UNEQUAL RIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 82, 4 October 1938, Page 10

UNEQUAL RIGHTS

The list of candidates nominated for the General Election to be held on Saturday week reveals that in all but eight of the seventy-six European electorates there will be two-sided contests, with the issue plainly defined. No third party has intervened on this occasion to confuse the choice which the electors must make and there is an unusually small number of Independent candidates in the field. For the full eighty seats the Labour Party has 78 pledged candidates and the National Party 77, but in addition Labour has advised its supporters to give their votes to two Independents—Mr. McDougall and Mr. Atmore. The National Party may also count upon a measure of Independent support. Generally, the issue is plain, and in all but twelve of the 80 seats candidates will have to obtain a clear majority of votes in order to succeed. The clear-cut issue and the even numerical strength of the two parties make more glaring the lopsided nature of the broadcasting arrangements made by the Government. Labour speakers have access to tho air on ten occasions and Labouraccepted Independents on two. National speakers have only six broadcasts and the remaining Independent has one. Such an allocation by a Government which professes to be the champion of free speech and fair play is its own condemnation.