Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 2. 7th March 1973

Would Smoke A Reefer

Would Smoke A Reefer

On other policy issues Ken Comber's attitude reflects the party line, although he says "I have not once been told or directed by any officer or party leader that I should adopt any set line". he accepts the party policy but within that framework stresses "I've had no direction since I became a candidate".

Ken Comber says he has no objection to women's liberation but he would not support abortion law reform. "I would, however, support more extensive family planning within the framework of religious views. "Family planning is essential, more so than ever before. I am a great believer in the family unit, but it is coming under increasing pressure". He does not favour capital punishment and believes that to cope with crime problems "you've got to start back in the family".

More money should be spent on drug research and rehabilitation. "You can't turn your back and close your eyes". admitting he is confused by conflicting medical opinion, "Everything I read concludes something different", he says he is now trying to look at it from the point of view of the harm drugs cause in the community. "I've got an open mind on this. If I could be convinced by the medical profession that there is no harm then I would like to see further investigation. If I was put onto a committee to investigate this, I suppose it would be the natural thing for members of that committee to smoke a reefer to find out for themselves."

For a candidate standing in a major metropolitan area with housing and transport problems, Ken Comber's pre-election publicity certainly didn't highlight these matters. In this respect Comber's publicity men may have done him a disservice. They sent out tangerine pamphlets with photos of him looking more like a rather grim Rupert Bear than a man you'd want to vote for. There he was discussing "matters of mutual interest" with Prime Minister Marshall and the M.P. for Miramar, Bill Young. And there he was again posed in a most uncomfortable position on a chair reading to his three children. But the words on the pamphlet held out a little more hope - Comber's approach to politics would "I inject new blood into the heart of Wellington". Well, here's hoping....

Several people who attended an election meeting addressed by Ken Comber in October were rather surprised at his confusion over the 1955 Tenancy Act. "In the heat of the meeting I was confused on the matter. I am certainly going to acquaint myself more with this field", he says. "I shall press for more and cheaper finance for the city council urban renewal programme and pensioner flats". Labour's plan to buy old houses and rent them as state houses would "not add one unit to the housing stock of Wellington. But I will reserve judgement on this until I see the plan in action". Ken Comber believes that having gone this far, the motorway should go right through to Mt Vic. Tunnel. However he doubts that Wellington could ever afford the personal hardship, or finance, for another one. He sees public transport as a service which should not have to be profit-making. He supports the principle behind a Regional Transport Authority which would spread costs of Wellington City transport throughout the region. Comber does not like the idea of private motorists being encouraged too strongly to use publice transport. He says he forsees a time when motorists could start to use public transport by choice. But he does not say when this will be, or how bad our transport problems will have to be before this happens.