HOUSING MEETING

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 199, 20 May 1944, Page 8

HOUSING MEETING

Political Aspect Denial

Cr. Will Appleton, in a statement yesterday. accepted the assurance of the president of the Wellington Housing and Accommodation Committee, Rev. 11. Squires, that no political significance attached to Thursday night’s publie meeting. At the same time, said Cr. Appleton, the sequence of Labour attacks on the ■city council. Citizens’ candidates and himself. appeared cleverly designed to . lead ii|i to the meeting held by the committee. Air. Roberts 'was advertised as mayoral candidate to speak at the Town Hall the same night as tiie committee advertised its meeting in the Concert Chamber. In fact, the Salvation Army had the Town Hall that night and Mr. Roberts’s engagement was actually in tile Concert Chamber. It appeared that tiie meeting had been used, not with the general knowledge of the committee, for Labour propaganda purposes. The committee secretary. Air. R. L. Aleek. on behalf of Mr. Squires, who is out of town, stated last night that the latter accented Cr. Appleton's assurance and his offer of co-operation in frying to relieve the housing situation. The committee was not concerned with or responsible for criticism by candidates of each other. It was neutral in the election campaign and would co-operate with whatever council was returned, provided immediate and effective relief measures were taken.