MR POLSON'S COMMENT

Evening Star, Issue 25495, 28 May 1945, Page 4

MR POLSON'S COMMENT

LABOUR MADE IT A TEST NOW HAS PUBLIC VERDICT tt'.A.) NKW PLYMOUTH, May 27. Commenting on the result of the Hamilton by-election, the Acting Leader of the Opposition, Mr W. J. Poison, said the victory was particularly satisfactory to the National Party inasmuch as it resulted in the sending to Parliament of a woman who had proved by her service to her town that she was capable of giving great service to her country, particularly in regard to women's affairs. " Labour protagonists at the outset of the campaign suggested that it would be a test of Government policy," said Mr Poison. " That challenge the National Party accepted, with the result that 7,490 votes were registered against the Government and 5,260 for it in 'what is really a city electorate. In addition, an inexperienced woman candidate "defeated an experienced Labour supporter, a former holder of the seat, by nearly 1,000 votes, a very substantial increase over the majority by which the same Labour candidate was defeated last time. Labour's vote has dropped steadilv, and this time is down bv 2,460 on the return in 1938, when Labour last won the seat. " It is clear from the figures in by-elections at Awarua and Hamilton," Mr Poison continued, " that there is a realisation on the part of the electors that the policy of the Government, leading as it does to bureaucracy and totalir tarianism, is already stifling initiative and destroying progress. It is increasingly obvious that the Government no longer enjoys the confidence of the people. Its policy has been tried at Hamilton and condemned. " In the face of this defeat, will the Government still proceed to conduct a census that is a .fraud on the electorates? " Mr Poison asked. "Will it still carry on with the nationalisation of the banks? Will it still pursue its tax-and-spend programme? Will licensing, restrictions, and monopolies continue? Hamilton's clear and unmistakable verdict is that theso things shall not continue."