OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1943, Page 2

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

AN ELECTION PLEDGE (To the Editor) Sir,—Some days ago I discussed with the chairman of Mr Robertson’s Alfredton meeting (a strong Labour supporter) whether Mr Robertson would keep his pledge to withdraw from the election if his figures as to Broadcasting funds were shown to be incorrect. The chairman said he was sure he would do so if this should happen, but he was certain Mr Robertson’s figures would be proved to be rig#. Other residents were not so certain whether he would retire. I see now that the latter were correct.

Mr Robertson has pleaded for time and has vaguely claimed to have been misrepresented—particulars unspecified. He says he is too busy. Apparently too busy supplying further meetings with further pledges, promises and figures—but not too busy to galvanise the local union representative into feverish activity organising a local “rescue party” which, although leaving the chairman of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee utterly discredited as regards information and figures, hopes at least to keep him alive in the election— though only just. This “rescue party” produced the letter in yesterday’s paper got up by the said Union representative and headed by his signature. Whereas the statement of Mr Horne and myself gave detailed facts, this letter confines itself to a weak claim of misrepresentation—details unspecified, a form of statement which, as every lawyer knows, gives the greatest possible scope for mental reservations (and a different one to each) and bad memories. I have spoken to some of the signatories, and to some Labour supporters at this Labour meeting who have not seen fit to sign it. The chairman himself has not seen fit to sign, strong labour man though he is. Another signatory stated that he could not sign my letter giving the correct facts for fear of repercussions. Still another would say nothing except a few random expletives about “shuffling.” He did not seem to relish his role. . . .

As your correspondent “Accountant” pointed out in yesterday’s paper, Mr Horne and I understated the case as regards the figures. We did so deliberately and we preserved the same understatement and meticulous accuracy as regards the details of what happened at the meeting. We could have informed the public of how, when Mr Robertson was asked the civil question as to whether the Government would reduce the radio licence fee on account of the huge accumulated fund, he flew at his questioner and with a great show of bounce and bluster derided the figures given as being ‘‘the most stupid and silly he hac\|ever heard.” He then went on to give his own figures emphasising his position as chairman of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee. He said that Messrs Polson, Goosman and Kidd —other members of the committee—would know he was right. He then twice gave his pledge to retire if niy figures were anything like correct. Now my figures have been shown to be correctin fact understated. The figures vouched for by J. Robertson, M.P., chairman of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee, have been shown to be so piffling as to be unworthy of a schoolboy. Mr Horne and I have given full details of the incident and we are prepared to sign an affidavit or to go on oath and stand up to cross-examination in the highest Court in the land that these particulars as to the pledge given by Mr Robertson are correct. A dozen other citizens will do the. same and that even from among the attenders of a Labour meeting, and we will not deal in generalities either. We will give exact, details.

Having seen this exposition of tactics at the crack of the Labour whip, we do not now expect Mr Robertson to retire, but the voters, having heard the facts and having minds to judge for themselves, will no doubt attend to that for him. The incident will serve perhaps an even better purpose than Mr Robertson’s retirement as it has shown the value of Government promises and ’ pledges when they become inconvenient. As Mr Lee says, the people are now “wise” to the value to be placed on these. Truth will out—even in an election. Mr Horne asks me to say that he associates himself with every word of this letter. —I am, etc., J. L. HECKLER. (To the Editor.) Sir, —The undersigned electors of Alfredton and district are astounded at Mr Robertson’s statement, reported in the local paper, in which he shelves for a week the matter of withdrawing from the election in accordance with his pledge given at his Alfredton meeting. He states he has been misrepresented, but does not say in what respect. He states he is too busy. Does Mr Robertson not realise that this is the most urgent matter that can possibly claim his attention, as it concerns a point of personal honour. We, the undersigned, are not necessarily all anti-Labour voters, but. Labour or anti-Labour, we were at the meeting, and we are concerned to see fair play, and we each and all state that Messrs Heckler and Horne’s letter gave the correct facts as to what occurred at the meeting .and as to the pledge that was given by Mr Robertson. If Mr Robertson merely wants a week to think over his withdrawal from the election, possibly that will be conceded, but the unfounded charge of misrepresentation merely makes things worse. —We are, etc., D. M. Parsonson, Alfredton; G. Y. Higginson, Alfredton; J. A. Hull, Alfredton; A. B. Napier, Alfredton; W. H. Heckler, Ihuraua; E. R. Anderson, Alfredton; H. B. Burch, Alfredton; C. D. Smith, Alfredton; J. H. Macdonald, Ihuraua; I. H. Macdonald, Ihuraua; A. C. Heckler, Ihuraua.