday that the outstanding impressions of bis tour were, first, that tbc people of New Zealand were 100 per cent, in support of the nation s war effort, and second, that the Labour Goveminent stood well with the people. “As leader of the Labour Party,. he said, "I have the utmost confidence in the outcome of the general election. “I have met the people in .the different districts from Kaikohe iu the far north to Invercargill in the south, said .Mr. Fraser, “and everywhere I received a most encouraging welcome. I* rom a political point of view I can say that I have met with demonstrations of goodwill and confidence that would, encourage any leader to anticipate decisive success at: the general election poll next Saturday. Even in small centres and in spite of exceptionally bail weather, the attendance of electors on every occasion could not have been better, because every seat in tlie various halls was taken, and in each case a vote of confidence was carried, not only with acclamation, but by a show of hands, denoting that the majority ot electors is satisfied with the Government s legislative and administrative achievements and also with its guarantees that neither returned servicemen nor the community as a whole will ever suffer economic slumps under Labour. In the metropolitan centres, such as Auckland, Dunedin and Invercargill, the meetings were as near to perfection as any political leader could expect in any circumstances.

“Aly tour has given me a.great opportunity to observe the extent of national development and also the scope for further improvement after the war has been won and the foundations of democracy are reinforced by Ihe lessons of the conflict. AVith comparatively few exceptions. the main highways, from end to end of each island, represent a very high standard of transport roads. It was obvious, even in the worst rainstorms and floods, that the provision of a few cul-’ verts and not more than a half-dozen bridges would give all-weather highways throughout the Dominion. Alany districts which I had an opportunity of looking at offer scope for extensive development The real problem as far as I could. see it is the necessity of the preparation or large areas for settlement before returned servicemen could be expected to start farming in the hope of securing success for their work. This work will be undertaken without any avoidable delay by the Labour Government. “The country generally looks well and there is no doubt that the people everywhere are in good heart. It has been an inspiration to mo to find that the whole community determined, with willingness, to co-operate with the Government in fighting on till victory is won.”