ELECTION CAMPAIGN NOTES

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

ELECTION CAMPAIGN NOTES

Free Education,

"The National Party stands for free education from kindergarten to university," said Mr. C. M. Bowden, National candidate, in replying to a question at a Wellington West meeting as to his views oh education. Extension of the bursary system, adequate boarding allowances for children away from home, medical and dental service, health camps, youth hostels, and travel clubs, and training in citizenship and personal relations were some of the things relating to education for which his party stood. "And we also want unification of control to ensure full benefits being available," he added. Striking Coal Miners. . "I am dead against strikes in wartime, yet it makes me angry when everything bad is said about the coal miners when they strike and no credit is given them for producing more today than they have ever produced. Mr. Holland's hatred of the working class was so intense that he was prepared to gaol the strikers rather than allow the coal to be produced."—Mr. Schramm, Auckland East. The Prime Minister. "Peter Fraser has done a marvellous job. No man anywhere has thrown himself into the war effort with, more energy and enthusiasm for the cause than the Prime Minister," said Mr. R. McKeen, speaking in Wellington South. "Few people realise the tremendous volume of work he has done. He has been content to get on with the job without hunting kudos. New Zealand has done wonders unsurpassed by any country taking part in the war when we consider the size of the Dominion. The story cannot be told yet of how much we have done, but it will be told eventually and then the real worth of the work done by Peter Fraser will be seen and I know it will be appreciated."

"There is only one way in which we can build the future. This 'new order' we hear so much about will only come when we realise that it will only be possible under a collective philosophy. National, reconstruction isn't a matter for individual enterprise or for vested interests. If we are to succeed at all then it must be under a system of collectivism in which all the available resources will be utilised for the benefit of all the people."—Mr. McKeen at Johnsonville. Farmers and Marketing. "Long after all the State houses have rotted and fallen down," said a member of Mr. C. M. Bowden's. audience at Makara in putting a question to the National candidate, "the farmers will still be sowing the seeds of;grass and corn to feed the stock that feed the starving millions of the world." Would the candidate,; if returned, he asked, assist in bringing down legislation that would give the farmer the right to market and control his own produce Instead of letting any individual who may get into Parliament handle it? Reply was made that .the National Party would' give the farmers of this country far greater management over their own produce. Question of Tenure. "The only purpose of the Bill was to acquire land," said Mr. P. Neilson, the Labour candidate for Dunedin Central, when discussing the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Bill at Dunedin. "There is no mention in the Bill about leasehold or freehold. Tenure is not mentioned." The matter of tenure, he added, would be dealt with in another Bill to be brought down in the new Parliament.

"Much as the loss of life is to be regretted, I believe that Hitler, with his Luftwaffe, accomplished in five hours of bombing, what would have taken five centuries of social advancement." said Mr. P. G. Connolly, Labour candidate for Dunedin West, when referring at Dunedin to living and housing conditions in Britain: '

Strong objection to the Government's method of inequitably distributing fertiliser to farmers was voiced by the National Party candidate for the Patea electorate, Mr. W. A. .Sheat, in an address at Mosston,-Wanganui. The speaker said that the existing rationing scheme was based on purchases during a pre-war, year when trade was not normal and as a result, farmers were not receiving their proper share of the material. He referred to a case of two farmers in the Hawera district who owned similarly-sized farms, but received widely different allocations of fertiliser,because one had bought large quantities during the year on which the rationing scheme was based while the other had secured only small consignments. • Union Funds. Money was subscribed from trade union funds to the Labour Party. If the National Party got into power it would be made unlawful for payments to be made from trade union or Farmers' Union funds to party political funds, said the National candidate for Nelson, Mr. F. W. Huggins, at Nelson. Freehold in Jeopardy. j "I have repeatedly attempted to discover under what existing, legislation the returned soldier will get the freehold, and so far have been unsuccessful. After October 18,. if Labour is returned, the freehold title to land will virtually disappear, : because nobody will be able to sell without reference to a Government court."—Mr. R. M. Algie (National, Remuera). "A Great Deal Better." If members of the Government and Ministers of the Crown would spend a little more time in facing up to problems and a little less in telling one another and the world what wonderful fellows they all are, it would be a great deal better for New Zealand.—Mr. C. G. Harker (National, Waipawa). , "Go Fishing?" A reference to gtimboots when dealing with the subjects of rationing and control led to one of the bright interludes at Mr. C. M. Bowden's meeting at Ma*kara. "I don't know how you people stand with regard to gumboots," was a remark by the National candidate which, offered enticing bait to the audience. "They gave them to the miners," said one. . Another voice: They can supply them to the fishermen but they cannot supply them to the farmers. A woman's voice: Well, go.fishing! "You cannot go fishing," another member of the audience retorted, "as you must have a licence."

She Did Not Smoke,

"I asked a young, woman recently what was the .most important need in New Zealand today," Dr. W, Bates told his audienpe :at Timaru. The reply was: "Silk stockings!" . ' A Wide Gap. , Speaking at Kaikorai, Mr. A. S..Falconer,, National candidate for Dunedin West, recalled that at a previous meeting he had made a comparison between the prices of certain fruits four years ago and today. His Labour opponent had subsequently ; taken him to task because, in - the main, imported fruits had been quoted. The mere fact that a. fruit was imported,- however, said Mr. Falconer, did not explain the wide disparity between the price which the grower received and that which the consumer had to pay. In support of this statement he quoted an extract from the "Fiji Times;" which had pointed out that bananas, for which the grower received 4s a case and which reached New Zealand at a landed cost estimated at 17s 6d, actually brought £2 15s to £2 18s from the New Zealand public "The inefficiency of the Internal Marketing Division," Mr. Falconer stated, "can be taken as a fair sample of State trading under a Socialist Government."

Why An Election? Having regard to all the circumstances, the election shortly to be held was nothing more nor less than political sabotage of the war effort, said Mr. G. P. Cuttriss (Independent Group) in a campaign address to one of Qa'maru's largest audiences of the campaign. Mr. Guttriss reminded his audience of the opinion expressed by Mr. C. V. Smith, president of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, who, addressing a war loan rally in Oamaru, had said: "It is a perfect disgrace that there should have to be an election." "I agree entirely with Mr. Smith," said Mr. Cuttriss, "and so do thousands of New Zealanders, who today subordinate everything to the war effort, on the home front and in the various theatres of war." (Applause.) Not So Guileful. In an address at Hampden, Mr. F. W. Huggins, National, Nelson, referred to Mrs. Dreaver and her broadcast and said that, being a woman, she was not so guileful as the men of the Labour Party, and had spilled the beans in regard to the party's methods and intentions. Her revelations as to how she could, by having the sympathetic ear of the Prime Minister, obtain favours for her friends was priceless. Her threat to civil servants was something new in politics. No Personal Attack. An assurance to Mr. Holland, leader of the National Party, that the broadcast as delivered for the Independent Group by Mr. Clive Drummond was in no way intended to reflect on Mr. Holland's • character and integrity is given in a letter to "The Post" by Mr. Rugby Malcolm, Independent Group candidate for Wellington North. "When the script was submitted to me for perusal," writes* Mr., Malcolm, "I did not read into it any personal attack or criticism but only our opinion of party political machinery; and I feel certain that in" Mr. Holland's, own heart he knows that outside domination of Parliament, whether, Labour Party or National Party, must cease. I know that National and Labour organisations could play a valuable part in advising Parliament through their .advisory councils, but it is only true democracy that members of Parliament must free of party ties and direction by sectional interests outside of Parliament. Mr. Holland fought as a young man for democracy and freedom, and I personally feel that he will support New Zealand's claims for this free Parliament. Further, I truly appreciate his reference to Mr. Clive Drummond, .for I know the measure of Mr.Drummond's sincerity and good will and I desire: to thank Mr. Holland for his just reference. In regard to the meetings .being stage managed, any person will knqw that all meetings are the responsibility of party organisers and not party speakers. Could the electors of New Zealand have a better example than listening .in to most of the broadcasts on election meetings?" He adds references to some LabourParty meetings. , Same War as the Last. In answer to a questioner who asked if the. candidate thought the last war an out and out Capitalist .war but this one a- workers' war, Mr. H. E.: Herring (Democratic Labour, Wellington North) said he believed Mr., Churchill when he said this was the same war as the last. Furthermore, if the system under, which we lived was not substantially altered, all,the talk in the world would not prevent a 1960 war. The first step in the alteration' was the changed control of the money system advocated once by the so-called Labour Party, but now only by the Democratic Labour Party, in company with Shaw, Archbishop Temple, the Pope, and eminent authorities all.over the world. Control of credit and currency was the key to world peace.