PROTEST LODGED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1943, Page 4

PROTEST LODGED

BY INDEPENDENT GROUP ALLEGED DENIAL OF FACILITIES FOR PLACING VIEWS BEFORE MEN OVERSEAS. TELEGRAMS TO THE PREMIER

AND MR HOLLAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A telegram sent to the Prime Minister today, signed by Mr A. P. Harper, Dominion Secretary of the Independent Group, states: “A week ago we asked that an election committee representing all election interests be set up to ensure that all received fair and equal treatment in the facilities provided for informing service personnel overseas of election issues. You replied that our views had been noted and would receive consideration. A week has gone by and nothing has been heard. Less than seven weeks- now remain before the election and it will virtually be impossible for policies and opinions to be printed and distributed to our troops in all overseas theatres of war in this time. The Independent Group so far has not received one word of advice of the proposed arrangements. Can you deny that you held discussions with the Leader of the Opposition? Can you deny that the political parties are preparing their material accordingly? Can you deny, in short, that the parties are prepared and ready to present their cases to overseas service personnel? Can you deny that this material is not already on its way overseas? We ask these questions because we believe the country has a right to know whether the’democratic privileges of the men overseas are being guarded by the parties or whether they are being usurped by the parties. “New candidates and new election issues have a special claim to consideration, because the men overseas will .naturally know little of them. To deny these men access to the claifns of such candidates is to deny a fundamental principle of democracy. Because the Independent Group is attacking the party system, and because you have entered into an agreement with the Opposition, the Independent Group lays the charge that you are deliberately protecting the party system by attempting to exclude the views of the Independent Group from service personnel overseas. Party candidates, including yourself, will knowingly have an unfair advantage over Independent opponents. We can see in your election manoeuvring nothing more than an attempt to place the Independent Group at the greatest possible disadvantage. If the troops overseas are to be denied the opportunity of hearing our case presented by our own spokesmen, in our own way, we shall press these charges before the people, before next of kin, and before returning troops.” A similar telegram was sent to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, whom the Independent Group states merely acknowledged receipt of its earlier request. A spokesman of the Independent Group alleges that Mr Holland is hand i

in glove with the Prime Minister in this matter, and adds: "It will make little difference to the country whether Labour or the National Party rules. It will, however, make a vital difference if we rid the Government of party control. This is the real issue of this election.” s-