The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1935. LYTTELTON BY-ELECTION.

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 25 July 1935, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1935. LYTTELTON BY-ELECTION.

delivered every evening by 5 o clock in Hawera.. Uanaia Kaupokoiiuii Otakeho. Oeo. Pihaina, Opunake. Eltham, Ngaere Mangatoki.-Kaponga. Awatuna, Te Kiri. Mahoe, bowgarth, Manutahi, Kakara mea, Alton. Hurleyville. Pat«a, Whenua kura, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara Ohanpai. Meremere. Fraser &oad ut Ararats.

The result of the Lyttelton byelection will cause no surprise nor any heartburnings in non-Labour circles, but the Labour Party is entitled to a sense of gratification that it has held this stronghold by a substantial majority. The Labour victory has, incidentally, created a new kind of Parliamentary record, for the Lyttelton seat has been continuously represented by three members of one family for over 20 years. Some surprise may be experienced in some quarters by the fact that the total vote recorded yesterday showed a decline on previous figures. This may be interpreted in several ways, but it is probably just as good a guess as any other to venture the opinion that most of those who did not bother to vote believed that the result was a foregone conclusion. In the defeat of Mr. M. E. Lyons the country has lost the services of one who, it is generally admitted by those who know him, would go far in politics did he once get his foot on the first rung of the ladder. In securing the return of Mr. McCombs the Labour Party has gained a well-educated youthful member, steeped in the traditions of the party and possessing a

unique example, in the records of his late mother and father, of zeal in the Labour cause. The election campaign did not reveal him as a versatile speaker, but he will have an opportunity during the coming short-session and the following General Election of adding to his experience. As the byelection campaign drew to its close Government supporters showed themselves as growing ever more convinced that the Government party made a mistake in not entering into the contest more prominently. Mr. Lyons preferred to fight his own battle, as he claimed a measure of independence, though he was the officially endorsed candidate ; but the feeling is fairly general that the Government should not have left its statement of its own case to one candidate in a contest in which it was being criticised by three candidates and the numerous speakers who backed up the Labour candidate particularly. The absence of Messrs Forbes and Coates may have had a good deal to do with the Government ’s seeming apathy and more vigorous preparations for the forthcoming General Election can be anticipated upon their return to the country. Preparation will indeed be necessary, for something more than' a reliance upon the past and a blank cheque for the future will be expected of the Government party in this year’s contest.