POLITICAL GLEANINGS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 8, 21 September 1943, Page 5

POLITICAL GLEANINGS

WHAT THE CANDIDATES SAY HASH FROM THE HUSTINGS Mr H. J. Angus at Katikati The political parties believe in fair play. They say so themselves, so it must be true. They both admit the right of Independents to standThey accept tlie'ir entry money for the race, and then carefully put them out of sight behind scratch. Not content with this, they gag them as well. (I am referring to the granting,, and later Avithdrawal of the right to broadcast). If any of. tho party team strew broken bottles along the track or thrust a stick between their legs it is all part of the fair play, and a matter for congratulation among themselves. In order that nothing be left undone' in the way of complete justice, the spectators in* the. home grandstand have their ears plugged. In the overseas grandstand they arc blindfolded (I' refer to the miserable amount of paper allowed for stating the Independents case to the 1 overseas soldiers, in comparison with the generous treatment meted out to themselves.). Does anyone suppose leopards change their spots? Should either party get back to the House, would they behave any more scrupulously to the spectators than to their competitors? Not if their past conduct is any guide. Politics is truly a dirty game, and it is the politicians who make the rules and break them when it suits: them. The Men They Attack The War Expenses Account ha.s been used as a secret pool from which the Government has distributed largesse, said. Mr W. A. Bodkin in an address at Invcrcargill. "You could not have had any respect for National Party members if they had agreed to support, that sort of tiling," said Mr Bodkin. A voice: What about Mr Hamilton? Mr Bodkin: £ am speaking for myself and my colleagues. Wlien the Labour Party attacks the National Party, Holland,, Poison, Broadfoot and Bodkin are the men they attack. The Newspapers and Farmers "Because the newspapers wanted to buy the farmers' votes they have attacked me very unfairly. There has been some very vicious propaganda in. New Zealand. Some people said I would not dare to conic and speak to Wavcrlcy farmers, and that they would chase me out of town. If there is one district that should support us and the guaranteed prica for meat, it is Waverley, because of its enormous meat production." The Minister of Agriculture and Marketing Mr J. S. Barclay).

A Mayor and Politics "I regret lie is attempting such an impossible job as standing against Mrs Dreaver; I liate to see anybody wasting liis time and I am afraid Mr- Morton will have that experience," said the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser, when the apology of the: Mayor of Te Ivuiti, Mr H. T. Morton, was tendered at the meeting at that town on Friday evening. "H hope he will be back here soon looking to his Mayoral duties." A Public Brawl "flf a man ate a crayfish and then went to bed and dreamed,," said Mr E. C. Russell (Independent, Wellington East), "he would have thought it absurd that a public servant and the Prime Minister should indulge in a public brawl. I hold no brief for Mr Serimgcour, but it' he lias right on his side he should have had a Royal Commission of inquiry. Personally, I don't think he has had a fair deal. It is a national calamity developed from a local brawl." Mr Broadfoot at Te Mawhai A critical analysis; of the Labour Government's methods and claims, particularly in respect, to land settlement, was made by Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., to a meeting at Te Mawhai., Mr G. S. Alexander presided. During his address, Mr Broadfoot scored heavily on a persistentinterjector, his witticisms creating much amusement. The speaker was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, and a vote of confidence in the National Party was also carried. A New God "The party system of government has created for us a new god, State Almighty." said Mr W. J., Crawford, Independent candidate for Otaki, speaking at Pakakari'ki. Each snc-i cessive. "Government had set up 'Its: own bureaux, with its own friends to do the directing, fo decide the"musts" 1 and "must nots" for the»* people. No longer was read merit* the deciding 'factor for these jobs* it was more a matter of knowing; the right politician in the right; place.