While in Parliament Langstone had supported the work habits of watersiders, saying they "worked as assiduously and intelligently as other people" (P.D. 1949, v288, p2689). This was despite their increasing demonisation in the press. However, in 1951 there was a momentous clash between the watersiders' union and the National government, including 151 days of industrial action. In the initial stages Langstone and Mollie Nolan visited Jock Barnes, leader of the watersiders' union, at his Auckland home to try to make him reconsider his actions. Barnes was determined to fight to the finish, despite being isolated, or more having isolated himself, from the Federation of Labour.

The government responded with a proclamation of emergency, under the Public Safety Conservation Act 1932, on 21 February 1951. This was followed by the Waterfront Strike Emergency Regulations on 22 February 1951. The Regulations allowed the Minister of Labour to decide whether there was a strike or not, provided for a large fine or three months gaol for making a payment or contribution to a worker on strike, allowed the opinion of a constable to be sufficient proof of guilt, and allowed a police sergeant to prohibit any meeting or procession and enter a home at anytime, using whatever force necessary. The registration of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union, under the Arbitration Act, was cancelled on 28 February 1951.

Langstone issued a not widely distributed pamphlet entitled "N.Z. Liberty 1951", to alert the public to the ramifications of this assault on basic freedoms. His pamphlet was cited in a front page article in the May 1951 issue of the "N.Z. Rationalist", and the executive committee of the Rationalist Association further called on the government to overhaul the Public Conservation Act. The Act had been enacted in 1932 because of threat of riots by the unemployed. Langstone quoted Winston Churchill and Mr Justice Stable in support of freedom of speech and public assembly, trial by jury, the rules of evidence and limits on police powers. The "N.Z. Rationalist" further quoted relevant sections from the United Nations Charter on Human Rights. These views provoked a police raid on the Auckland office of the Rationalist Association. Langstone had previous links with the Association, having spoken to them on 12 November 1950 lauding the American rationalist Robert Green Ingersoll (1833 - 1899).

Langstone had reservations about some of the decisions of the watersiders' union, but maintained his support for those involved. He always made himself available to speak at meetings, including travelling to the Mangakino Hydro site despite the "advice" of the Police, and always believed that the Police tapped his phone to follow his movements at this time (Allen Monteith, 24.9.97).

The official Labour Party view on the "lock out" was regarded by watersiders as tepid, but several current and former Labour Party members were supportive of the union despite the Emergency Regulations. The news of Langstone's support did reach the Wellington waterfront, and was appreciated (Ted Thompson, 29/9/1997).

Also at this time Langstone and John A. Lee were both approached about returning to the Labour Party. Their arch foe, Peter Fraser, had died in December 1950. In his "Simple on a soap-box" ,pages 280-282, (Auckland, Collins, 1963) Lee describes how Fred Young, a leading Auckland unionist and Labour Party official, attempted to have him and Langstone accepted back in to the Party, sometime in 1951. However, Langstone was less keen than Lee and his abrupt response was a safe seat or nothing (Switzer Hudson), which was obviously designed to fail.

Langstone's attitude to Labour became more vituperative. He had written that F.P. Walsh was Peter Fraser's financial adviser and claimed that Fraser owned a residential property not far from London and was an investor in The Industrial and General Trust Ltd, London. He also claimed that Labour cabinet members were investing in businesses with great returns (WTU MS Letter to John ? 18/12/1949, Bert Roth papers).

Langstone was also involved with the short-lived New Zealand Socialist Party. The party was launched in July 1951 with Allen Monteith as secretary ("Auckland Star" 27/7/1951 p8), Monteith was also at the time national secretary of the New Zealand Peace Council. Langstone was the major speaker at the Grey Lynn Public Library Hall on 2 August 1951 and outlined the need for a stable internal price level, with Government surpluses funding any fluctuations from fixed prices. Conversely when overseas prices rose, there would be a subsidy to keep the price fixed.

Langstone also supported amalgamating the functions of the Reserve Ba nk, the Bank of New Zealand, State Advances, State Fire Insurance, Post and Telegraph and the Post Office Savings Bank into a State bank, with an additional stock and station section. This new State bank would have sole authority to issue public credit, and reduce interest rates on loans. All other banks would become mere savings banks. He also sought the reduction of indirect taxes, and for national and local government to provide comprehensive insurance coverage. State houses sold by the National government would be sold back to the government.

At the same meeting Monteith called for the repeal of conscription and opposed Japanese rearmament. Monteith also believed that the Pacific Pact, the forerunner to the A.N.Z.U.S. Treaty, might bring American interference in New Zealand domestic affairs. The other speaker was Robert Goodman, a bookseller and Chairman of the New Zealand Peace Council, who spoke opposing capital punishment, reintroduced by the new National government. The New Zealand Peace Council was affiliated to the World Peace Council and both the Labour Party and the Federation of Labour had warned their members from associating with the organisation because of believed Communist links.

However, despite the Party hoping to stand candidates for several Auckland electorates, Langstone said at the Grey Lynn meeting that he had not yet decided if he would be a candidate ("N.Z. Herald" 3/8/1951 p8). After a second meeting on 8 August 1951, the Party announced that it lacked the organisation to put up candidates for the 1951 election, and would wait until the next election ("N.Z. Herald" 9/8/1951 p 10). Between forty and fifty people had attended the meetings. In October 1951 the Auckland Labour Representation Committee declared that Langstone was not an acceptable person to address the Meadowbank Labour Party branch (AU MS A 65 Box 9, Correspondence, 9/10/1951).

On 11 January 1952 Langstone married Catherine Mary (Mollie) Nolan at the Auckland Registry Office. Aged forty two years, she had been the office secretary for the Labour Party in Auckland for thirteen years since the early 1930's. Her father William John had worked as a storeman, and her mother was Catherine Rebecca (nee Dell).

Langstone also "calls in occasionally" to John A. Lee, and vaguely discussed a joint speaking tour of New Zealand in 1953 ("John A. Lee's Fortnightly", 15/10/1952, p3). Soon after both Langstone and John A. Lee attended the funeral for an old colleague, Bill Parry, who had been Labour M.P. for Auckland Central 1919 - 1946 and Arch Hill 1946 - 1951 ("John A. Lee's Fortnightly", 24/12/1952, p3). In 1954 Langstone gave the eulogy at the funeral of Charles Opie, a leader of the Waihi strike ("John A. Lee's Fortnightly", May 1954 p7).

The Social Credit Political League was formed in 1953, and at the 1954 General Election won 11% of the vote nationwide. Langstone was not a candidate in 1954, but acted as though he was at a meeting in Mount Roskill ("Auckland Star", 9/11/1954, p 9). Caught up with the "spell" of politics, Langstone had been heavily involved in elections since 1911.

In 1956 Langstone made no submissions to the Royal Commission on Monetary, Banking and Credit, but, in 1957 he stood as Social Credit candidate for Roskill. At the 1957 election Social Credit promised to increase income tax exemptions and social welfare benefits, develop housing and industry with cheap loans, improve the health service, make the Reserve Bank the sole issuing authority for debt free money, establish a National Monetary Authority, cut taxes and repay the national debt. The party supported private enterprise, free trade and a second chamber for Parliament, on a partially elected and partial interest group representation basis ("N.Z. Herald" 1/10/1957, p12).

Langstone was highly critical of Labour in both 1954 and 1957, and at a public meeting in 1957 took much of the credit for Labour nationalising the Bank of New Zealand in the mid 1940's. He blamed debt and taxation for rising prices, and sought to keep goods and the money supply in balance through a National Economic And Financial Credit Authority. Citing the 1956 Royal Commission as offering proof that banks create money, he claimed there was a conspiracy on the part of the "bureaucracy" that allowed the money supply to increase three times as fast as the goods and services available. His Waikowhai meeting attracted just 16 people, while on the same night Warren Freer, Labour M.P. for Mount Albert, attracted 120 people to an Edendale meeting ("N.Z. Herald" 15/11/1957 p12).

While the 1949 electoral boundaries for Roskill remained in the 1951 General Election, they changed markedly for the 1954 General Election, and markedly again in 1957. This hindered Labour's Elizabeth Morris in 1954. At the time she was the only woman candidate standing for a major party in Auckland and the first Auckland woman Labour candidate since Mary Dreaver lost Waitemata in 1943. In 1957 the electoral boundaries favoured Labour's Arthur Faulkner, and Langstone won just 3.56% or 527 votes. Faulkner stressed the cost of living and support for the welfare state winning 55.4% of the vote and a majority of 2,117. Langstone's support varied from 7.66% at marginally Labour Waikowhai School to 2% at strongly Labour Wesley Intermediate School. At National's strongest booth, Greenwoods Corner in south Epsom, Langstone won 3.55%, which was comparable to the vote he received in Labour booths in Mount Roskill. His vote was also down from the 783, or 5.6%, won by the first S ocial Credit candidate, W. Sayer, in 1954.

In 1959 Langstone was included in an Auckland group within Social Credit supporting political accountability (AU MS A59 24/8/1959), in association with long-time monetary reformer Fred C. Jordan. At that time Langstone reiterated his long held views in an unpublished paper to the group entitled "Money, currency and credit". In 1960 seventy nine year old Langstone was again Social Credit candidate for Roskill, the last election he ever nominated for. The "S.C. Guardian" didn't list him as a candidate until late in the campaign, but he reiterated his concern for a balance between the money supply and goods and services available and supported government-issued interest free financial credit for public purposes.

In 1960 Langstone marginally increased his percentage vote to 3.69%, with 575 votes. His best vote was 6.9% at Waikowhai School and the lowest 2.02% at the Mount Roskill Community Hall. There was a minimal increase in his vote in Labour areas, compensating for a minimal decrease in National areas. Faulkner held the seat, despite the Labour government losing office after only three years, by stressing the welfare state, housing, Labour's new enthusiasm for expanding industrialisation, and peace within the United Nations framework. In 1960 the Communist candidate, Ella Ayo, won 68 votes. In 1963 R.W.H. Howie increased the Social Credit percentage to 4.6%, or 749 votes. Howie also stood in for Social Credit in Roskill in the 1966 and 1969 General Elections. In 1963 Langstone was still promoting debt-free advances for public projects, including schools and hospitals, to create assets without debt, and organising a petition submission to that effect. (AU MS A59 2/8/1963). He was made a life member of the Roskill Branch of Social Credit in 1967 ("Mount Roskill News" 27/4/1967).

In September 1962 Langstone wrote the preface to Lee's "Simple on a soapbox" (Auckland, 1963), saying that if Savage's death and the Labour Party conference had not coincided then he doubted Labour would have been able to expel Lee. This implies that Lee's supposed popularity in the Party was only overcome by sympathy for a dying Savage. In the same book Lee was under the impression that Langstone's appointment to Ottawa was a surprise to Langstone (page 251), whereas Langstone actually chose to go there. Lee recognised Langstone's honesty, his ability to popularise the concept of guaranteed produce prices, his support for nationalising the banking system and his orat ory. The preface was in fact the beginning point for some assessment of Langstone's role in New Zealand political history, while he was still alive.

In 1964, P.J. O'Farrell's "Harry Holland, militant socialist" (Canberra, Australian National University) noted that Langstone was a moderate on the issue of land nationalisation in the mid 1920's, and amongst those who initially supported the United government after the 1928 election identifying with the legacy of Seddon. All things opposed by Holland. Holland also felt personally sidelined by Langstone, at the time Party President, at the time of the 1933 Lyttelton by election, but conceded that Langstone was unsurpassed in stating the Labour case to the farmers in the electorate (page 206).

In 1967, Leslie Hobb's "Thirty year wonders" (Wellington, Whitcombe & Tombs) described Langstone as underestimated both in his intelligence and his level of popular support, and cited his continuing ability to reflect the radicalism of the pre-1935 Labour Party (p126-7).

Sir Keith Sinclair's "Walter Nash" (Auckland, Auckland University Press, 1976) later dismissed Langstone as learning "his economics running the Railway Station refreshment room at Taumarunui ... (and as being) ... the best known Labour currency crank" (page 105). Sinclair generally believed that Langstone was ignorant in economic matters (page 382). However, Langstone ran a restaurant, and not the Railway Refreshment Room, in Taumarunui, and while a self-described "currency crank", had read widely in economics. In the despair of the 1930's, and the apparent failure of orthodox economics, works on monetary reform had wide popularity. Such works were based on a lack of trust for the views of trained economists and believed in international financial conspiracies.

Michael King's "Te Puea" (Auckland, Hodder & Stoughton, 1977) attacked Langstone's record while in charge of the Ministry of Native Affairs. King noted that while previously critical of Ngata and the Coalition government's Maori land development projects, which according to Langstone "might as well have been given to children" (P.D. 1935, v241, p747), Langstone then overestimated his role in their post-1935 success ("Te Puea" page 159, citing speech notes for the opening of Turongo House in the Michael Jones Papers). Michael Rotohiko (Mick) Jones became the Native Affairs' Ministerial Private Secretary, on Langstone's insistence, after the sudden death of Raumoa Balneavis in May 1940. Langstone had known Jones' father in the King Country.

Langstone also incurred the ire of Princess Te Puea, who henceforth referred to him as "fish and chips", after his former restaurant career. Te Puea had sought government loan assistance to purchase pakeha owned land near her pa in Ngaruawahia, to provide her with a farm and home. Langstone had rejected this, saying that developing idle Maori land was of greater importance, and lectured her on keeping her people under control. He wrote to her that "I suggest that the maintenance of your farm to a high degree of productiveness is of paramount importance and should not be left to the mercies of some of your young men" ("Te Puea", page 198, quoting a letter from the Michael Jones Papers, 11/4/1938).

Langstone's attitude was condemned by Te Puea as typical of politicians who approved of things in principle, but wouldn't front up with the finance when needed. Langstone further provided the final straw for Waikato's boycott of the 1940 Centennial celebrations. The invitations from his office were very pro forma, and a letter at the time lectured her on needing to be more appreciative of all that had been done for Maori ("Te Puea", p205, citing a letter from the Ramsden Papers, 31/1/1940). Te Puea by-passed Langstone, even although on Savage's death he officially became Minister of Native Affairs, in favour of a more sympathetic Peter Fraser. Later, Fraser himself became Minister for Native Affairs. King confirms that Savage had, while nominally the Minister, delegated most of the responsibility for Native Affairs to Langstone.

G.V. Butterworth and H.R. Young's official history of "Maori Affairs" (Wellington, Iwi Transition Agency, 1990) confirmed Savage had not the time or energy for the Native Affairs portfolio, with responsibility going to Langstone. While acknowledging Langstone's contribution to land development, employment and housing programmes for Maori, they conclude that Langstone did not, or perhaps could not, translate his knowledge of Maori concerns into new policies. It was not until Fraser became responsible for the portfolio that new initiatives began.

Sir Alister Donald McIntosh (1906 - 1978) worked in the Prime Minister's Department from 1935, becoming Permanent Head from 1945, and was also Secretary for External Affairs from 1943. Sir Carl August Berendsen 1890 - 1973) was Head of the Prime Minister's Department to 1943 and created the External Affairs Department. In their correspondence "Undiplomatic dialogue ... ", edited by Ian McGibbon, (Auckland, Auckland University Press, 1993) McIntosh notes that John A. Lee and Langstone were the only opponents of retaining New Zealand's military division in the Middle East in May 1943. McIntosh wrote that Langstone's opposition to the conscription referendum, which McIntosh supported, was Langstone merely settling old scores, no doubt with Fraser. Berendsen was more friendly to Langstone, being sad to see him go from the Labour Party and liking him as a person, but also saying he tended to be "off on the wrong foot" p 181.

Michael King and Michael Bassett in "Tomorrow comes the song, a life of Peter Fraser" (Penguin, 2000) echo earlier criticism. Langstone is said to have been wanted to succeed Holland as leader, rather he was more ambitious for Lee, and "shown few signs of real ability" (page 140). Bassett also writes that Fraser wanted to be rid of him in Washington "because of his extreme monetary views and his unpopularity with Maori in his capacity as Native Ministers" (page 204). Further that he had made a "poor impression" (page 205) while there. Bassett does however agree with McIntosh's judgement that "the tangled story of the Washington appointment ... brought no credit to the Prime Minister" (page 205).

Mary Logan's 2008 biography of Arnold Nordmeyer "Nordy" offers no new insights, apart from adding in a suspicion that Langstone and Nordy were amongst those whose telephones were bugged on Fraser's orders.

The most perceptive commentator on Langstone was Charles Morgan Williams, who served with Langstone in Parliament while Labour M.P. for Kaiapoi 1935 - 1946 (WTU MS 998, folder 1). Williams described Langstone as the most colourful Labour Party member after John A. Lee, and fondly recalls his "revivalist .. torrent of eloquent words", with a "prodigious stock" of quotations. Williams summed up Langstone's economic theories with \'93 (Langstone) tried many times to prove to me that Banks never lend their d eposits, that every bank overdraft is a creation of new money, and that therefore all we needed to do to finance the War or carry out land settlement, or to do anything else we want to do, was to acquire the trading banks and issue unlimited credit". Williams confesses that often he lost the thread of Langstone's arguments, but commends his sincerity and honesty.

Williams perhaps over plays the conflict between Nash and Langstone, but notes that "Peter Fraser's attitude has been a model of self-control a nd restraint". He regarded Langstone as "quite a successful administrator" and "indefatigable and resolute" when Minister of Lands, also shrewd, thrifty and careful. He notes "the Maoris did not like him because he would not give them all they wanted, but he was energetic and conscientious and very keen in improving the housing conditions of the Maoris". He concludes that Langstone was "a man of great natural ability and energy, who made the best of his limited opportunities and education and by his integrity and force of character (rose) very high in the councils of the nation".

Langstone also began to figure in newspaper articles recalling the first Labour government. The "Dominion" of 8 October 1964 recalled his "polished invective". The "N.Z. Truth" of 12 December 1967 (page 5) apologised for thinking he was dead. When contacted by the "N.Z. Truth" journalist, Langstone was described by Mollie as hale and hearty, and clipping the hedges. The "N.Z. Truth" described him as a fish and chip shop proprietor, most restaurants in the 1920's served just fried fish and grilled meat. The paper also called him Parliament's first advocate of Douglas Social Credit (he preferred the views of other money reformers to those of Douglas), probably the first to advocate guaranteed prices (the consensus is that it was Nash), a good administrator, and sent to Washington to get rid of him where he was relegated to opening the mail (in fact he was asked to go by Fraser and in fact would have been better "rid of" if he had been made Minister to Washington). The paper also said he threatened to punch Fraser on the nose, this was unlikely to have been carried out.

The "N.Z. Herald" of 29 June 1968 interviewed him on the achievements of the first Labour government. Langstone now finally used a hearing aid, but his almost mischievous grin and out-thrust jaw were both remarked upon by the journalists. He recalled "naturally we were very elated that night (election night 1935) it was such a magnificent victory. I thought the policy proclaimed by the Labour leaders for years - the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange - would be put into effective operation. The real crux of the question was being able to control finance in order to stabilise the internal price level. I was against the usurer's form of debt ... (the leaders) had not given a great deal of thought to the economic aspect. They were more politically minded. Fraser was a very wily bird, he stood for the status quo. We started to lose seats, I wanted them to take over the Bank of New Zealand right away when a take-over would have captured the imagination of the people. But the powers that be were too great and things went from bad to worse. Then after the war Fraser, who had years before stamped on the flag, wanted to introduce peacetime conscription, although it was contrary to long standing Labour policy. I resigned on this issue. I told my wife, Molly, that night (election night 1949) remember, they will never hurt us, they will hurt only themselves". Langstone acknowledged Labour's achievements in social and invalidity security, state housing and the 40 hour week and despite standing as a Social Credit candidate, still regarded himself as a socialist.

Langstone's eyesight began to deteriorate and in 1966 he taught himself to touch type ("N.Z. Herald" 12/9/1966). Reading and playing bowls were his favourite pastimes. He also wrote letters, notes and recorded poems, most of a social nature. He contemplated writing an autobiography, but claimed his grammar would let him down. The details he wanted to record covered the last years of the Labour government, and ignored his earlier achievements with Maori, his administrative successes and his continued support for the rural sector. The important events for his autobiography would be the minor split he had caused in Labour with his resignation and his monetary reform ideas.

He was publicly active until the last. At a Rationalist Association dinner in late 1968 he spoke in support of rationalism. As well as speaking on the American rationalist Robert Ingersoll in 1950, he had also spoken to the Association on 7 July 1952 on the "practicability of an internal price level" and on 30 August 1953 on the poems of Robbie Burns (1759 - 1796).

He died 15 June 1969 at his home of a heart attack. His death certificate says he suffered for three days with heart failure, having suffered from coronary atherosclerosis for years. Incorrectly, the certificate als o said he had suffered from senility for years. The rationalist service was held on 17 June 1969, he was cremated at Waikumete, and then buried at Purewa without a headstone. His warm nature, love of life and personal popularity were evident at the large funeral. Three sons, two daughters and no fewer than twenty grandsons survived him. His second wife, Mollie, later joined the New Democrat split from Social Credit and stood under their banner in the Onehunga electorate in 1972 (Auckland Star 19/10/1972, 22/11/1972). A grandson, F.L. Langstone, stood as an independent in Taupo in 1972 (N.Z. Herald 24/8/1972). Mollie died on 22 November 2002 (New Zealand Herald 25/11/2002, D6).

Obituaries for Langstone varied. The "N.Z. Herald" of 17 June 1969 described him as a "Minister, rebel and orator". However, its depiction of him as working in a shearing shed was incorrect (he was a blacksmith and probably never worked as a shearer). The "N.Z. Herald" of 16 June 1969 described him entering Parliament in 1919 (it was 1922). It also quoted John A. Lee as saying "he had the passion and the command of language of a true orator and he also had a big heart for humanity".

He was also incorrectly described as a founder of the "Maoriland Worker", he in fact began a subscription a little after it began, but did play a small part in its transfer to the Workers' Union). The real founders and editors were Ettie Rout and Michael Laracy. Lee also described the close partnership between him and Langstone, although it wasn't constant, and said Langstone resigned over his expulsion from the Labour Party, citing Langstone's 1940 resignation letter. However, unlike Lee Langstone was distressed by Savage's death and the resignation letter was actually over the joint War Cabinet. Lee also said Langstone was moved to Washington, he was asked and agreed to go. Lee confirmed Langstone's reputation as a good administrator, and regarded him as outspoken and frank, a judgement previously made of him by Clyde Carr in 1936.

The "N.Z. Financial Times", in an article entitled "Frank Langstone - last of Labour's oldtime rebels - had his great moments", repeated incorrectly that he had resigned from Cabinet because of Lee's expulsion, but noted his "capacity to grasp immediately the intricate details of all the involved problems with which he had to deal" and quoted Sir Carl Berendsen as saying that he "was the ablest Minister he had ever served under" ("NZ Financial Times" 10/7/1969, p523). The same article repeated the story that Langstone threatened to punch Fraser on the nose in Canada, and lamented the lack of rugged individualists and robust independents such as Langstone in Parliament.

To the end Langstone linked socialism with monetary reform.