COL. CLOSEY'S PLATFORM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 236, 3 September 1943, Page 2

COL. CLOSEY'S PLATFORM

At Whakarongo on Wednesday night ■ an audience of over 50 residents gathered lo hear the Independent candidate | lor Manawatu, Colonel [ Closey. The 'speaker gave special treatment to the >• argument that an Independent, however..." capable, could not affect'the course of.' legislation He gave as an example the accomplishment of Mr. Churchill, the In- :Z dependent member of the British, liament whose lreedoni from' the con- y trol of party whips had enabled him tor.?:! expose the drift towards detence'.cssne^S' before the outbreak of war.. Ho had.y trenchantly attacked the Labour Government on its policy of, disarmament in the face of dictators 'arming to the teeth, and later when the Conservative* took office he was equally critical of the policy of appeasement which allowed g Hitler to seize the armament establish-A; monts of Czechoslovakia. When war broke out the public mind was distressed and alarmed by the long period of ■• political mishandling under party po*i- " tics and instinctively placed their trust in the Independent. The world now realised that what it owed to Mr Churchill was not merely duo to his ability and character but also to the fact that ha was an Independent in politics and free to assert his views. In the New Zealand Parliament there was a danger that two economic policies would be propounded, both of them to the injury of the Dominion. There was the Government's policy of the advancement of the big industrial unions, and the National Party's policy of protection for the city manufacturer. There was needed a fearless and free; advocate for the right of the farmer and the housewife to reasonably priced goods and services. Ther« was also tho desperate case of the urg* towards a world peace when the ' European nations would appeal for the right to exchange their manufactured goods in exchange for food. This_ was the- call for an Independent in politics and this was the cause Colonel Closey advocated. Mr R. G. Scott moved a hearty vote of . thanks and appreciation, which was carried with enthusiasm. Mr E. Henaghan, who presided, thanked those present for their attendance and the interesting and instructive questions which I were propounded.