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“Socred visit creates a stir”

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Description: This image was taken by the Evening Standard on the 25th of May 1978 but was not published. It depicts Social Credit leader (and candidate for Rangitikei) Bruce Beetham visiting the Longburn Freezing Works on the campaign trail before the 1978 election.

The article “Socred visit creates a stir” read:

“AFTER Social Credit leader Bruce Beetham thundered out Socred's message to Longburn freezing workers yesterday he got down to the blood and guts of the business on the slaughterboard.

Mr Beetham inspected the new multi-million-dollar mutton complex and walked where rivals Bob Muldoon and Bill Rowling had previously trod. The Socred leader's presence created a noisy but not hostile stir among workers.

It was a better reception than Mr Muldoon got because the works were silent and empty the day he was there. And, according to observers, Mr Beetham did better than Mr Rowling who was reported to have been greeted by a stony silence on the slaughterboard.

‘We want work. We want work,’ was the cry as Mr Beetham left the slaughterboard.

Mr Beetham was accompanied by the Socred candidate for Palmerston North, Mr Peter Edmonds, the Manawatu candidate, Mr Les Hunter, and the Horowhenua candidate, Mr Dick Blanchard.

Earlier Mr Beetham spelt out several Socred policies including those on industrial relations. On freezing works he said Social Credit believed they should be co-operatively owned by New Zealanders. The shareholders would be the public, the farmers and the workers themselves.

Social Credit favoured fewer unions and the setting up of industrial councils representing occupations of all workers. Workers could then speak with one voice. There would be worker representation on works boards.”