Barclay Loses Marsden Seat By Deficit Of 1000 Votes

Northern Advocate, 27 September 1943, Page 1 (Supplement)

Barclay Loses Marsden Seat By Deficit Of 1000 Votes

Murdoch Polls Well In Town, Country

THE SENSATION OF THE MARSDEN ELECTION WAS NOT 1 SO MUCH THE FACT OF THE HON. J. G. BARCLAY’S DEFEAT AS THE MAJORITY OF NEARLY 1000 T N FAVOUR OF MR. A. J. MURDOCH; NOT THE LEAST SURPRISING FEATURE OF THAT MAJORITY WAS THE WAY MR. MURDOCH POLLED IN THE INDUSTRIAL CENTRES. Particularly was this so at the main booth at the Town Hall, where, in comparison with last election, he reduced his deficit from 758 to 311, and at the next largest booth, the Parochial Hall, where he turned a deficit of 40 to a lead of 57. Only at Hikurangi and Portland did Mr. Barclay poll overwhelming majorities, but at the mining centre it was reduced from 419 to 275, while at Portland it was decreased from 178 to 160, and the voting at Kamo was close.

In the country the farmers definitely opposed the Labour policy, and Mr. Murdoch monopolised the country vote. This, after he had practically held his own in the industrial centres, meant a mounting majority. In most of the country districts he improved on his 1938 figures, and as the returns came in from the more remote places his lead increased steadily until, with only half the booth totals reported, and with a clear indication, from earlier returns, of the trend of country voting, his election was assured.

Vote Not Split

The third candidate in the field, the Democratic Labour Party nominee, played no part in the election, whether in town or country, and he' will forfeit his deposit. He polled only about three per cent of the votes recorded. The votes for Mr Barclay and Mr Petty, added together, still left Mr Murdoch with a majority of more than 700, so that the participation of the third candidate did not have tile effect of splitting the electors, ’ and the success of the National Party’s candidate was decisive.

Mr. Murdoch and his Nationalist supporters, and of Mr. Barclay,, has been very fine indeed. It has been splendid. I thank you for voting for me. The pioneer must blaze the trail. I feel we have blazed the trail for a new order. When we come to the peace table we will have millions of people of all nationalities to consider. We in the Western democracies will have to give them an answer.” On the call of Mr. Murdoch, cheers were given for the unsuccessful candidates.

A surprise of the Marsden poll was the reduction of 1000 in the number of votes cast, after it had been anticipated, with the issues at stake, that a record poll would result. In nearly every booth less votes were recorded than in the 1938 election. The comparative totals, however. will not be so widely separated by the time absentee votes are counted. At the last election, absentee, declaration, postal and seamen's votes totalled 733.

Dominion-Wide Interest

It might well be said that the eyes of the Dominion were on Marsden to as great, if not greater, extent than any other electorate in New Zealand. Mr Barclay had been severely criticised throughout the country for his policy, particularly regarding marketing and control of produce, and Dominion primary producers were watching keenly to learn whether Marsden farmers held similar views. The Marsden farmers left no doubt as to their views.

In one country centre, Waipu North River, admittedly a Conservative stronghold, Mr Barclay did not secure one vote.

Apart from the result, the Marsden contest was of extreme interest in another direction. It was a contest between a present Minister for Agriculture and a past administrator of the portfiolio, between one concerned with the primary industries in a Ministerial role, and one of the industry’s own Dominion council representatives.

Splendidly Fought Contest

The three Marsden candidates were given a great reception when they mounted the platform outside the “Northern Advocate” office as the result of the poll was beyond doubt. The first speaker was Mr Murdoch, who thanked the people for the vote they had recorded in his favour and assured them of his appreciation. The contest had been splendidly fought and Mr Barclay had been the first to congratulate him and wish him well.

“You will understand, that in a contest like this there can be only one winner,” said Mr Murdoch. “Ke won twice, and i have won this time. We can try next time again, if all is well. Hov/ever, it is a great achievement. This time there seems; to be a swing, and it speaks well fox our leader and the amount of support he has got throughout New Zealand. It our Party gets into power you can rest assured it will do its best in tho interests of New Zealand as a whole. I would like to heartily thank the members of my committee for th r work they have done on my behal f throughout the constituency. “I want to say to Mr Barclay that 1 appreciate the manner in which h< conducted the campaign, and I congratulate hitn on the run he has made I have the same thing to say about Mi Petty. His score is not high, but b will probably go higher next time.” Mr Murdoch concluded by saying he hoped to achieve the proposals he had put before the electors and no differentiation would be made between those v/ho had supported him and those who had not. Other Candidates Speak Mr. Barclay thanked Mr. Murdoch for a fair contest. “I don’t think there is any constituency where a contest has been carrier out in a better manner than betweer Mr. Murdoch and myself,” he said “We have two wins each to our credit He has the victory tonight. We live ir a democracy, and (when a democracy makes its choice of a member we havr to get on with the job, whoever is re turned. The democracy has said tha 1 Mr. Murdoch is to he the member for Marsden, and it is for all of us to ge' behind him. I want to thank the electors of Marsden for the privilege they have given me to represent them in Parliament for eight years. We have a new man in Mr. Petty. In our democracy he had a right to stand for Parliament. I say to you, Mr. Petty, come again. We don’t mind. It is hard to sav what you will do in future. I now cal 1 for three cheers for the victor of Marsden.”

The crowd responded with a will. “This is my first canter, and you will be glad to have me back in three years,” said Mr. Petty. “I have enjoyed this contest. The friendliness of