THE MANUKAU BY-ELECTION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21904, 3 October 1936, Page 16

THE MANUKAU BY-ELECTION

VIEWS OF: NATIONAL .. * .. PARTY CHAIRMAN.

“A SWING AWAY FROM THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT”

LABOUR’S ORGANISATION

(PftBSS ASSOCIATION telegram.) WELLINGTON, October 2. Mr C. H. Weston, K.C., chairman of the Dominion executive of the National party, in a statement on the result of the Manukau by-election, said that In his view the figures of the voting fhowed the beginning of the swing , away from the existing Government. which seemed to be inevitable in New Zealand politics, as a result of the system Which had been more and more followed in the last 30 years, of governments taking a hand in the voters’ private affairs. .. “In consequence,” Mr Weston said, a Minister spends most of his administrative day making semi-judicial daemons between two sets of opposing Interests one of which his decision will mortally offend because its pocket is affected. In a country with a small population this position is accentuated by the fact of our being so close to one another. The careers of New Zealand Ministers during the last 20 years bear out this opinion, as their lives do not seem to extend much beyond one Parliament. “The Manukau by-Mection was very l keenly fought, and as far as the National party is concerned Its candidate was good, the organisation was excellent. and the co-operation between the Parliamentary party and the Dominion and Auckland executives of the warmest character. . , x _ . “But we must take Our hats cfl to the Labour organisation," said Mr •Weston. “I suppose the New Zealand Labour political machine to-day is probably the most perfect of its kind in the world. Everything was attended to, down to the last detail. With contributions from compulsory unions its funds are ample, and it can afford, including trade union organisers, as distinct from secretaries, to have more than 200 organisers working in New Zealand at the present time. keen,, efficient and well-paid, To the National party it is a& example and a warning.”

“A LESSON TO BE LEARNED”

“OUTMANOEUVRED AT EVERY TURN”

MR F. W. DOIDGE’S COMMENT (BRASS ASSOCIATION ICLRGRAII.I * AUCKLAND. October 2. “There is a lesson to be learned from the Manukau election by the non-socialistic forces of the Dominion," said Mr F. W. Doidge, in an address to campaign helpers to-day at the Auckland National party headquarters, “We were outmanoeuvred at every turn," he said. “For every worker we had, my Labour opponent had JO; for every motor, he had three." Mr Doidge said that the organisation in Manukau was a foretaste of what would happen at the next general election, when Labour would have the benefit of union funds. Through compulsory unionism the Jaw permitted a contribution of up to a shilling a week; but if the average was sixpence the yield would be half a million a year. He said it was no good to sit back and await the swing of the political pendulum: and a laisses faire policy would be suicide. The socialists would spend the next two years organising as never before, and' with a £1,000.000 fighting fund would build up an almost impregnable Sosition. If Labour were successful at ie next election the country would go, and there would be a Socialist Government .in power in perpetuity. *Mr Doidge said that the National party must build now and quickly, or it would pay a penalty no sane person would care to contemplate. s