WELLINGTON EAST

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 309, 24 September 1943, Page 9

WELLINGTON EAST

In his final address of the campaign, at the Tala Hall, Kilbiruic. Mr. E. C. Russell (Independent), attacked the party system, and declared that the cost of the campaign Io the National and Labour parties, in the East electorate alone, for circulars, booklets, organizers, etc., would equal a members’ salary for three years. In addition, the parties had a stranglehold on the radio. As an Independent. Mr. Russell said he had fought liis campaign on his own. Dealing with the cost of living, the candidate asked qvhy the Labour Party bad never mentioned the subsidy o'n tea. He had been informed by the merchants that the subsidy was at. one time as much as 1/6 per lb. "With the consumption of tea in this country.at 11,000,0001 b. a year, there was surely a reason for this extraordinary omission. “In Australia the retail price of tea has been reduced from 3/5 to 2/3 per lb., or roughly about half the price in New Zealand. Now 1 understand (hat the Gbyerntrielit: has taken over the purchasing lof ten,” continued the candidate; “and if so this would account for the nigger in (he woodpile. Presuming that the, bottom has fallen out of the market here, as bl Australia, then what if wonderful rake-off the Government would now be getting off the stabilized price. This seems a likely explanation of their queer silence on the tea question.” Mr. Russell gave details of how, at the outbreak of war, he offered his services to the authorities. Having had a lifetime’s experience in the handling of foodstuffs, and service in the Army Service Corps, he thought bis services would be'used to advantage, but al! he got was a card to parade for drill instruction. ,