MEDIA RELEASE
GREY POWER FIGHTS BACK

Grey Power National President, Mr Graham Stairmand responds to criticism directed at the elderly voters and at Grey Power.

" The recent editorial comments in the New Zealand Herald (Saturday 16th April 2005) remind us of the elderly baiting that takes place when the elderly are perceived as not being the docile lot that they should be. Yes, we had a conference where the political parties were invited – we in no way insisted that as a condition of invitation that they should bribe us, as suggested by this recent publication, but that they offer us their policies.

The elderly, as are all other voters, are entitled to cast their votes for the part y of their choice and if it happens to be one with policies that benefit the elderly, so be it.

To say that the elderly have not pulled their weight, when they were the only ones forced to take a drop in remuneration to help in the Asian crisis, is just not true. The article implies that all other voters cast their votes for the benefit of the community and country and not themselves, while the elderly are selfish and different which should not be tolerated in this country.

The elderly are entitled to have their say in an election, or is the correspondent suggesting that should there be an age where the entitlement to vote is removed ?"

ENDS

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