"OUT OF DATE"

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

"OUT OF DATE"

PARTY POLITICS

MR WILKINSON CONDEMNS SYSTEM Speaking at the Town Hali. Mala-, mata, on Monday, Mr L. R. Wilkinson,, Independent candidate for Tauranga, made it quite clear that he would Avork for a Government to be constituted by the Avholc of the elected representatives of Parliament with, a Cabinet comprising the most able men, irrespective of sectional interests. With the present party system, opportunities Avere denied to any except the party having a majority.

The greatest degree of co-opera-tion must exist Avherc the: Avinning

of the Avar and reconstruction were concerned. Questions of such magnitude required the combined efforts of all people. The debates in Parliament since the outbreak of war had disclosed a most disturbing feature of our Parliamentary system, where the parties seemed to consider it their first duty to engage in bitter conflict, regardless of the country's Avelfare. A total war effort could only, be obtained by unity of all the people and the one place it Avas most essential was in the. House of Representatives. Party politics, continued the speaker, had served their purpose and Avere out of, date. I'n a real democracy the constitution could be similar to that of a city council and party strife and bitterness could be set aside. A candidate could then represent all the people.

Mr Wilkinson said he would advocate the following reforms: School uniforms to he issued to all children to ensure that all should be equally well dressed at school without to great a burden falling on the parents of large families; an improvement. in the standard of picture films; a complete revision of broadcasting and the control to come under the Public Service Department; a commission to be set up to report on the internal marketing scheme; less, Government interference in local body administration; to returned servicemen, a mufti allowance of £50 with two months leave on full pay and free pass on railways and Government bus, to enable them to investigate opportunities of becoming established in the profession or trade, or occupation which they considered offered the best prospects of success; the immediate planning of a sound rehabilitation scheme, a council of. returned servicemen to be set up to cooperate with the 1 Government in seeing it carried out.. Many of the men returning would be highly skilled technicians and their advice to the Government would be invaluable.

Mr Wilkinson also advocated improved conditions and pay lor nurses and more inducement to girls to enter this great service for humanity. Hostels should be set up at once for girls who had been called up for service in essential industries. A reorganisation of the Post and Telegraph service with the introduction of more modern business methods and the paying of pensions by cheque to obviate the necessity of elderly people and invalids having to stand in queues lor interminable periods, was also advocated. Mr Wilkinson spoke of the wonderful way in which the Post and Telegraph, Railway, and Public Works staffs carried on their service to the community during these difficult times.