ELECTION SNIPING

Evening Star, Issue 25941, 5 November 1946, Page 4

ELECTION SNIPING

“There will be' no side issues at this election. It is a clear-cut contest, and it rests only with the people wlie-r ther this country turns to the Left, and Socialism, or to the Right, and freedom. This is the crossroads, ■ and there is no going straight ahead. Which turning New Zealand will take lies in’the hands of the'people.”—Mr E. B. K. Gordon (National; Rangitikeij. ,

The National Party, had described the Government’s social security plan as a. “ confidence trick,” but the people had shown increasing confidence in it and it had won the admiration of the whole world, said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, addressing electors. a “ When we have a national railway service and national air lines, why, in the name of common sense, should we have a private shipping service between the two Islands?” —Mr R. McKeen (Labour, Island Bay).

“ We think it is better to lift people from the bottom instead of pulling them down from the top.”—Mr W. S. Goosman (National, Piako). “ I can suggest a very simple and effective method of bringing about a reduction of taxation.. That is for every, person to pay their just dues in taxation instead of evading their vital social and national obligations.”—Mr J, Granville (Labour, Hamilton). “ The National Party’s policy is just like the old man who fell off the wharf into the water—he could not float and neither-could he swim, The Labour Government’s policy will float and will swim,” said Mr E. L. Gullen, M.P., Labour candidate for Hastings. “I am not particularly concerned with party warfare, because my belief

is that when one is elected to Parliament one should do his best for the people, as a whole and not for party interests.” —Mr J. Acland (National, Timaru).

A minimum, income of £5 a week, regardless of sickness, other contingencies, or possibly unemployment, had been guaranteed to the average family of husband, wife, and two children. The people, of course, paid, but the National Party complained tha 1 those who got the most paid least.— The Hon. A. McLagan (Labour (Riccarton).

“ Experts tell us that three, children in every family will maintain the population. It is the fourth child we want. He is our best immigrant,” said Mr Alan Wills (National, Christchurch Central), in a roadside address. “ I will propose (and, remember, in the National Party I can do as I please) that the family allowance of 10s each be continued for the first two children,. that 12s. 6d a week be given for the third child, and los to £1 for the fourth. He's the one we want.”

“ When Mr Nash was speaking at the Hutt he laid great , emphasis on tile fact that in calculating the guaranteed price the dairy farmer is allowed 4£ per cent, on his capital,” said Mr J. J. Maher,' National candidate for Otaki, at Upper Hutt. “ He did not tell his audience that in other cases, such as, for instance, in calculating the goods cartage charges, the Government allows 6 per cent, for the capital used in the business. This means that ip the Government’s eyes the farmers’ money is worth 25 per cent, less than other people’s,” said Mr Maher. ® The mayor of a small town in New Zealand during the war had. received a letter from England which concluded: “I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Winston Churchill.” ‘‘Has any one of you ever. received a letter from Mr Nash or any other Labour Party Minister signed in that way? ” asked ’Mr It. N. Pryor (National, Hastings), speaking at Hastings. “ Of course you have not. The present Government are not our obedient servants; they are our disobedient masters.”

“ The National speakers, I think, are honest,” said Mr J. ‘A. Lee at Grey Lynn. ‘‘ That’s just the trouble, I think they are probably more honest than a lot of members of the Labour Party who make promises they won’t keep.” An interjector: “ You are talking like a Nationalist, Lee.” • Mr Lee: “You’ve never heard a Nationalist promise to increase old-age pensions.”

When elected to the House of Representatives, lie would press strongly for the imposition of prison sentences, without option, to stop luxury building, said Mr A. Gunn, Labour candidate for Franklin. He stated that some property owners and builders were ignoring the building permits issued to them, and were quite prepared, to pay fines of £lO of £ls after building luxury homes for £3,000 to £4,000. M Dr P. P. Lynch, the Wellington pathologist, who is the National candidate for Onslow, said that he had offered himself as. a candidate because he was alarmed at the trend toward •Socialism, and away from freedom of the individual and the family. Over, the last 10 years he had seen changes in New Zealand which filled him with concern. , He had: seen legislation and trends’which could hot fail to prove to the ultimate detriment of the country. The trend under the Labour Government was toward-"regimentation, not only of material things, such as commercial enterprises and services, but of the minds, the words, the will, and the faith of the people.