"MY LADY'S DRESS"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1938, Page 16

"MY LADY'S DRESS"

MR. MAZENGARB'S

TILT

SOCIAL SECURITY

For nearly three hours last evening Mr. O. C. Mazengarb, National candidate for Wellington Suburbs, held the attention of an audience of over 300 electors of Johnsonville. Mr. G. A. Lawrence (chairman of the Town Board) presided. From the commencement of the meeting it was obvious that there were groups of people in the hall bent on asking questions of thei?candidate and then answering them to their own satisfaction before he had an opportunity to reply. At one stage when the questions were coming in fairly fast Mr. Mazengarb smilingly remarked: "Well, that's seven questions aow; perhaps you would let me answer them one by one." But it appeared that the questioners did not want any reply. By being patient and polite, however, the candidate remained on good personal terms with all those present, the customary vote of thanks and confidence being seconded by one of the persistent interjectors who, however, used the opportunity for getting in some of his own propaganda concerning the sins of the Coalition Government. NO PRICE TICKET. ■In the course of his address, Mr. 'Mazengarb produced a booklet on social security which had been printed by: the Government and circulated to every householder at the people's expense. . Quite apart from the gross impro-priety-of such electioneering methods, Mr.-. Mazengarb said, he noticed that the pamphlet had been drawn up to show all the benefits of the scheme without any reference to the cost in the same way as a lady's model frock was displayed in. the shop window ■without'a price ticket on it. Why did not the Government set out in the pamphlet the enormous cost of its proposed scheme? The answer was that >it desired to conceal it for much the same reason as a window-dresser cealed the ticket on "my lady's dress." Most shoppers knew what to think when the price of an article was not disclosed to $hem. Only very foolish women walked inside and bought dresses without inquiring the jpost. '\ "Social security is as seductive in appearance as the unpriced frock, as expensive, too, and when closely examined it does not fit the majority of people. And don't forget that alterations are also costly," concluded Mr. Mazengarb. "Why did you say that the men on public works had the leprosy of laziness?" asked one young man after the address. Mr. Mazengarb replied: "If you can show me that I ever said that or have been reported anywhere as making that statement I will retire from this contest rand never show myself on a public platform again." (Loud applause;) There was cheering and countercheering for the rival candidates, and the meeting terminated with the singing of the National Anthem."