Labour Retains Mt Albert With Reduced Majority

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 September 1947, Page 2

Labour Retains Mt Albert With Reduced Majority

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 24. The Government retained the Mount Albert seat and its majority of four in the House of Representatives when the by-election caused by the death of Mr A. S. Richards was held today. The Labour candidate, Mr W. W. Freer, gained a majority of 1532 over the National candidate, Mr C. J. Garland. Mr Richards’s majority over Mr F. A. Hosking (National) in the General Election was 1857. Mr Freer’s total was 6587 votes, and Mr Garland’s 5325. Postal, absentee, seamen’s and declaration votes, which are still to come, total 859. J Force votes, which probably number about 60, were not available this evening. The poll was a good one, 13,041 of 14,839 electors on the roll voting. In the General Election when there were 14,288 on the rolls, 13,583 voted. “1 am extremely pleased that the electors of Mount Albert have declared so definitely to the people of this country that they are solidly'behind the achievements and aims of the Labour Government, said Mr Freer, when the result was known. “I feel that a fitting tribute to the memory of Mr Richards nas been paid by his former constitucnts. ,J “The National Party polled very nearly the same as at the General Election,” said Mr Garland. Labour majority dropped by about 300 which is an indication that there is still a steady swing away from the Government, and it is only a question of time before the National Party is on the Treasury benches. ’

Born in Sandringham 27 years ago, Mr Freer is secretary of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee and of the Auckland Labour Club. Educated at the Royal Oak and Auckland Grammar Schools, he was a member of the literary staff of the Hawke’s Bay Daily Mail and was later in charge of the Kaikohe branch of the Northern Advocate, he served in the Army for three years during the Second World War. Mr Freer is organising secretary of the Auckland Labour Youth Club, was one of the foundation members of the Mount Albert Amateur Athletic Club, and held three track records. He represented Auckland at New Zealand athletic championships. He is married and has two sons. Mr Freer is only a few months older that the youngest member of the House, Mr T. P. Paikea (Government, Northern Maori), who is also 27. The voting at the General Election W as:—A. S. Richards (Labour) 7681, F. A. Hosking (National) 5821. PARTY LEADERS COMMENT ON RESULT

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. “The result of the by-election m the Mount Albert electorate is very satisfactory,” said the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) tonight.. Mr Freer and all who assisted him m the campaign are to be congratulated on the great victory they won for Labour. The new member is well qualified to follow Mr Richards as an able and sincere, advocate of the Government’s policy. “He will be one of the younger members in the House. During the election campaign he proved himself to' be a logical,, convincing speaker. “The result of the election is at once a most striking appreciation and conclusive endorsement of the Government’s legislation and administration. Seldom at a by-election has such an emphatic vote of confidence been passed in a Government. Following the Avon by-election, the re-j suit in Mount Albert shows that the faith of the great mass of the people in the Labour Government and .its beneficial measures is as firm as ever. “To all those who helped win this outstanding triumph for Labour democracy, progress, and social justice I extend the thanks of the Government and the Parliamentary Labour Party.” Mr Holland’s Views “No one who has been to Auckland during the course of the Mount Albert by-election campaign expected any change in its representation in Parliament,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland), commenting on the result of the byelection. He added that the most he had hoped for a reduction in the Labour majority, which had been achieved. “The campaign was conducted, by both candidates on a. very high plane,

and I think it can be said that the visiting. speakers did not introduce anything of a personal nature into the -campaign,” said Mr Holland. “Mr Freer Ils to be congratulated on his success,’ and Mr Garland has every reason’to be gratified at the result of his first Parliamentary contest. He will unquestionably be heard of again. Drift Continues “When all the votes are counted it would appear that Labour’s majority will be reduced and that the National vote will be very nearly as large as ,if not actually larger than, was scored last November. If this finally turns out to be correct, then it will indicate that the drift against the Government has continued in what is generally considered to be a fairly strong Labour seat. “Another point worth noting is that if the improvement in oui' vote is general throughout New Zealand, then we will for certain win several Labour seats which are at present held by slender majorities.”