Colonel Closey's Platform

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 210, 4 September 1943, Page 6

Colonel Closey 's Platform

At ’Whakarongo on > Wednesday night, an audience of over 50 residents gathered to hear the Independent candidate for 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. Chui’chill, the Independent member of tjae British Parliament whose freedom from the control of party whips had enabled him to expose the drift towards defencelessness before the outbreak of war. He had trenchantly attacked the Labour Government on its policy of disarmament in the face of dictators arming to the teeth, and later when the Conservatives took office he was equally critical of the policy of appeasement which alloAved Hitler to seize the armament establishments of Czechoslovakia. When war broke out, the public mind was distressed and alarmed by the long period of political mishandling under party politics and instinctively placed their trust in the Independent. The world now realised that what it owed to Mr. Churchill was not merely due to his ability and character, but also to the fact that he 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. There was also the desperate case of the urge 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, air. U. 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 were propounded.