The Press Thursday, October 29, 1925. Christchurch North.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18525, 29 October 1925, Page 8

The Press Thursday, October 29, 1925. Christchurch North.

In jio other electorate have the supporters of fho Government —which is. standing for the patriotic majority of sensible and progressive New Zealanders against the Reds and the treacherous lees of the old Liberal Party—so signal an opportunity to strike a resounding blow for the national interests as in Christchurch North. As long ago as 3914 the convinced Reformers numbered 4005 in a poll of 0227, or 43 per cent.; and since 19.11 the Reform Party has been gathering strength while the Liberal Party has been evaporating to the dregs. At the election of 1919 the strength of the Labour vote, thitherto given to the Liberal Party, revealed itself as amounting to 3600, or 37 per cent, of the total. In that year Mr Isitt was solidly supported by the Reform voters, who were determined to recognise the attitude of their old opponent during the war. Mr Isitt on that occasion obtained 63 per cent, of the valid votes cast. From these two results (those of 1914 and of 1919) it is as obvious as anything can be that the three Parties stood in the following numerical relation to each other: — Reform .. 43 per cent. Labour .. 37 per cent. , Liberal .. 20 per cent. The election of 1922 showed that there had been a further movement towards Reform. Mr Isitt received the backing of the Reform Party and the support of " The Press," and certainly received the bulk of the Reform vote, part of which went to Mr Andrews, who stood as an unofficial and at that time ' unwanted candidate. Mr Andrews's vote was 2144, and more Reformers than that —one may safely say nearly 3000—voted for Mr Isitt, whose. votes numbered 5244." We know that sonic Liberals —the dregs of the diehard Part}- —voted in their bitterness for Mr Andrews, who, we arc sure, did not in the least desire them. The votes in 1922 were therefore approximately:

Reformers .. 5000 or 46-V per cent. Labourites .. 3300 or 3.1 per cent. Liberals .. 2400 or 22i per cent. The Liberal Party in Christchurch North is therefore, and long has been, the Weakest of- the three. Its candidate is certain to be at the bottom of the poll. If the Reform voters do their duty, and vote solidly for Mr Holland, Dr. Thacker will come much nearer to losing his deposit than he thinks possible. But if the Reform voters are careless, or over-confident, they may allow the Red candidate to slip in, because it is quite likely ,that, many Thackerites, animated only by a! desire to defeat Mr Holland at any cost/ may vote for Mr Cooke. The first duty, therefore, of the friends of sane and stable government is to vote solidly for Mr Holland, but it is the duty of all electors in all seats to take note of the fact that the Liberals have nominated a. candidate who cannot possibly succeed. This they have done with the single purpose of helping the Reds' candidate. And as they have chosen Christchurch North for so conspicuous a demonstration of their reckless disregard of the national interests, so we hope that the honest majority in Chriatchttrch North will resolve to inflict v. signal chastisement upon them.