Remarkable campaign Says Holland

Northern Advocate, 4 August 1949, Page 4

Remarkable campaign Says Holland

WELLINGTON, Thu. (Sp.)—’’This has indeed been a remarkable campaign,” said the Leader ol the Opposition (Mr Holland) last night. “Practically all the opposition came from those • who are normally the Government's staunchest supporters, while its political opponents gave wholehearted support. That is surely without precedent. “The Government is lucky that it had an Opposition that was prepared to put country before party. We have put the interests of our country first and have been pleased to give enthusiastic support to the scheme. Having established that precedent, I hope it will be borne in mind should the position of the narties be reversed. NOT JUSTIFIED “The result of the poll confirms what the Opposition has said all along—that there was no justification at all for the referendum.’’ Being well aware of the need for preparedness, the Government should have passed the necessary legislation and saved tens of thousands of pounds of the taxpayers’ hard-earned money, said Mr Holland. It also would have avoided the bitter recriminations that have been engendered.

“The people are to be heartily congratulated on their good sense and sound judgment,” he continued. “To those who worked very hard in support of the referendum issue the result is highly gratifying. At no time had I any doubt as to the outcome. This has, indeed, been a most remarkable campaign. TIGHTENING UP APPEALS

“Now that the scheme has been approved the greatest care must be taken not to allow people to escape their just obligations by convenientlyheld conscientious objections. Everywhere I went during the campaign, from Invercargill in the south to Whangarei in’ the north, this matter cropped up. Every person in New Zealand has an obligation to society to do his share and pull his weight, and that applies to conscientious objectors, too. There will be the strongest public resentment if some people have to serve while others escape their just obligations. “By all means let us have the appeal system for genuine conscientious objectox-s, but it will have to be much more stringently administered than was the case (luring the last war.” Langstone Heartened

AUCKLAND, Thu. (Sp.)—“With all the forces of the press, radio and public money ranged against the anticonscription movement, with the two major political parties united against us, and the fact that not more than 25 per cent of the people .had an opportunity of hearing the other side, the result is very heartening indeed,” said Mr F. Langstone (G —Roskill). a leader of the anti-conscription movement. “A large number refrained . from voting because they did not wish to send other people’s boys to camp. “It is obvious that there are tens of thousands of people in New Zealand who fall into the category of those .Mr Fraser classified with Communists and fellow-travellers. “This alone would sound the deathknell of the Labour Government. “May I add, ‘What shall it profit a man if he gain conscription and lose the power of government?”’ Mr Langstone was asked if he regarded the majority of nearly three to one in his electorate in favour of compulsory training as a vote of noconfidence in him as member.. He said jt was a matter for consideiration.

Hawaii’s House of Representatives voted 24—6 to put the territory in the stevedoring business until the end of the dock strike. The bill now goes to the Senate. Under the bill the Government is prohibited from hiring strikers or employees of firms involved in the strike. Governor Stianback had asked for the right to use trained dockworkers and said the ban on them was “vindictive.”