LOCAL BODY POLLS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24270, 30 May 1944, Page 4

LOCAL BODY POLLS

“Swing In Public Opinion” MR HOLLAND’S COMMENT “The results of the municipal elections speak eloquently for themselves, said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) in an address to the annual meeting of the Avon branch of the National Party last evening. “Of course the National Party is not entitled to claim credit for the results, but we cannot be blamed for taking notice of them, as they demonstrate a remarkable swing in public opinion, which is a development that was shown in the General Election six months ago. "We of the , National Party,’’ continued Mr Holland, "must be careful not to allow ourselves to be carried away by this clear indication of coming changes. Wherever I have been, I have detected unmistakable indications of a change in public opinion, and Saturday’s voting strengthened my previously expressed view that, after the next General Election, the National Party will be called upon to form a Government. That prospect should impress on us the vital need of preparing ourselves for that great responsibility. “We must always remember that it is not just office we are seeking; that would indeed be but an empty aim. We merely seek office as a means to an end, and that end is the good we can do in the interests of the public we seek, to serve. We have two and a half years in which to complete our preparations, and not a day, not an hour, must be lost in our urgent task of preparing ourselves for the great opportunity of government.’’