“Middle Class” Vote Labour Party Target

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 15

“Middle Class” Vote Labour Party Target

The interests of the individual had superseded the interests of the community, said Mr T. M. McGuigan, the retiring chairman of the Christchurch Labour Representation Committee, in his report to the committee’s annual meeting last evening. “There is a far greater swinging vote representing the section of the public commonly called the middle class," he said. “This section came into being during the life of the first Labour Government. It now calls the tune, removing governments and electing others to office. “We might as well realise that this section is here to stay. With its political affiliations not clearly defined, it will obviously support the party which cares most for

its interests and upsets it least. Inside this group lies the younger people. ‘The Labour Party has to win this vote," Mr McGuigan said. “The industrial movement must acknowledge that the bulk of this section is in its ranks, and. it cannot be ignored. The party, united as it is politically and industrially, has the task of winning the votes of these electors before Labour can be returned to office. We cannot wait for the mistakes of the National Party administration. The continued support for Social Credit indicates a large percentage of the public which is dissatisfied with both major parties. Further dissatisfaction could result in an increased Social Credit vote, with disastrous

consequences for the Labour movement.”

Of the result of the last General Election, Mr McGuigan said the “tragic situation" had arisen where those who had every reason to be grateful to the Labour Party were the people whose votes had helped to turn the party out of office.

They voted out of office after one three-year term a Government “which had inherited financial chaos from the National Party administration led by the present Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake),” he said.