INDEPENDENT GROUP

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 309, 24 September 1943, Page 8

INDEPENDENT GROUP

Electors Urged To Smash Party System

“On behalf of my colleagues in the Independent Group, I urge electors everywhere to support the Independent candidates,” said Flying Officer Clive Drummond yesterday. “There are sufficient Independents of the right type standing to'form ,a Government with a substantial majority—a Government pledged only to '.serve the people, free of outside dicta'tion, and one in which members would ’lntroduce and freely debate measures purely on their worth. “How necessary and urgent this has become can be seen from the following pledges which are signed by party candidates: —

“Labour Party Pledge: ‘I will faithfully uphold and wholeheartedly work for the objective and platfofm of the party, and no other, in accordance with the decisions which may from time to time be jnade pursuant to this Constitution,’ “National Party Pledge: ‘I declare that I will abkje by the rules and constitution of the Nexv Zealand National Party and that I will be loyal to its organization and chosen leader. . .’ “There is no difference between these pledges. Alembers of both the Labour and National Parties are inescapably tied, by these pledges, and their party constitutions, to obey the dictates of organizations outside of Parliament. That is why these organizations pour out tens and even hundreds of thousands of pounds to publicise and support the parties. They want this control for their own selfish purposes —to grab money and power and to smash the opposing interests.. “They have accordingly carried their party warfare into everything, embroiling all the people, with the result that we have had poverty, social and economic injustices, industrial unrest and fear, and a constant struggle between costs and income. Good government is impossible under party rule, as practised in this country. “AA'e urge you to smash this system. AA'e urge you to vote for your oivu freedom by supporting all Independent candidates. AVe ask all electors to roll up their sleeves and Help us to get.oa with the job—for ‘New Zealand and New Zealanders, and not for secret interests or party bosses. “Our national reconstruction plan, complete in all details, including.methods of finance, our policy for stabilizing living standards, our determination to set things right in this country by the adoption of comnionseiise measures, our plans for co-operative effort toward progress, are the only genuine measures of practical worth iioiv before the electors. AA e have made no promises—we have, presented a plan complete in every detail. It has been worked out by committees ot experienced men all over the Dominion. “AA'e urge all electors to help us remove outside control of Parliament. A e ask for your support for all Independent candidates.” (Further election reports on next page.)