Election Result Analysed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31248, 21 December 1966, Page 8

Election Result Analysed

The Government had been returned to power because it had not disturbed the comfortable existence of the New Zealand people, Dr A. V. Mitchell, senior lecturer in political science at the University of Canterbury said yesterday.

He told the Canterbury Division of the New Zealand Institute of Management that the election result had indicated that the mood of the electorate had not changed, nor had Government actions fostered a deep feeling of discontent. This could have resulted from sheer luck, good statesmanship, good politics "or something.” Dr. Mitchell said the electorate was not qualified to judge on what had become the two key issues of the election—the Vietnam war and the economic situation.

The pressure between the two issues in the minds of many people was probably the reason for the substantial increase in the mumber who abstained from voting. Dr. Mitchell admitted being puzzled by the policies of the main parties on the Vietnam question. The best explanation, he thought, was that the parties might be looking to young people or those who would vote 19 or 20 years from now.

One of the results of the election was the sharp swing to the Social Credit Political League, which, he said, had improved its public standing by toning down its basic theories.

A university survey just completed in the St. Albans and Christchurch Central electorates had confirmed the leader of the Social Credit Party (Mr V. F. Cracknell) as the most popular television personality.

Television had therefore helped to swing the nation to Social Credit, he said.

Questioned after the address. Dr. Mitchell said the Social Credit Party would probably maintain its foothold at the next election.

He said the 15 per cent of people who did not vote (an increase of four per cent on 1963) included those who had no long-term allegiance to any party, or had been influenced by the "blunders and ineptitude” of the Government. The passing of the News Media Bill, the security affair at Auckland University and the desire of the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Scott) to incorporate fishery techniques into his portfolio had affected the abstainers. The sectional nature of voting—swings in rural areas against the Government, and against Labour in the cities —had been more marked than before, he said. The Government had lost 6 per cent in the country areas, all to Social Credit, while in the urban areas Labour had lost heavily because of abstensions. In Wellington, Labour had lost 6 per cent; in Christchurch, 5 per cent; in Auckland, 4 per cent; and in Dunedin, 2 per cent. Dr. Mitchell said the Government had many problems to face during the next three years.

Mr Holyoake now admitted that economic problems did exist. On the other hand, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) had become established as a leader. “He may well emerge as the party’s best leader. He is a man of the people,” Dr. Mitchell said.