THE WAITEMATA SEAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 196, 21 July 1941, Page 4

THE WAITEMATA SEAT.

By a decision that was fitting and proper the National Party took no part in the Waitemata by-elec-tion. On the other hand, the Democratic Labour Party took the opportunity to test the electorate and unfurled its banner with a strong candidate in Mr N. V. Douglas, a former Auckland City councillor, and the son-in-law of a Labour member. In spite of a good deal of apathy the voting was surprisingly good for a byelectiou, 9138 people exercising the franchise against 12,485 in 1938, when the late Captain Lyon won the seat in a contest with Mr J. E. Close by 2173. votes. But the poll showed how surprisingly weak the Democratic Labour Party is at present, and that its leaders have yet to rally a substantial body of followers to make il a force in Dominion politics. The most outstanding feature was the continued swing from official Labour, and Mrs Dreaver’s victory by a margin of 420 votes truly indicates, as the Leader of the Opposition says, the writing on the wall. Waipawa, the municipal elections, and now Waitemata have revealed the steady swing of the pendulum against Labour. Had the National Party chosen to contest the seat its victory must have beer, assured. Mr Darlow, who has been a resident of the district for years, and has a strong following in local body elections, standing as an Independent, just failed to take the seat from Labour and the honours of the contest go to him. He was not bound not to oppose Labour and the support accorded him, together with the landslide against the Govefn-j ment, must be regarded as a valuable “pointer” lo the National Party’s prospects at the general election.