The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, November 13th, 1935 THE ELECTIONS.

Grey River Argus, 13 November 1935, Page 4

The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, November 13th, 1935 THE ELECTIONS.

With, the closing of nomiiia tions for the forthcoming General Parliamentary Election on Wed nesday, November 27th. candidates must perforce settle down to the serious business of electioneering and make use of every device the fertile mind can conjure to tempt the palate of those from whom they crave support. I A study of the list of candidates for the various constituencies in dicates that there is ample numerical strength and enough varying causes espoused to produce some surprises. At this juncture it would appear that there is an unfortunate minority whose chances of success at the polls can be nothing more than nil and it is likely that the Consolidated fund will be the recipient (fif numerous deposits forefeited owing to the failure of can. didates to poll the required num-

I her of votes to save such a disaster. A general survey of the nominations affords satisfaction to the supporters of Labour for the indications are on every side such as to engender the greatest confidence in the final results, and taken buy and large those who have represented Labour in the Parliament just closed will be there to take their seat i again

when the new Parliament assembles next year. In the main city constituencies Labout holds such handsome majorities. that there is little chance of their seats being' captured by any other party, the number going to the poll suggesting that Labour’s margin will be greater than ever owing to the vote splitting which will take place. Even without such an eventuality assisting the result. Labour has mad:.- such steady progress all through the Dominion,’that apart from the likelihood of its maintaining its hold on its present seats a num ber of new electorates will see the wisdom of returning a supporter of Labour in preference to trying out any of the new brands of political thought which have sprung up in the Dominion sine - lhe last election. The fact tha 1

Labour supporters stick hard and fast to their Party’s candidatewhilst other voters less loyal to any .40t line of thought or utter ance lean in many directions provides another reason why Lab our’s prospects of gaining numer. ous further seats should be regarded a highly promising. So far as the West Coast electorates are concerned the Westland and Buller seats already held by Labour can be regarded as the safest possible. Mr James O’Brien who has represented Westland continuously for the past seven years and who also represented this district from 1922 to 1925 will find little difficulty in retaining the seat against Mr H. R. Young of 'Westport, who is the nominee of the National Party. While Mr O’Brien is now an old and trust ed campaigner who has missed no chance of pushing the interests of Westland with might and main and in matters both great and small has shown his willingness to assist electors without ever eon sidering their political leanings, and has built up a record as one unafraid of work where Lis electorate is concerned. Mr Young comes before the electors with little political experience though he has taken an active interest in promoting the welfare of those industries which are a part and parcel of the portion of the Wes' Coast to which he belongs. Viewed from the standpoint of commonsense there appears no earthh reason why Westland should do otherwise than return again one who has loyally fought for a full share of the good things Parlia ment had to bestow—and secured them, and electors can be trusted to again give Mr O’Brien an easy victory and an overwhelming ma joiity. With reference to the Poller electorate, Mi' P. C. Webb V ill again carry the Labour banner, and as he has made many friends during the last Parlia incut by his capacity for fighting for the rights of his electorate and has an untried man, Mr J H Powell, as his opponent, standing in the interests of the National Party, the easiest of victories can be predicted in Buller for Labour. Por Motueka, Mr R. J. L York has been nominated to con test the election in the interestof Labour against Mr K. J. Hoh oake, the sitting National part' representative. Mr York ha niade good progress on the hus ings, and his victory at the pol!--will occasion .no surprise for a' the moment his prospects look quite equal to those of his opponent. One thing which appear, within the bounds of possibility is that the National Party will joss some of their seats to the Democrat Party, who while they may not have sufficient success to become a party to be reckoned with, will by thus weakening the party holding the reins of Government place the Labour Party within Striking distance of gaining ascendancy and transferring their seats from the present opposition benches to tfliose on the Ministerial side of the House.