Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1947. Mount Albert By-Election

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 September 1947, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1947. Mount Albert By-Election

’T’HE Government’s retention of the Mt Albert seat by a reduced majority is certainly not a result in which it can take any comfort. Only nine months after the last election, an electorate' in which a solid Labour vote would naturally be expected has given a further indication of the gradual but definite swing of public opinion within its borders away from the Socialist philosophy of the Government. On the face of it, however, the result, though heartening, may not be considered by many to be one to give cause for any great jubilation in the Opposition’s ranks. But a closer consideration of all the factors shows that the Opposition has continued to make the steady advance which has characterised its growth to a powerful political force, until now, among the European section of the community, it can claim support about equal to that accorded the Government.

Mount Albert has been recognised as a preponderantly Labour district. For that reason the decline in the Government’s majority is significant. It shows, just as the Avon electorate showed in a by-election earlier in the year, that the Government no longer commands such support among the European section of the population as would entitle it to claim a clear mandate. As two Labour strongholds —Avon’s verdict was even more significant —have after only nine months’ experience of the new Parliament recorded between them a substantial decline in support for the Government, it is only reasonable to assume that in those electorates where its majorities last November were much smaller, and in some cases very small, the swing away from Socialist policy would be such as to carry the Opposition into power, were an election to be held at the present time. In the ordinary course of events —that is, unless the Government has some more electoral manoeuvres in store—the life of the present Parliament has only two years to run. It will be an uneasy period for the astute Mr Fraser and his colleagues. There have been clear indications in recent months of their awareness of the growing anti-Socialist feeling in the electorate and this has been reflected in their efforts to stave off the increasing pressure of the extremists among their supporters. It is becoming increasingly obvious, however, that they are fighting two losing fights—both within the party and without. A by-election poll is usually smaller than that recorded at a general election. In Mt. Albert yesterday, however, the poll was remarkably high, the provisional or first count total of 12,182 votes being recorded, against 12,611 in November last, a decline of only 429. The National Party vote at 5325 was only 92 less than that in November last, whereas the Government vote at 6857 was 337 less. In other words the National Party vote contributed only 92 to the decline of 429 in the total vote, whereas the Government contributed 337, It will no doubt be argued in this connection that the National Party is better organised. Anyone who is prepared to believe that fiction is equally willing to accept the fantastic proposition that Socialism, instead of being the dangerous but badly discredited theory that it is, is the remedy for all economic and spiritual ills.