LABOUR POLLING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 1 May 1925, Page 5

LABOUR POLLING.

A POLITICAL PUZZLE

(Bv Telegraph.—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, May 1. The unsuccessful Labour candidate for the Wellington mayoralty, Mr. Chapman, polled 11,797 votes, the high, est vote for a Labour candidate, according to his estimate, ever polled in New Zealand. Had this vote been exercised for Labour on the full Labour ticket for city councillors, there would have -been a Labour majority on the council, as eleven of the successful candidates had fewer votes than Mr. Chapman. However, Labour did not improve its position in this respect, for it has two representatives. The only explanation given by those concerned in municipal election activity over a long period of years is that man} - working men vote lor a L.abour mayor on principle, but- they prefer in choosing the councillors to pick those they know, and they also exercise sdme conservatism as ratepayers, preferring for administrative’ positions men who have not advocated expensive experiments, but who undertake to keep rates within reasonable limits.

Commenting on this interesting feature of the election, the Wellington Post suggests that Mr. Chapman’s mayoral vote does not represent Labour’s voting strength, and that thousands who are. neither members nor adherents of the party gave their support to Mr. Chapman because of his post services and the moderation with which he conducted his campaign; “but that does not affect the position as electors must now view it,” adds the Post. “It is proved’ that Labour has solid voting strength, and if the party can capture also the votes of a number of non-party citizens it has hut a little way to go to win. Those people who do not wish to see Labour in a position to carry out its ’ programme must in future copy Labour’s thoroughness in organisation and Labour unity when faced by opponents. The work must not lie left till the last minute.”