“NO LOCKED DOORS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 509, 12 November 1928, Page 7

“NO LOCKED DOORS”

CONTROL OF LABOUR CANDIDATE’S ASSERTION “** is not true that we are controlled by a dictatorship of Reds. The Labour Party does nothing behind locked doors.” Speaking at Morningside on Saturday evening, Mr. A. S. Richards, Labour candidate for Roskill, vigorously denied that Labour candidates were controlled by the orders of a dictatorship. Mr. Richards said that, by paying an annual subscription of 2s 6d, any member of his audience could have as much say in the control of the New Zealand Labour Party as Mr Holland or Mr. Savage. The Labour 1 arty was the most democratic organisation in the world. The candidate complained that he had been misrepresented by a candidate from another electorate, who had temporarily crossed the border to speak in Roskill. The intruder had said that Mr. Richards had declared that the Labour Party would utilise teavings Bank money for advancing land settlement schemes, and that by so doing he would be robbing widows and orphans. “What I meant.” asserted Mr. Richards, “was that we would take the control of the country’s finance out of the hands of the six associated banks, thus obtaining more profit for Government and people. These accumulated profits would be used on such national works as land settlement. and we would gradually develop an independent financial system, so that it would become unnecessary for us to be continually running to the London market.” Mr. Richards was unable to see whv J fi??-. Melville could Tot admit the possibility of a national health and un2trr‘ scheme. The operations , i I? nd y societies were successful, and there was no reason why a national scheme should not be equally The candidate concluded a two and a-quarter hours’ address with an inpf*lsent ° £ Reform and the United Bartj, and an explanation of Labour’s 14 points. vote °f thanks and confidence on* pa , s , Ned - The chairman, Mr. Ss serv^es 0 ”' a ‘*° tlmnked £or