ELECTION TOPICS

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22137, 8 September 1943, Page 4

ELECTION TOPICS

In the course of a political address at Masterton, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, said he wished to make it clear that the pledge given to construct the Rimutaka tunnel would be honoured and would receive an early place in the public works programme. Religion in State Schools “What is your attitude to religious •education in State schools?” was a question asked at Mr J. H. Penniket’s election meeting at Matangi last night. “If the parents want their children taught the tenets of the Christian faith I think they should have the use of one or more classrooms where a minister of religion, an accredited social worker or a teacher who cares to volunteer could attend at a suitable time,” Mr Penniket replied. “As a teacher and a member of the Church of England, I would not mind helping, but I could not agree that every teacher employed in the State system of education should be 'compelled to give religious instruction as part of his or her weekly duties. It should be voluntary and not compulsory.” “Nothing Too Good’* “Mr Fraser has said that nothing is too good for the soldier,” said War-rant-Officer A. E. Allen, Democratic Soldier Labour candidate for Hamilton, while speaking at Frankton last night. Before the candidate had time to criticize the Prime Minister’s fulfilment of his promise, an indignant voice from the audience exclaimed: “And that’s all he’s given them.” Motherhood Endowment “One mother is worth a dozen of the type of politician sitting in Parliament today,” was a remark which won Warrant-Officer A. E. Allen vigorous applause when speaking at Frankton last night. The mother’s work was the most essential, he said, yet none received less recognition. The Democratic Soldier Labour party proposed a scheme of endowment for motherhood as one of its chief planks for the election.