VOTE SPLITTING

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1935, Page 6

VOTE SPLITTING

DEMOCRAT PARTY’S VIEW. AUCKLAND, August 2. A denial that the incursion of the newly-formed Democrat Party into New ihaland politics is likely to mean votesplitting at the coming general election is made by Mr A. E. Davy, chief executive officer of the party. Mr Davy states that his party has made “very rapid progress indeed.” A meeting of all candidates has been called for the second week in August and full details of the organisation will then be disclosed.

Discussing the question of votesplitting, Mr Davy says it is the only argument left t,o the supporters of the present Government, who put forward the theory that, in taking a proportion of the anti-Labour vote, the Democrats might bo responsible for putting a Labour Government ill office “What chance have we got for nulling changes except through the me<l ium of another party?” Mr Davy ask;

“The argument that you must no* split votes is supremely solfish. If there are two parties in the field, the electors choose one or the other or. refrain from voting. At the last general election, an average of 1500 electors did not vote in each electorate. 111 1923 the Labour Party lost seats in threecornered contests; in 1931 it actually gained seats in two-party contests.”

The contention put forward by Mr Davy is that, in a two-party fight the disgruntled Government vote goes to the Labour Party, and .that the best insurance against a Labour Government is an alternative party.