Wide Interest In Roskill Election Contest

Chronicle (Levin), 15 November 1949, Page 6

Wide Interest In Roskill Election Contest

AUCKLAND, Nov. 12. Interest that extends far beyond the boundaries of the eleetorate is eentred upon the eontest in Roskill. In this seat, held by Labour by a majority of only 155 votes in a poi! of more than 13,000 three years ago, the sitting member, Langstone, has resigned from the Labour Party and is standing as an In'dependent Labour candiate. Opposhim are Mr. J. Rae, for the National Party, and Mr. J. Freeman, offieial Labour eandiflate. Roskill is essentially a middle-class eleetorate, in which approximately 1000 new homes have befen built in the last three years. State housing has been ,'concentratedilargely in the new Wesley bl'oek, where spjne 600 units have been aidded, and apptoximately 400 more private homes have gone up on individual sections seattered throughout the eleetorate, with heavier eoncentra* tion in Hillsborough and Waikowhai. Candidates ineline to .the belief that the manner in which the newcomers to the eleetorate vote may well be a deciding faetor, and haV'e different estimates of the extent to whiph their own particular interests will be^affeeted. One of the thinly-held Labour seats, Roskill should produce keen campaigning and possibly grea'ter political activity than other electorates, where the issue is in less doubt. The great majority of the residents are wage or salary-earners, there are no slum areas, and if the 1946 result may be aecepted - as any criterion, the contest could provide a tense finish. Former Minister Standing Mr. Langstone, for Jong years a radical and outspoken Labour man, aceepted nomination as an Independent, Labour eandidate following a petition from Roskill residents, shortly after he had resigned from the Labour Party as a sequel to the referendum on compulsory militarv training. He was first elected to Parliament in 1922, as mem- 1 ber for Waimarino, was defeated in j 1925, but regained the seat three years later, and held it until he transferred to Roskill in 1946. Hf is a one-titue Minister of Lands and a former High Commissioner for New Zealaild in Canada, having resigned from Ottavval through' differences with the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser. ' i A stout advocate of nationalising in surance companies, joint stock com-| panies and stock and station agents, Mr Langstone is an uncompromising opponent of compulsory military train ing. He has shown his political courage by dilfering from his chiefs on more than one occasion, and as a speaker remains vigorous, provocative, fearless and often entertaining. Mr Rae's Campaign. Mr Rae, who has local body experi ence to support him in his first yenture into national politics, is widely known Ln Roskill as a district resident of lonsi standing. He is an acdount.ant by profession and, having started work at the age 'of 12, he claims to see current problems from the workingman's ■' point of view. Mr-Raets canipaigning on major rather than upon local issues, and is concentrating upon topics rnost directly touching the lives of average citizens. These include housing, lowei living costs, freedom of opportunity. health and education serviees. Experience as a lecturer stands to Mi Rae's eredit in facing an audience. Hf is a persuasive and lucid speaker, has few mannerisms, and offers reasoned arguiuent rather than noisy blustei His points are carefully marshalled tidily delivered, crispiy rounded off. and made abundantly clear. Mr Rae contends that Labour, by its manifesto, has shown itself to be living in the past, devoid of plans for the future, and iooking forward only to a slump. Industrial Experience , Labour 's representative, Mr Freeman, is an Australian who has been prominent in organised Labour in New Zealand. He is national vice-president of the Timber Workers' Union, was a delegate to the recent World Forestry Congress in Finjand and, as president of the Auckland Trades Council, from which post he reeently resigned, has consistently opposed' Communist factions. Mr Freeman was a member oi the Communist Party in Austraiia some 20 "years a-go, and claims as a resuit to

be in a better than average position to understand and defeat Communist tactics. • . ' Mr Freeman, a praetised speake^ who cominands attention " by the thought that has gone into his addresses, is malung a detailed covei^age of Roskill. He advocates applying on a national scale the lessons learned in the strikefree timber industry, which he_ quotes as an example of how industrial elfi ciency and harmony can result in extra production and fewer restrictions. ILe) also sees in Roskill's continued growth the need for better transport and more sports grounds. A fourth eandidate is Mr J. B. Kennedy (Democratic Liberal).