AT WHITIANGA

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32314, 15 September 1943, Page 7

AT WHITIANGA

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE

■rev. R. DAY’S CAMPAIGN

CONTESTING THE THAMES SEAT

An enthusiastic gathering of about 100 people listened to the Rev. R. 'Day the People’s Movement Independent candidate for Thames at the Whitianga Hall on Monday, September 6.

Mr A. Watkins who introduced the speaker spoke of his association with the district as a home missionary in the Coromandel district and as a fully ordained clergyman of the Methodist Church in the Waihi end of the electorate. The chairman also referred to the candidate’s war recorjl of the present conflict.

Mr Day amid applause opened his address by saying that the solution of our chaotic state was not by “what we can get out of it,” attitude but rather “what we can give.”

Mr Day went on to give the reason for his presence in the political field—the question of rehabilitation. He referred to the widespread dissatisfaction by his fellow soldiers —the hopes they had built on .their return home only to meet frustration and consequent despondency.

The speaker emphasised the need of facing the whole question not from the attitude of whether a project pays but rather will it help to restore the soldier’s health, i.e.; will it rehabilitate? To achieve this there must be sacrifice, sympathy and understanding. The speaker then went on to say that perfect rehabilitation of one section depended on the perfect rehabilitation of the whole of the race. This could be achieved by a different attitude to our fellow men. The speaker said one could not claim to worship Jesus in the tabernacle if one did not pity Jesus in the slum.

Then the candidate referred to the overhaul of the parliamentary system, necessary to this end.. The present party system encouraged sectional strife through non-co-operation. He then gave instances of how members of the House had been thrown out of the party because., of loyalty to convictions and those who had sacrificed their convictions to a party ruling.

■ Democracy, said the speaker, could nevei’ be achieved through that system.

The solution, he concluded, was through independent members who would stand by what they considered to be in the best interests 1 of the people. By a thorough going application of Christian principles. Mr Day referred to the words of G. K. Chesterton: “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and not tried.”

The • speaker throughout was given a splendid hearing. Good natured banter was often indulged in and returned in the same spirit. Questions were freely asked and answered.

Hearty votes of thanks were accorded both the speaker and the chairman.