The Manawatu Daily Times Political Pointers

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 174, 26 July 1935, Page 6

The Manawatu Daily Times Political Pointers

Although the Lyttelton by-election has held the spotlight on Ihe political stage during the week it is not by any means the only event oi interest and importance. The outstanding effect oh the return of Mr. McCombs oil a slightly reduced majority must be the disappointment of the Labour leaders at any indication of a swing of the political pendulum in their direction. The Treasury Denches are as far away as ever. If Christchurch with its effective Labour leadership—admittedly the best Labour tins produced in New Zealand —remained unmoved under the denunciation of the Government's misdeeds and the exaltation of the Opposition’s panaceas for all the ills we suffer, then there can be little hope for a sui’Jicicnt turnover of votes in the rest of the Dominion to put the Government out of office at the General Election.

Among other significant happenings perhaps the most intriguing is the announcement of the Democrat Party’s choice in Auckland of a woman nominee to oppose the leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage. Even if only taken as evidence of the new party’s activity it must be regarded as of import; ance in its bearing on the coming fight.

The retirement of Sir Charles Statham from the Speakership of the House, a position he lias tilled with distinction and ability, will be regretted the more because it carries with it his complete withdrawal from the political arena. Of interest to tins district is the undenied rumoUr that Ids successor as National candidate may be Lev. L. B. Neale, who commenced his ministry in the Methodist Church at Ashhurst. Dunedin may send two Methodist ministers to Parliament, llev. A. E. Cox having been chosen as a Labour candidate. And a piquant situation may develop, particularly as another ex-minister of the same church, llev. Clyde Carr (who also, by the way, commenced his ministry at Ashhurst) may be again returned for Timaru. With two members of the cloth hurling defiance at the Government and the third just as strenuously exalting its virtues to the skies, Parliament may be expected to produce some purple patches of oratory!

Nearer home wc have the announcement of a third—or is it a fourth—candidate for Manawatu, while the Otaki electors arc being besieged by a small army of aspirants. Four claimants to the Nationalist ticket arc in the field, with a Labourite and a Democrat in the offing. It promises to be a lively election!