AUCKLAND WEST SEAT

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22983, 1 April 1940, Page 1 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND WEST SEAT

NATIONAL PARTY’S POSITION (From Our Own Reporter.) WELLINGTON. March 31. Although a definite decision has yet to be made, it is almost certain that the National Party will not contest the Auckland West by-election, made necessary by the death of Mr Savage. The situation will be discussed by a caucus of the National Party convened a fortnight ago for next Wednesday. The Government and Labour Opposition in England have agreed not to contest by-elections which arise during the war, but no similar understanding exists between the two parties in New Zealand. The last test of the feeling of the electorate on the Government’s legislation since it was returned to office in 1938 was last June, when a by-elec-tion was held for the Christchurch South seat made vacant by the death of Mr E. J. Howard. At that poll the National candidate reduced Labour’s majority. Although responsible National Party members disagree with the contention that Auckland West should now be considered a safe Labour seat, they have a strong reluctance to make the electorate a political forum at this stage. The sympathy vote for the official Labour candidate is expected to be so heavy as to make forlorn any hope that an Opposition candidate could succeed.