To the Poll, Sluggards!

Electors face an appalling choice. We are exhorted to Smash Sid and Fascism; to vote for a Government which has failed to control the cost of living but has nevertheless a realistic attitude towards Communism; to vote for Labour and as yet no policy.

Most people will have sense enough to judge the Communist Party by their international activity as well as their declared domestic aims in the light of that activity the cry "Smash Fascism!" has a touch of farce.

If the Labour Party is to advance it must have a policy which at the moment it has not. Socialism is gone is there to be a replacement? Moreover the uncertain attitude towards Communism, and particularly the World Federation of Trade Unions is reason, in some minds, for uneasiness.

Apart from its firm attitude towards Communism the National Party has almost exhausted its policy and now finds that it may be necessary to re-introduce controls as the inflationary spiral keeps going. At least part of the blame for that spiral must be placed on those disturbing elements, mainly on the waterfronts of the world, which delay shipping and cause freight rises.

Students must make their choice. The most important thing is that they do vote having considered the issues and marking the disparity between the press which each party commands. Complacency and disinterest may eventually imperil New Zealand as it has enslaved others.