MRS McCOMBS' VICTORY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 286, 14 September 1933, Page 4

MRS McCOMBS' VICTORY.

Members and supporters of all political parties will to-day extend to Mrs McCombs sincere congratulations on her epoch-making victory in the Lyttelton by-election. It is a peculiar circumstance that whereas this Dominion was the first country to confer on women the legislative right to sit in Parliament, other nations, notably Britain, have led the way in the matter of election. As a pioneer Mrs McCombs may be expected to set a high standard for those who may follow. Throughout a long and active service in. public life she has proved herself possessed of the qualifications that make for success in the political arena. Her victory yesterday was in part a tribute to her own personal qualities and qualifications, and in part a tribute to her late husband. In this respect Mrs McCombs commanded the votes of many who do not approve of her political platform, their suffrage in many cases being cast in her favour because her return would not affect the relative strength of parties. But there is also to be considered the fact that the Coalition Administration has lost a certain measure of the support that was accorded it at the last general election. This is the natural fate of coalitions • generally in British communities, but in this case there are two factors that weigh the scales. First the national conditions under which it has been working Avould conduce to dissatisfaction with any government, and secondly the magnitude of the task that had to be accomplished necessitated a vigorous policy imposing restrictions and curtailments the grievousness of which was magnified by contrast with., the previous boom conditions, also its very magnitude made the'task one in which errors were,to be expected. But the party aspect of the election is of minor significance compared with the fact that the doors 'of Parliament will at last open to the entry of a woman representative. Mrs .McCombs may be relied upon to smooth the path for women candidates in' future contests.