Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1944. ELECTIONS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 October 1944, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1944. ELECTIONS.

A WARUA is said to be Maori for Bluff, and our Labour contemporary apparently remembered this when attempting to explain away the Party’s rout at Saturday’s by-election. The National victory was no surprise, but the extent of it was unexpected, even although Mr. Fraser, Mr. Nash and other Labour Ministers had delivered addresses during the election campaign. It would be extravagant to claim that the Awarua result was important, but it did demonstrate the increasing lack of confidence in Labour administration, and it is fairly certain that most other constituencies will record a similar verdict, when given an opportunity. Awarua will give the Ministers and the forthcoming Labour conferences something to think about, if thought is encouraged at such gatherings. There is little evidence of it. Congratulations to the new Member and condolences with the rejected will be general. Mr. Herron, a Southlander born standing for a Southland constituency, has many associations with the district, and had other advantages over his opponents. The Labour candidate was fighting a forlorn hope, and did well under the circumstances. The Real Democracy’s appeal was not taken seriously, and this Party’s representative lost his deposit. Apparently. R.D. without laurel? In this contest, split voting was at a minimum, but the introduction of “independent,” or new organisation candidates is a responsibility that should not be lightly undertaken by those dissatisfied with either of the two main Parties. It is to be hoped that before the next general elections are due, any “freak” political offshoots will have been pruned, and a clear clean fight left between National and. Socialist. The elections in U.S.A, will be the next polling result awaited. Sometime next year Britain is expected to have a general election, the first for ten years. The present Parliament is the longest lived since 1661. The normal term is five years. There has been tremendous difficulty in compiling a new register of voters, millions of young men and women being now qualified by age to vote. The prophets are busy estimating how the support of these new voters will go, Conservatives and Labour being equally optimistic, but one guess appears to be as good as another. Anol her change is a measure of redistril)iilion, some huge constituencies being subdivided, the size of the Commons membership being increased to 640. Romford and Hendon will each be split into four seats, and Harrow into three. Epping, Mr. Churchill’s constituency, will be divided info two. The other constituencies to be divided into two are Mosley (Birmingham), Blackpool, Ilford, Wycombe, Altrincham. South-east Essex, St. Albans,

Chisleliurst, Dartford, Twickenham, Uxbridge, Epsom, Mitcham, Horsham and Worthing, Nuneaton and Tamworth. The Coalition Government is not expected to continue, and there are to be open contests between present co-operators.