LABOUR GROUP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1944, Page 3

LABOUR GROUP

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS MR J. ROBERTSON ADDRESSES MEETING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST OPPONENT “We are the only group of candidates which has shown courtesy to the electors of Masterton by preparing a manifesto and giving electors an opportunity of seeing us, hearing us and questioning us,” said Mr J. Robertson, Labour candidate for the mayoralty, when he addressed electors in Masterton last night. Mr Robertson maintained that all aspirants for local body honours should go before the public. Tracing events after the announcement of Mr Jordan's retirement as Mayor, Mr Robertson said Mr Kemp was anti-Labour to say the least. Several years ago Mr Kemp had got on the soap box advocating Labour principles. Later on Mr Kemp was an author of a circular denouncing Labour as the enemy of the country and the British Empire. Mr Kemp's advertising campaign included a statement that he was “a worker like you.” Mr Robertson said it was a case, of whether the workers worked liked Mr Kemp. “When is a citizens’ ticket not a citizens' ticket?” asked Mr. Robertson in referring to the names of elevon candidates in an advertisement in the “Times-Age.” Whatever it was, said Mr Robertson, it was an anti-Labour ticket. He said that Messrs G. W. Morice and H. E. Gardner were no longer members of the Labour Party because they were automatically expelled when they broke the pledge they signed on their membership cards.

Mr Robertson referred to his service as chairman of the Masterton Rehabilitation Committee and said that Messrs V. E. Donald and A. D. Low had not been afraid to congratulate him on his work and had said that he would be missed.

After stating that he would press on with earthquake restoration work, etc., Mr Robertson urged his audience to prepare for a blitz in Friday’s paper from the opponents’ meeting on Thursday night. Mr . Robertson said they would not have the right of reply as it would be too late on Saturday. He added that he was caught like that in the general election, Mr H. N. McGuinness explained to the meeting that he had withdrawn from the elections on account of a technical provision and that it was not due to any disruption within the ticket. He paid a tribute to Mr and Mrs Robertson and to the other Labour candidates and emphasised their capabilities.

The meeting was presided over J by Mr H. M. Smith and at its conclusion a motion of confidence in Mr Robertson and the Labour candidates was carried unanimously.