Labour candidate for King Country

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 39, 20 March 1984, Page 3

Labour candidate for King Country

The Labour Party have announced their candidate for the King Country electorate for this year's General Election. He is Mr Jim Simonsfrom Owhango. Mr Simons, a 33-year old freezing worker is married with 4 children. He is also Branch Secretarv of the Meatworkers' l • on at the King Country works just south of Taumarunui. It is Mr Simons' first real venture into politics although he admits to having had a brief flirtation with Social Credit some 4 years ago. •"At that stage", said Mr Simons, "I was desperate to try and bring about political change and as Labour was running in third place in the King Country, 1 threw my lot in with Social Credit ... it was a case of doing anything, to rid the country of repression and economic suffocation." "My expectations were not realised," said Labour's n£west candidate, "so I ^Bned the Labour Party to ^work for real change." Mr Simons is not fazed by the fact that he has a big task in front of him to "overhaul the Minister of Unemployment, Mr Bolger," he said. "1*11 be doing my bit, to see that Labour puts up a good fight in the King Country. There are plenty of problems to be highlighted and I am very conscious of the fact that a big.effort on our part will help the winning chances of my colleagues, Noel Scott in T ongariro and Ida Gaskin in New Plymouth. Parliament needs them both." The King country candi^^e is not a fan of the ^^■ndary Commission. He is very critical of their efforts in drawing the - new King Country electorate, and says "I'm sure that a 14-year old

could have come up with a better solution. The Commission has ignored virtually every one of the criteria necessary for creating an electorate. Mr Simons claims that there is no community of interest between the Waimarino and Waiouru in the east and Waitara in the west, nor between Te Kuiti in the north and Waiouru. "It seems" said Mr Simons "that having driven the Tongariro electorate wedge down the middle of the North Island, the Commission then cast the net wide on the other side and came up with two very awkward electorates of King Country and Waikaremoana." Mr Simons advocates the need for Boundary Commissioners to undertake an enforced boundary ride to view at first hand the results of their decisions. "Maybe they would then come up with some sane, rational

decisions," he said, "and saddle sores after a long, long ride." Mr Simons considers that Labour has an excellent chance of becoming Government and will be doing his best to bring it about. "Labour has got its act right for capturing the provincial centres," said Mr Simons "and it is these centres that hold the key to Government." "What surprises me" concluded Mr Simons, "is the fact that the provincial centres do not always capitalise on their strong position to exert influence on the policy makers." Mr Simons say that he is ready, willing and able to come and talk to any group in the Waimarino about local problems, opportunities and aspirations. He can be contacted at his home in Owhango (816) or at work in Taumarunui (7013).