ELECTION CAMPAIGN NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 72, 22 September 1943, Page 6

ELECTION CAMPAIGN NOTES

Vested Interests. "I stand four-square on the platform of Michael Joseph Savage, and 1 am not veering towards the other side one tiny scrap," said Mr. C. G. Scrimgeour, Independent, Wellington Central, at the Town Hall lasWevening, "and if the vested interests who are now behind Mr. Fraser think that I will do better for them than he is doing, they have a terrific shock coming to them." Mr. Scrimgeour made it clear that he stood for taking over completely the right to issue currency and credit. "My main quarrel with Mr. Fraser is not about broadcasting," he added; "it is because of the vested interests to which he has pandered ever since he has been there." Freedom of the Press. "Sometimes, with due respect to the reporter present, I don't think very much of the Press," said Mr. E. R. Toop (National, Wellington South) at Island Bay last night. "I know that many supporters of the Labour Party think there is something in that idea, although they don't criticise the 'Standard.' I have no brief for the newspapers at all except that there is an avenue by which I can say what I like, within certain bounds, but if you are against our present freedom of the Press and think you can control it, I would ask you. to think deeply where you are going. If you think you can hand over that freedom to the politicians you are arriving at the conditions they artfved at in Germany, where the party in power, through a controlled Press, can mould the people's will and regiment them so that they have lost the freedom to think and express themselves." Independents' Prospects. If the prophecy of Mr. C. H. Chapman (Labour, Wellington North) is fulfilled, candidates contesting seats as Independents have a gloomy .outlook for Saturday. Speaking at a" meeting in St. Peter's Hall, Ghuznee Street, last evening, Mr. Chapman said that the only system of Parliament was the party system—a man either voted with a party or against it, and Independents in the House had to adopt that course. There was no time or place in Parliament for Independents, and he could not see one of them getting a seat in the House. A voice: Atmore. Mr. Chapman: Mr. Atmore is only a semi-Independent—he has the support of the Labour Party. Principles Paramount. Reaffirming his determination not to indulge in petty controversy or personal bitterness, Mr. E. R. Toop (National, Wellington South) stated at Island Bay last night that politics were to him something impersonal. "I am not fighting against personalities or individuals," he said. "I am here to fight against ideas, ideologies, and creeds that I believe are not in the interests of the people of this country and are devoid of the ideas of British tradition and British justice." Banking System. "Why doesn't the1 Government take over the whole of the banking system of New -Zealand?" asked, a questioner at the meeting addressed by the Prime Minister in the Brougham Street Hall last night. "One of the reasons is," said Mr. Fraser, "that the Labour Conference has discussed this matter, time after time and our party has decided that no advantage is to be gained by doing so. We do control the currency and credit system of the country, and it is adequate to meet the situation." Russia and New Zealand. Stating that he was the last to belittle the magnificent job that the Russians were doing in waging the war, the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash), in the Petone Labour Hall last night, said in reply to a persistent interjector who was holding up Russia as an example to New Zealand that the standard of living in New Zealand in regard to the availability of food and other comforts was three times as good as it was in Russia. He knew the position,- as he had been there. Voting Rights for Defaulters. Although the Labour Government had announced that defaulters in camps would not be allowed to vote, said Mr. W. Appleton, National candidate for Wellington Central, at Roseneath last night, no line of policy had been indicated as to the position of these defaulters after the war. The R.S.A. had made strong . representations on the matter, and it was the feeling of most thinking people that these defaulters should be deprived of their civil rights for a term of ten years. Would Mr. Fraser, asked Mr. Appleton, announce his policy on this matter, and would he also assure electors with kith and kin engaged in the war struggle that defaulters who were out of camp for various reasons were not to be given the privilege of voting on Saturday next? Loans for Houses. "If the Government can borrow money at 1^ per cent, to build houses, why' can't the rank and file, the mass of the' people, borrow money at the same rate of interest to build their own houses?" asked a questioner at the meeting addressed by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) in the Brougham Street Hall last night. Mr. Fraser said that the. present rate of interest charged by the State Advances Corporation represented good terms, and others, including himself, in years gone by, would have been glad to get terms not nearly as good. However, when' housebuilding got under way again, he would be pleased to go into the question of a reduction of the State Advances rate of interest, provided there were proper safeguards. One thing of which cognisance had to be taken was that when the interest was lower land values went up and owners of land reaped the benefit and not the mass of the people. If a system could be produced whereby the people would get the benefit, personally he would be in favour of it. Prophecy and Power. "My word, that will be the day!" remarked the Democratic Labour canI didate for Wellington West (Mr. S. McDougall) when rising to reply at a meeting in Karori last night to a quesI tion as to how his party members would vote on a no-confidence motion if there were a number of them in the new Parliament and the Labour and National Parties had equal representation. "If one of the first things that the National Party did was to move to have pensions increased by another 25 per cent., we would support them," said the candidate, "and if Peter Fraser moved the same thing, we would support his party." "But what about a no-confidence motion?" the questioner asked. The candidate: We vote on measures. The reply did not satisfy, and some discussion was developing when the chairman (Mr. F. M. Earle) interposed. "In the event of that see-saw position," he explained, "we would vote according to our principles, even if it meant another election. And, perhaps that would be a very good thing:" "I really believe that that is what is going to happen," said the candidate, "and you need have no fear that the Soldier Labour Democratic Party, if it has the balance of power, will do anything wrong." Political Censorship. "Confidence in our leaders can be obtained only by their telling people the truth," said Major W. G. Bishop, Democratic Labour, Wellington East, at Seatoun last night. "We have been told that if we refer to ceriain things we may be charged with subversion," he said. "It is so difficult to know where the line is drawn that anyone may overstep it. Why should we have political censorship? It means that we cannot criticise any Government official, and that strikes at the roots of democracy. We should fight to retain the privileges that our fathers fought for. I think we are strong enough, loyal enough, and brave enough, to be told the truth."