ELECTION PUBLICITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25365, 25 October 1943, Page 2

ELECTION PUBLICITY

GOVERNMENT METHODS IN PACIFIC CHARGE OF UNFAIRNESS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. The following statement has been made by Mr W. E. Millar, the representative of the Democratic Labour Party at the scrutiny of the general election voting in the Pacific;— “The arrangements for the actual conduct of the voting were a credit to Major Pollock and the other officers concerned, who had tremendous difficulties to overcome. They merit commendation. From my inquiries, however, I soon discovered that the Government literally grabbed for itself the publicity prior to the election. The space was unfairly allocated in the Kiwi News Supplement, the front page being devoted to the Government party’s manifesto, and it included an appeal by the Prime Minister, set in specially bold type. Seventy per cent, of the men did not receive the Kiwi News Supplement. Indeed, some actually did not arrive until polling day. “Again with the allocation of broadcasts the Government and Opposition parties were especially favoured. As a result a number of men, who were unaware of the minority candidates and the issues, either voted for the Government member or voted in the licensing poll only. I feel that the New Zealand public should know these facts.”