What Candidates Say...

Northern Advocate, 5 November 1946, Page 2

What Candidates Say...

LIGHTS FUSED Mr A. J. Murdoch arrived at his meeting at Glenbervie about half an hour late last night as a result of the lights fusing in his car just outside the Regent Theatre, Whangarei. The candidate would have been later still but for the kindness of a friend who gave him the use of his car to get to the meeting. He was greeted by an audience of about 60 who received him enthusiastically and passed a vote ol appreciation.

OVER THREE HOURS Pataua residents received what they claimed to be the first visit from a political candidate within memory when the Labour candidate for Marsden (Mr J. S. Stewart) addressed them yesterday. The meeting lasted over three hours and it was only because he had another meeting that nieht that Mr Stewart declined offers of tea if he would speak longer. !> * * * SLUMP “Labour has said since it came into office that it had the solution to the slump, and knew how to deal with the situation. I for one don’t believe that,” stated Mr S. W. Smith, M.P., National Party candidate for Hobson at Toka Toka. “But, supposing that what they say is true, then they are guilty of having shirked their duty to the country for the sake of a political advantage, when they refused to accept the offer of the Government to form a coalition,” he added.

WHICH HOLLAND? The fact that the meeting was held in the Holland Memorial Hall might have been the reason, but both Mr W. A. Hudson, the Labour candidate for Mornington, and a questioner at his meeting at Caversham became a little mixed over the name of Holland. The candidate was corrected by a supporter for calling Mr S. G. Holland Prime Minister and promptly apologised, and a questioner began his query with the words: “I would like to ask Mr Holland a question." “You mean Mr Hudson," corrected the chairman (Mr F. Percy), amid laughter and the questioner continued with his remarks. * * * *

SALESMAN "Do you notice that the Labour Party has not put any salesmen for socialism on the election platform?" queried Mr R. M. Algie. National Party candidate for Remuera, at North-East Valley. “We don't need them.” said an interjector. “If you are prepared to buy a pig in a poke, perhaps you don't.” Mr Algie replied. “Nevertheless, don’t you think it would be better for the Labour Party to explain the merits of this complete socialism at which they aim. rather than restricting themselves to criticising so-called capitalism?" * * * *

OBJECTIVE “The objective of the piesent Labour Government, is ultimate socialism,'’ Mr S. W. Smith. M.P., National Party candidate for Hobson, told electors at Toka Toka. "Labour members object to that charge and they say to the small business man: ‘You’re all right; wer’e not after you. It’s the big man we’re after.' And to the farmer they say; ’No, we dont want your farms.' They remind me,’’ added Mr Smith, "of that other well known character who also protested that he had ‘no further territorial demands.'"

'SCOTS WHA HAE' s At a meeting held last night by the n Labour candidate for Marsden (Mr J. e S. Stewart; at Kauri, the candidate obe served that he was in a good “Scotch e community.” This remark was made 1 when the chairman (Mr J. Biggar) J cannily suggested that the outside and 0 passage lights of the hall be turned 1 out while the meeting was in pro- " gress. The company readily fell in with this idea.

CRITICISM “The man is a mass of contradictions —the number of times he changes his mind is amazing,” said the Labour Party candidate for Fendalton (Mr A. G. Williams), referring to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland), who is standing as the National Party candidate for the electorate. Mr Holland recently said that he was fully in favour of social security, Mr Williams said. However, in 1938, he had referred to socjal security as “a cruel hoax,” and in 1939 had said it “discouraged thrift.’ Increased investments in the Post Office Savings Bank provided an adequate answer to the latter allegation. * * * ♦

FATHER CHRISTMAS ‘We do not need a new policy in our party. We have had our policy for 11 years and we are building on it day by day,” said the Labour candidate for Ponsonby (Mr Ritchie Macdonald) when he opened his campaign last night. “I felt so amazed at Mr Holland’s broadcast that if I had any belief in Father Christmas I would have put up my stocking that night,” he continued. “But I know there would be nothing in it in the morning.” BRIDGE FIRST Mr H. T. Morton, National candidate for North Shore, last night made a pledge to put the Auckland Harbour bridge before the Rimutaka tunnel, but not before housing needs. I PARTY FUNDS ' ' | There were no outside pressure groups on the National Party as far as he knew, said Mr A. M. Laing. National candidate for Waitakere. , The party was financed by people who subscribed voluntarily while thousands of National supporters were subscribing compulsorily to the Labour Party’s funds through their 1 unions, which voted part of their funds ! to the Labour Party lighting fund j FORECASTS SLUMP | The Government’s financial policy j would insulate the Dominion from the I world-wide slump which was inevit-! able in the next three years, said Mr i W. Freer, Labour candidate for Eden. |

IN BRIEF . . . “Mr Holland is trying to be Father Christmas just now,' commented the Labour candidate for the St. Kilda seat, the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones) last night. "He is promising you everything in the way of reduction of taxes. Well, it is easy enough for him to promise it. If he gets in he will never do anything about it.”

"I am not attacking capitalists, but the system, although as a minor capit- j alist myself (weren't we all?). I con-i fess I know of no other system that! could take its place.”—Mr C. R. Parker I (Labour, Egmont).