NO EXCUSES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 255, 25 July 1935, Page 10

NO EXCUSES

Acting-Prime Minister’s

Comment

LABOUR MAJORITY CUT

Congratulations and a

Tribute

Commenting on the result ol the poll last night, the Acting-Prime Mini.su.-r, Hon. Sir Alfred Ransom, said:— ‘•There is little more to Ik- said at the moment than to congratulate Mr. McCombs on achieving success at his first effort. Not only has he retained lor iiis party a seat that had come to be regarded as a Labour stronghold, but he lias followed in the footsteps of his parents, thus making a unique record of successive family representation in Now Zealand’s Parliament. It is true that his majority is almost a thousand votes less than the aggregate polled for his mother, the late Mrs. Elizabeth McCombs, two years ago. and that fact may be attributed fairly to the calibre of his main opponent. “Beyond any doubt Mr. Lyons, as the Government party’s candidate, deserves praise for the courageous manner in which he contested tlie seat, and also for the substantial measure of support lie secured. He fought alone and fought well, showing clearly in his platform work a keen knowledge. of political problems and an appreciation of the abnormal difficulties which have confronted the Government throughout a long period of world-wide depression, a depression which in this country necessitated a dutiful exercise of a policy inevitably unpopular, although demonstrably beneficial.

“It may be observed that tlie results of the contest show that the electorate bad practically no interest at all in socalled independence in politics. The two Independent candidates failed to gain 150 votes between them. The contest was almost entirely confined to the Labour and Government candidates. Labour won, but its majority was cut down. There is probably as much or as little political significance in that as there is in the defeat of Mr. Lyons, whcrlias no reason to be discouraged at the result.’’ OTAKI SEAT Nationalist Candidature Although four names have been mentioned as prospective National Political Federation candidates for the Otaki seat, it is unlikely that the forthcoming ballot will proceed as originally announced until the differences that have arisen are smoothed out The prospective candidates named were Messrs. G. A. Monk, A. B. Sievwright, W. Appleton, and Dunbar Sloane. Mr. Appleton has drawn the attention of the federation to the fact that his name ■whs included without his permission. Another of the prospective candidates is believed to have taken similar action. It is reported that the position that has arisen will he discussed by the federation executive before the end of the week.