MRS. LEE ADDRESSES ELECTORS

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

MRS. LEE ADDRESSES ELECTORS

Candidates Introduced

CRITICISM OF LABOUR

PARTY

“Tin- Labour Party has faltered in the fight for human welfare and . has not dared to put its policy info action,” said Mrs. J. A. Lee, wife of the leader of the Democratic Labour Party, addressing a meeting last night which nearly tilled, the ground floor of the Wellington Town Hall. Airs. Loe introduced to the audience four Democratic Labour candidates, Private C. Teece (Wellington South), Mr. 11. E. Herring (AVellington North), Major AV Bishop (Wellin’gton East), and Mr. S. AlcDottgall (Wellington West). Private Teece presided, and Mr. Herring spoke briefly before the main speaker. He urged the need for control ot creme and currency and for a reduction of the Dominion's manpower commitments, -toward the end of his remarks there was some interruption from members of the audience. Though Mrs. Lee suffered a few hostile interjections, she was given on the whole an attentive hearing. On the motion of Major Bishop, seconded bv Mr. McDougall, a resolution expressing thanks to Mrs. Lee for her speech and confidence in the policy and leadership of the Democratic Labour tarty was adopted with only two or three dissentients. _ , ~ , Air. Lee joined the Labour Party ns soon us he returned from the last war t<> help fight: the Conservative Party which represented money power and aimed _ to prevent any rise in the standard of living of the people, said Airs. Lee. Sometimes she thought that the only mistake her husband had made politically was that he had not led a soldier s party about the vear 1925. In 1935 the great light dawned with the election to power of the Labour Party. It had been believed that they were men of honour who would do as they promised, but the great chance had been missed. “Such is the disgust and disillusionment, about the Labour Party that they no longer have the goodwill of the people,” said Lee- \ A ,p' pinuse and some cries of Rubbish. ) “Id very thing we had the idea building has been muddled and spoilt,” Airs. Lee continued, referring particularly to the failure of the Government to change the monetary system. “AVe must make it possible for the people to use the goods they produce, and tbc present money system will not allow it,” she said. Discussing motherhood endowment, Mrs Lee said she was convinced there was’no other way of paying the mother for services the community could not without. She was not in favour ot family allowances doled out only when dire poverty could be proved. Airs Lee also criticized the Government for failing to carry out-a promise not to introduce conscription without a referendum. “If you can t take a P*pD a pledged word then politics have fallen too low for my liking,” she said. It was quite wrong that boys of 18 years should be taken and kept in camps stultifying for two or three years. The speaker also explained tbc party s policy about manpower commitments, education, and Public Service wages la reply to a question she said; AV e have no fight with anyone who is a genuine conscientious objector, though 1 personally cannot understand their attitude. . . But what I do detest are conscientious objectors who turn war lords. ’