MANUKAU POLL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 233, 1 October 1936, Page 3

MANUKAU POLL.

POLICY ENDORSED. i MR. SAVAGE SATISFIED. LABOUR'S STRONG POSITION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. "If tlie result of the Mtinukau byelection is not a clear and emphatic endorsement of tlie Labour Government's policy and practice since assuming oliice, then 1 am no judge of the 'political feeling of this country," said the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. M. J. Savage, to-night. He added; '"'l'lie figures' tell tlieir own story. There were fewer votes against the Labour candidate on this occasion than against Mr. Jordan at the general election." Mr. Savage said the interest shown was outstanding, in view of the fact that a by-election never aroused such interest as a general election. It should not lie overlooked that the successful candidate was making his first appearance in tlie electorate, although he had proved an able campaigner in another Auckland electorate. Moreover, Mr. Osborne followed Mr. Jordan, who was one of the oldest, most skilful and bestliked members of the Labour party in the Dominion. "The result of the poll provides evidence that the electors of Manukau have some misgivings as to the wisdom of the Government's policy," said the Leader of the Opposition, the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes. He commented that an examination of the figures recorded at th» general election was interesting, as they showed that Labour then received 9345 votes. There were then two candidates opposed to the Nationalist, and the poll against that candidate was 10,305. At the byelection the vote against the National party was 8241. Apart from the absentee votes to come, the National party had therefore received an increase of nearly 000 votes over the vote in 1935. It was true, lie said, that the Labour party had elected its candidate, but it was also evident that the support of Labour in one of its strongholds had been shaken in spite of almost frenzied appeals from the Prime Minister, his party and the Labour Press. for a majority greater than Mr. Jordan's. Yet the electors of Manukau had not so far hp (I time to feel the full effect of the Government's measures in increasing the cost of living, and in restricting personal liberty.