LEADER PLEASED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21548, 30 October 1944, Page 2

LEADER PLEASED

MR. HOLLAND’S VIEWS “POLICY ENDORSED” A MIXED ELECTORATE I (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 30. I “The defeat of Labour at the AwaI rua by-election is too overwhelming i to be explained away by the Government,” the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, stated on Satur- | day night. “The electorate judged most decisively between the Government’s past administration and the I promises for the future and the policy of the National Party. By a sweeping majority the programme of the 1 National Party was endorsed.” There was much to be learned from this by-election, said Mr. Holland, i Awarua was a very mixed electorate and included large fishing, waterfront, freezing and industrial elements, especally at Bluff and Stewart Island and the suburbs of Invercargill and also many small farms in the rural areas. On the poll so far recorded, 2300 below that of the 1938 general election, the National candidate had raised a majority of t>6o into a majority of 2101, the percentage of votes cast rising from 53 per cent to 62 per cent. While Labour had a majority at eight booths in 1938 it secured a majority at only th,rec booths on Saturday and those booths recorded a swing from Labour, the percentage of votes for the Government, 47, having dropped to just over 33. In the past the Labour Party had allowed several by-elections to go by default, but on this occasion it made no secret of its confidence in winning Awarua and so checking the remarkable progress of the National Party in other parts. The Government had a capable condidate and, as he was supported by all the front-line speakers, including the Prime Minister and Mr. Nash, in every part of the electorate, it could have no excuses this time. Speaking during the campaign, the Prime Minister had urged the electors of Awarua to think and to study Labour’s promises for the_ post-war years and then to decide if that .was the type of Government they Wanted. The people gave their answer in .terms that could not be misunderstood by anyone. “While we are naturally pleased with the result, the National Party j will not be carried away by this latest I vote of confidence,” added Mr. Holland. “It will giv-e us encouragement to work harder than ever in our preparations for the task of government in 1946, if not sooner. Mr. George Herron, the new member for Awarua, will be a valuable addition to the strength of the Opposition and we will now be able to register our full voting strength of 34 for the first time.”