POLITICAL POINTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25338, 23 September 1943, Page 4

POLITICAL POINTS

WHAT CANDIDATES SAY The Test "We judge a Government too much by ‘What it has done for me.’”—Mr L. J. Ireland, National candidate for Dunedin Central. Honesty in Government “ Mr Holland says that his party would be an honest Government,” said Mr P. Nellson. Labour candidate for Dunedin Central, at a meeting yesterday afternoon That was an insinuation that the present Government was not honest, he said. Conscription of Man-power

“ How dare Mr Walter Nash talk about democracy, as he once did in this hall, wher. he was afraid to go to the people on the question of conscription.”—Mr G. Barclay, Democratic Labour Party candidate for the Oamaru seat, speaking in the Oamaru Opera House last night. Otago Neglected .

“ In 1938-39 the vast sum of £7,500,000 was spent on public works in the Dominion, but Otago got practically nothing out of this expenditure. Why? Because our parliamentary representatives are dumb!”—Mr A. L. S. Cassie National candidate for Dunedin North, at NorthEast Valley last night. Funeral Benefits

” The Otago Daily Times, in a leading article the other day, said the Labour Party had not arranged to provide a free funeral benefit for the people,” said Dr D. G. McMillan, speaking in the Concert Chamber last night. “We will provide that for the National Party on Saturday! ” “Inside Looking Out” “ During the last war, some of our Government members were inside looking out, but in this war they are full of patriotism and are bundling the married men, with families, overseas in great style,” said the Democratic Labour candidate for Dunedin South, Mr G. H. Claridge, last night. Decentralisation of Industry “ Even if Mr Holland has the best will in the world.” said Mr G. Barclay, Democratic Labour candidate for the Oamaru seat, speaking in the Oamaru Opera House last night, “he is powerless to decentralise industries as he says he will. The grip of the money power which is behind his party will prevent him from doing it.”

Effects of Stabilisation Claiming that the Labour Party had kept down the cost of essentials, Mr P. G. Connolly, Labour candidate for Dunedin West, speaking at the Concert Chamber last night, .said that this had been effected by the stabilisation policy of the Government, and he hoped to advocate that more items of foodstuffs be brought under this policy.

Doctors on Salaries Touching on the Government's social security scheme, Mr F. Jones, the Labour candidate for Dunedin South, said last night that the medical men at the battlefront were working long hours for salaries and not for so much a visit. When the doctors came back to New Zealand, he added, he thought they would be prepared to work here on a salary basis. Not Silent

“ I notice some people have been saying that Mr Neilson* and Mr Munro do not talk enough in the House,” said Dr D. G. McMillan, speaking at the Concert Chamber last night, “ but the facts are. that when they do talk the newspapers do not report what they say, and then complain that they do' not talk.” Dr McMillan added that he had known both members to .'give long speeches in the House, and nothing had appeared in the Dunedin papers. Deserted Wives

“ Previously a deserte’d wife could secure no assistance until she had shown that she had done everything possible to locate her husband,” said Mr P. Neilson. Labour candidate for Dunedin Central, at Caversham last night. “The position now Is that the Government takes the responsibility. If a deserted wife goes immediately to the Government office concerned, and gives all details which might assist in locating the husband, the State takes over the matter from that stage.” Treatment of Servicemen The Government does not take credit for the exploits of the men overseas,” said Mr P. G. Connolly, Labour candidate for Dunedin West, speaking at the Concert Chamber last night. “What it does take credit for,” he added, “ is that they are well looked after, well cared for. well clothed, well fed, and well paid, and that the treatment which has been given to them is better than that of any other country of the British Commonwealth of Nations.” “Almost a Monopoly;”

“ We have seen growing up one of the greatest combines—it is almost a monopoly—that have ever existed in this country,” said Mr L. J. Ireland, National candidate for Dunedin Central, when he was discussing building, in his address at Momington last night. “ I refer to an octopus which is reaching its tentacles into every branch of the building industry. If it is allowed to grow further we are going to see the end of the small builder, and he and his workmen are going to be on the pay roll of the combine.” An Unfortunate Case

A case in which a young man had died in a North Island camp and in which the parents, nine months later, were still without information as to the cause of his death, was mentioned by Mr A. S. Falconer, National candidate for . Dunedin West, in his address at Mornington last night. “If this is an isolated case, we may say that It might have happened anywhere,” Mr Falconer stated, “but if it is not an isolated case, and I don’t think it is, it shows a weakness in administration.” Use of Rank

"Some of the snipers,who are writing to the newspapers want to know why I am using my rank,” said Mr P. G. Connolly, Labour candidate for Dunedin West, speaking at the Concert Chamber last night. “I am using it because I am entitled to it.” The National Party, he added, had a soldier candidate standing in Christchurch South. He was Lieutenant A. Guthrey, M.C. “He is just doing the same as I am doing, but you have not been told that,” the candidate said. “Any members of the services on leave are entitled to their rank.” Not Fulfilling its Purpose

Criticising the operations of the internal marketing division in his address at Momington last night, Mr L. J. Ireland, National candidate for Dunedin Central, stated that a quantity of pineapples was imported at the time of Japan’s entry into the war. Some were then placed on the market at a retail price of 7Jd. The balance was held by the department and released three months ago at a price to the grocer of Is o£d and a fixed retail price of Is 2d. “ Unless the department can be put to better use in keeping down the cost of living as was intended, it should be abolished," said the candidate.

A Meat Subsidy? Reference was made by the National candidates, Mr A. S. Falconer and Mr L. J. Ireland, at' a meeting which they jointly addressed at Mornington last night, to a Labour pamphlet which stated that a subsidy was being paid on meat. Pointing out that no official announcement had been made that meat was being subsidised, the candidates suggested that the pamphlet gave an indication of the Government’s intentions. “ Have you ever heard of a subsidy on meat?" Mr Ireland asked. " Only rabbits,” replied a member of the audience.

Parliament—and Billiards " Going into the House of Representatives is like going to a family reunion—everyone is having the time of his life,” said Mr G. H. Claridge, Democratic Labour candidate for Dunedin South at a meeting last night. He went on to say that many of the members were out playing billiards—the member for Dunedin North was credited with being one of the best players in the House. Others were walking in and out continually, and some members were asleep with newspapers over their faces. “Never have I seen so many ill-mannered people,” he declared.

“ Petty Demagogues ” ” You have the choice of whether you will allow yourselves to be ruled by democracy, which is inseparable from freedom, or by national Socialism, which is inseparable from tyranny,” said Mr H. T. Merritt, National candidate for Auckland East, The candidate said he had been impressed recently with the display of political thought throughout the- country. He believed the primary cause was not the war, but that the people had become conscious of a situation in which interference was so thorough, so complete, and so incisive that they were beginning to get very restive indeed. " Just as the world is going to dispose of its dictators,” said Mr Merritt, “so are the local, petty demagogues going to get their marching orders.”

Misuse of Unionism The statement that some union secretaries were more concerned with creating dissension between employee and employer than with fostering a spirit of cooperation was made by Mr A. L. S. Cassie, National candidate for Dunedin North, speaking at North-East Valley last night. "At a certain manufacturing concern in Dunedin which is engaged upon essential work,” he continued, “the union secretary told the men that if they did not get what they wanted they should withhold their labour. Six of the men made statements to the police on the matter, and the secretary made the weak explanation that he had meant the men to take action after the war. I have no quarrel with unionism, except when it is misused to create friction between employer and employee at a time when the greatest unity and co-operation ere required.’’

Unimaginable “ What is going to happen if the Independents get a majority of the. seats?" asked an elector of Mr J. H. Winter, New Order candidate for Hawke’s Bay. Mr Winter replied: "If your aunt, wore pants she’d be your uncle”; to express his opinion of the chances. of an Independent majority. Currency Control ”We have carried out our pledges and our promises in regard to banking,” said Mr A. S. Richards, Labdur candidate for Roskill. "To-day there is no share capital in the Reserve Bank, which controls the currency of all trading banks. One of these days we will bring down the price of money to such an extent that the Australian trading banks will close down and say, ’There is not enough profit.”’ Compulsion if Necessary “ We are not afraid of Compulsion If it is necessary,” said Mr R. G. Gerard, National candidate for Mid-Canterbury, discussing the Land Sales Act. “We consider, however, that all the necessary powers are given under the Public Works Act which enables a fair bargain to, be made with an assessor for each party ana the right of appeal to the Court. Mr Gerard said the new Act struck at the very roots of British justice. War Policy

" Neither Mr Holland nor Mr Lee opposed the Government’s all-in war Jjoucy when there was danger of invasion .By the Japanese, and it is stupid and ridiculous to criticise it now and allege the. country has been over-committed,’’ said Mr F. W. Schramm, Labour candidate for Auckland East. “If Britain and Canada. and other countries had all called back their divisions, as Mr Lee now suggests should be done, Rommel would be sitting beside < the Suez canal, and the war would be over. ’ Absent Voters

Details of the procedure to be followed in the case of absent electors’ votes were given yesterday by the local registrar of electors (Mr G. A. Hislop). Electore who are absent from their own electorates may vote at local polling booths on election day. They' do not require a permit to vote, but they are required to complete a form at the polling booth, stating the electorate for which they are registered and their full names, occupations, and addresses as appearing on that roll.

Post-war Industry The Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, in his speech at Petone on Tuesday might, said that New Zealand must prepare for the post-war period of trade, adding that the country’s manufacturing industries must be protected. The manufacturing industries were behind import control, and the Government had never intended, in the slightest degree, to allow these industries to be subject to the unrestricted competition of the whole world. “We are going to develop our secondary industries gradually,” he continued. Economic industries would be given the maidmum assistance possible, but on the other hand there was no intention of maintainint» uneconomic industries. Capital Punishment

The view that it was fundamentally wrong to abolish capital punishment was expressed by Mr L. T. Jacobsen (National, Wellington East), speaking at “After all,” he said, “our great guide for these things is the Scriptures, and Go| has decreed that if a man takes another man’s life, by man shall his life be taken* That is the punishment that Divine justka has invoked, and if we try to introduce our. own flimsy ideas, we Will come off second best.” The restoration of capital punishment would be considered very; carefully by the National Party if it wai returned to office. Mr Jacobsen also expressed the opinion that flogging was toe" good for sexual perverts who comfnitted crimes against women and girls.