THE SOCIALISTIC “VICTORIES.”
ELECTED ON MINORITY VOTES. (To the Editor.) Sir, —It is hoped that the election results will have brought home to some candidates the futility (and danger) of their efforts and that they now realise what important factors they have been in giving victory to the party (Labour) to which they are opposed. A perusal of the figures should also show to Labour, and particularly the Labour leaders, that their jubilation at their so-called progress—an increase of members (from 20 tc 24 in a House of 80) — is quite unjustified. Mr. Holland with his usual subtle and false reasoning, holds that “the majority Labour has received on this occasion is the forerunner of a stronger majority to come at the next election.” I contend that the figures show just the opposite, and that according to the votes east Labour would not have won either Auckland East, Roskill, Gisborne, Wellington North, or Timaru in a straight-out contest. The split votes of the anti-Socialistic candidates, not the voice of the people, gave five Labourites the victory. Taking the figures at present available, one flndk that their nominees were elected on minority votes as follows: — Auckland East. Schramm, Labour, 3695 votes (majority 1559). Opponents’ (anti-Socialistic) votes 5108; total votes polled 8798; Schramm's actual minority 1413. Roskill: Richards, Labour, 4661 votes (majority 1159). Opponents’ (anti-Socialistic) votes 7231; total votes polled 11,982; Richards’s actual minority 2570. Gisborne: Coleman. Labour, 4162 votes (majority 234). Opponents’ (antiSocialistic) votes 5048; total votes polled 9310; Coleman’s actual minority 886. Wellington North: Chapman, Labour, 4175; (majority 991). Opponents (antiSocialistic) votes 5268; total. votes polled 914'3; Chapman’s actual minority 1093. Timaru: Carr, Labour, 5016 (majority 739). Opponents’ (antiSocialistic) votes 5350; Carr’s actual minority 33-1; total votes polled 10,366. United and Reform are avowedly anti-Socialistic, so that in contests where both these candidates stood against Labour—a fatal mistake—the anti-Socialistic vote was hopelessly split. Had there been straight-out fights between anti-Socialistic and Socialistic candidates in Auckland East, Roskill. Gisborne, Wellington North, and Timaru, these seats would not have gone to Labour, which would then have had 19 members in the House instead of 24. But Mr. Holland sees fit to claim the result of the General Election as “a great Labour victory!” This (to put it mildly) is nothing but a fanatical and blind optimism. Anyhow, the electors have given their verdict; aud despite the unpopular legislation that the Government has been forced to introduce to save the country from disaster New Zealand has wisely preferred sane, safe, and honest measures to the unsound, extravagant, and dangerous proposals of the LabourSocialistic Party.—l am. etc., ANTI-BLUFF. December 5, 1931.
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Bibliographic details
Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 305, 9 December 1931, Page 9
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437THE SOCIALISTIC “VICTORIES.” Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 305, 9 December 1931, Page 9
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