POST HASTE TO AVERT LABOUR DEFEAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 53, 5 March 1946, Page 5

POST HASTE TO AVERT LABOUR DEFEAT

PRIME MINISTER DENIES OPPONENTS’ CLAIMS (PA.) Auckland, March 4. “My opponents seem to be making much political capital out of my coming to take part in the Raglan byelection.” said the Prime Mr. Fraser, during addresses at Ng*ruawabia and Huntly to-night in connection with the Raglan by-election. “People are saying I was borught post haste to Raglan to save Labour from defeat, but I could not do that on the last night of the campaign, as people have already made up their minds.”

After motoring from Auckland this afternoon, the Prime Minister spoke for an hour at Ngaruawahia. The halt was only partially filled. Mr. Fraser then motored to Huntly, where h» was given an enthusiastic reception. Hebe again, however, the seating accommodation was not all occunied. Cheers and whistles greeted Mr. Fraser and he was accorded a mo J cordial and attentive hearing. “Some people seemed to think that It was unseemlv for me to fly all the way back to New Zealand merely to get to Huntly.” said Mr. Fraser. “What better place could I come to. and what better occasion could 1 choose than the eve of a great Labour victory? Among +he weird and wonderful issues which nave been raised m the by-election has he n n the suggestion of a Disinheritance Bill. While in London I received e letter from a stranger asking me about this and 1 replied that T had never heard of it. I did not take the letter seriously. Never At. any time have I heard anyone in any xxav ever suggest that the Labour Government should introduce anything of the sort. It is nothing more than monstrous.”