Landslide Against Labour Policy, Says Holland

Northern Advocate, 27 September 1943, Page 4

Landslide Against Labour Policy, Says Holland

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Dav

“It is too early yet to know precisely how the election will finish up. but present indications are that the Government will retain a much reduced majority,” said Mr. Holland last night, “but it is clear, beyond any doubt whatever, that there has been a landslide of public opinion against the Government and its policy of State control and regimentation.

“The National Party put up a clean fight, and this has been widely approved, as the public is tired of personalities and recriminations. Our progressive policy has been approved by a big increase in our vote. With the Government’s overwhelming majority reduced to half-a-dozen it would be absurd to suggest that the Government's policy has been approved. The Labour Party used fairly to claim that it represented the majority of people, but on Saturday a majority of something like 50,000 voted against the Government’s policy and administration, and the Labour Party is no longer able to claim that it represents the majority of the people. People Called a Halt

'“ln my judgment the election clearly means that the people voted in favour of the Government calling a halt in the expansion of its domestic policy of socialisation and State control. It was a clear vote against the use of the war situation for implementing socialisation and I believe the public wants to pee party political bickering dropped and the best men from both sides formed into a non-party war administration to prosecute the war effort, but it would appear that outside pressure is too strong and that the Prime Minister is determined to carry on with the present sectional administration.

'Subject to alteration in the voting figures, it would appear that the Labour vote has dropped by about 100,000 votes and, as far as can be calculated at present, their total vote on. Saturday appears to be only about 20,000 more than that recorded for the National Party. These figures should explode the suggestion that the general election has endorsed Labour’s policy. Parliament Strengthened

“Naturally I am very gratified at the result of the poll, and it demonstrates that elections can be conducted without bitterness if there is a will to do so. It looks as if we shall have a team of about 36 members, 16 of whom were members of the last Parliament and 20 new men. I am sure the public will welcome this improvement in the debating capacity of the House. With so many younger men coming into the House public interest in Parliament will be revived.

“I greatly regret losing Sir Apirana Ngata, that grand man of the Maori race. For almost 40 years he has lived and worked for his country, and I, in particular, will miss him very much, as it was to him that I looked for so much counsel on matters of Parliamentary procedure on which he was an acknowledged authority.

Soldiers’ Votes

“One feature of the elections that requires looking into is the soldiers’ votes. The fact that every serviceman had to sign his name and fill in a form giving his regimental number and name has created doubts in the minds of many people as to the secrecy of the ballot, which we have always regarded as essential to the conduct of our elections. I know it will be said that the soldier’s name and number were placed in different envelopes, but (hat does not explain the need for all this filling in of forms. I am having inquiries made about the forwarding of election publicity material to servicemen, because it is essential to an election that every voter should be fully informed as to the issues involved. The Government was able to arrange for several of its Ministers to visit overseas territory, and much subtle propaganda was indulged in. I have no information when the new Parliament will meet, but I expect to have a meeting of the new Parliamentary Opposition within a week or 10 days of the final results being announced. The present situation is full of interest, because the Government has already announced its decision to send Mr. Nash to Washington, and another Speaker must be found, still further reducing its working majority."