Cheers for Mr. J. A. Lee

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 209, 3 September 1943, Page 5

Cheers for Mr. J. A. Lee

AUCKLAND, Sept. 2. The leader of the Democratic SoldierLabour Party, Mr. J. A. Lee, launched his party's election campaign in the Town Hall at a meeting attended by about 2000 people. Much enthusiasm was shown at the close. Mr. Lee was cheered and the audience sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Democratic Labour had over 50 candidates and he predicted his would be the largest party in the next Parliament. “The Nationalists are anliLabour,” he said. “Labour is antiNationalist. Wo are pro-New Zealand.” He endorsed Mr. Holland’s assertion that New Zealand's manpower was becoming over-committed. None more than he wanted to see New Zealand fight on to victory but over-commit-ment was disproportionate and there was an urgent need for a realistic revision of manpower requirements. The Prime Minister apparently' had made the same discovery as Mr. Holland, since the start of the election campaign, as his reported utterance at New Ply mouth showed. Quoting from his party's platform, he said he was not in favour of conscription of those under 21 or of the sending of fathers of large families to overseas service. Overcommitment was pulling the pillars from beneath industry and had resulted in shortages of consumable commodities. It threatened a great reduction in income and he would predict that ii it were not checked, the present Government would impose another wage reduction in the form of an additional 5 per cent, war tax. Mr. Lee devoted much of his address to advocating public control of currency and credit ana accusing the Labour Party of having been false to its election pledges of 1935 and 1938 on this subject. A vote of thanks to Mr. Lee wishing him and his party good luck on polling , day, was carried against a few dissentients and amid enthusiasm.