THE GREY ELECTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 128, 30 May 1918, Page 4

THE GREY ELECTION.

It was felt that tne opponent of the Labour candidate in the Grey by-election had but a small chance of success, and in other parts of the Dominion little interest was taken in the contest. Bu' that the expected happened does not lessen the regret of all citizens who are determined on victory that Mr. Holland should now be a member of the New Zealand Parliament. A man who has tried to hamper his country's war efforts, should not be one of the legislators of a country that has bled and suffered as New Zealand has done in the last four years. There is some consolation in the fact while Mr. Webb's majority in 1014 was nearly a thousand, Mr. Holland's majority yesterday was only 210. This small majority might have been wiped out had there been more propaganda work in this isolated electorate, the Labour section of which is probably very ill-informed as to the causes and issues of the war. The result of the election casts some doubt on the expediency of the policy that resulted in Mr. Webb being disqualified as a member, for there has been chosen in his place an abler and more determined man, -who is more bitter in his views, and has more ability to express his bitterness. Parliament, however, is a good school for extremists. Outside they may be uncrowned kings of groups or parties, but inside they find a much lower level of importance. Mr. Holland will find this, as other firebrands have done.