ELECTION ISSUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 70, 20 September 1943, Page 6

ELECTION ISSUE

MR. FRASER CONFIDENT

IMPRESSIONS OF TOUR

"The outstanding impressions of my Dominion tour are first that the people of New Zealand are 100 per cent, in support of the nation's war effort, and, second, that the Labour Government stands well with the people," said the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) in an interview today. Mr. Fraser completes his itinerary with a meeting at Palmerston North tonight, and for the remainder of the campaign will be in his own electorate of Wellington Central.

"I have met the people in the different districts from Kaikohe in the Far North to Invercargill in the south," said Mr. Fraser, "and everywhere I received a most encouraging welcome, f In fact, the .only hostile conditions were due to bad weather, and the rains and the wind beat alike on all parties and had no political significance.. From a political point of view I can say that I have met with demonstrations of good will and confidence that would encourage any leader to anticipate decisive success at the General Election poll next Saturday. Even in small centres arid in spite of exceptionally bad weather, the attendance of electors on every occasion could not have been'better, because every seat in the 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 of 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. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. "My 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 the lessons of the conflict. With 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 rain storms and floods, that the provision of a few culverts and not more than a half-dozen bridges would give all-weather highways throughout the Dominion. Many 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 preparation of 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 I 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 me to find that the whjole community is determined, with willingness, to co-operate with the Government in fighting on until victory is won. As leader of the Labpur Party I have the utmost confidence in the outcome of the General Election." , •