Election Issue Prediction Risky For Nelson Seat

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28445, 27 November 1957, Page 16

Election Issue Prediction Risky For Nelson Seat

(From Our Own Reporter)

NELSON, Nov. 26. Of the three electorates in the north of the South Island. Marlborough, Nelson and Buller the sitting members will win in Marlborough and Buller but a big question mark hangs over Nelson. At present Marlborough and Nelson are National and Buller Labour. Both Buller and Marlborough are geographically extensive constituencies. even more so under the changed boundaries. Buller has about 440 more electors on the roll than in 1954, and Marlborough some 240 fewer. j At the last election the deputyleader of the Opposition, Mr C. F. Skinner, had a majority of 3348. His opponents on Saturday, Mr N. L. Bensemann (National) and Mr P. H. Matthews (Social Credit) are both from the Golden Bay end of the electorate but neither will , worry him. Mr Skinner is expected to increase his vote on the Coast. In Marlborough the PostmasterGeneral. Mr T. P. Shand, is opposed by a Nelson orchardist. Mr R. Evans, for Labour, and Mri G. R. Kerr for Social Credit.' Neither can be considered strong contenders, though Mr Evans has been vocal on the hustings. Last time Mr Shand cleared a majority of 1635. The seat will be his again, but his disinclination to come close to local issues like the Picton-Wellington ferry replacement may reduce his support among some urban voters. While it still runs into the Waimeas, Nelson is more of a compact urban electorate than ever before. There are 16.725 electors on the roll, compared with 16.646; in 1954. when Mr E. R. Neale won t for the fourth time in succession by a not very impressive majority, of 717. Mr Neale has always enjoyed a considerable personal following in Nelson. Now he has retired from politics, the new National aspirant being 42-year-old Mr C. W. Martin, a Waimea dairyfarmer, seven years out from j England, where he was in pre-

cision tools manufacturing. He has made a good job of the campaign but is not nearly as well known as Mr Neale or as his resourceful Labour opponent. Mr S. A. Whitehead, who is making his third attempt to win the seat. An able woman who is also a diligent temperance worker. Mrs C. Toomer represents Social Credit in the field. Ever since the nay when Mr Harry Atmore had a good run against all-comers. Nelson politically has been prone to belie its atmosphere of conservatism though it has never yet returned an official Labour candidate. In this respect Labour supporters are reasonably confident that they will make history on Saturday. Mr Nash had by far the most enthusiastic meeting of the visiting leading speakers to Nelson. He did not forget the contentious local issues such as loss of the railway and loss of the direct Nelson-Wellington ferry. He has promised that Labour, if elected the Government, will take early steps to connect Nelson with the (South Island main trunk and will give early attention to Nelson’s air and sea services. The National policy does not match that. It would be wrong to think that the vexed issue of the railway is dead in Nelson even though the “notional railway’’ has been introduced. The frustration engendered is still there, though perhaps a little of the edge has worn off it. The residue will definitely have an influence on the election in favour of Mr Nash and the Labour candidate. Mr Whitehead, who has been I making the best of his party’s {promises, regional and national. New! Revolutionary! PRIMUS PROPANE GAS APPLIANCES for CAMPERS and TRADESMEN at ASHBY, BERGH'S, High street —Advt.