Smith Scores Triumph In Bay

Northern Advocate, 27 September 1943, Page 4 (Supplement)

Smith Scores T riumph In Bay

AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF 1206 IN FAVOUR OF H THE NATIONALIST CANDIDATE (MR. S. W. SMITH) LEFT NO DOUBT AS TO THE ISSUE IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS ELECTORATE. Although interest, judged by meeting attendances throughout the whole electorate, has been far from enthusiastic and a difficult crtieria from which to forecast Saturday’s results, there was a general feeling that a working farmer could best represent the constituency which is essentially rural. Not since the days of the late Mr. Allan Bell has a straightout conservative member represented the Bay, and the present victory is hailed by them as the electorate’s “return from the wilderness.”

If farmers wanted a farmers’ representative, Mr. Smith was the obvious choice. His work in connection with the dairy industry is well known throughout the Far and Middle North, and the fact that he works a successful farm at Pakaraka has kept him in close touch with current affairs affecting the working farmer. At a time when hospital rating, particularly in relation to Social Security, has been in the public eye throughout the Northern counties* Mr Smith’s local body experience, more especially as a hospital board member, is looked upon as a quality that will be a very present help.

A retui’ned soldier of the Great War, Mr Smith took to the platform sound views on rehabilitation which doubtless won him many friends among parents of men now serving overseas. A Fair Fighter

Even the bitterest opponents of the defeated candidate, Mr C. W. Boswell, acknowledge that he was a conscientious representative of his own constituency. To him the Prime Minister had paid a special compliment in this direction. Among a large section of the farming interests was the suspicion that a man whose approach to farming was largley academic could not appreciate the problems of the industry as truly as could a man whose livelihood depended upon his butterfat X’eturns.

Although his interest in politics dates back many years and he had active associations with the Labour Party in Auckland in 1935, the Democratic Soldiers’ Labour Party candidate, Lieutenant C. W. Young, entered the campaign with one sincere purpose—to benefit the men who will return from overseas service. '‘l have trained so many of the boys and sent them away, that I feel I must do all in my power to make conditions better for their return,” he said. Although his polling was sufficiently low to necessitate the forfeiture of his deposit, Mr. Young received substantial backing from social credit adherents who favoured his monetary reform policy.

<D £ OQ o A g GO c 3 o M c/3 Ahipara . 22 31 2 Ahipara Hill . 3 5 — Awanui . 148 114 42 Awarua 2 13 — Broadwood . 59 88 11 Fairburns .... . 16 47 3 Helena Bay ... 11 31 — Herekino .... . 52 69 8 Horeke . 10 42 • 23 Houhora 11 23 — Kukerenui . 25 45 2 Kaeo . 105 164 12 Kaikohe . 182 306 36 Kaimamaku 1 27 — Kaingaroa . 35 38 5 Kaitaia . 265 388 37

Karetu 2 2 — Kawakawa 207 156 10 Kerikeri 23 40 4 Kerikeri Cent. . 63 122 10 Kohukohu 56 60 11 Kohumaru .... 3 15 — Lake Ohi? 10 21 4 Mangamuka Bdge 1 26 15 Mangonui 44 57 & Maromaku 27 53 4 Mata North .... 4 5 2 Matangirau 9 29 — Mataraua 17 12 6 Moerewa 117 67 6 Motatau 3 10 — Motukaraka ... 37 25 7 Ngataki 11 8 2 Ngawha Springs . 3 3 — Ohaeawai .... 28 86 2 Okaihau 90 139 5 Omahuta 4 6 12 Omapere 4 12 — Opononi 16 56 11 Opua 61 49 1 Opuawhanga 4 34 2 Oruru 26 22 — Otangaroa 5 5 — Otonga 5 23 — Oue 9 33 11 Paihia 31 51 — Pakaraka 15 57 10 Pamapuria 2 7 1 Panguru 12 8 2 Paranui 3 18 4 Pawarenga 7 9 — Peria 24 70 2 Pokapu 2 17 — Puhiouhi 15 25 3 Pukepoto 8 11 2 Puketona 4 18 — Punakitere 3 6 2 Purerua 2 4 — Raio 18 20 — Rangiahua 14 36 7 Rawene 66 78 41 Runax-una . 3 17 S' Russell 77 102 12 Saies 57 66 10 Taheke 13 30 6 Takahue 32 53 13 Tapuhi ... 7 24 — Tautoro — 5 — Te Hapua 5 2 — Te Karae 2 10 1 Tokerau Beach.. 3 1 — Towai 34 87 8 Tuhipa 3 7 — Tutekehua .... 5 16 3 Umawera32 35 9 Upper Waihou . 2 28 2 Utakura .... 4 19 — Victoria Valley 15 78 2 Waiharara .... 92 8 4 Waihopo 36 6 5 Waimamaku 7 58 17 Waimate North 6 42 1 Waiotemarama . — 24 8 Waipaoa 30 34 11 Wekaweka .... 3 24 12 Whakapara .... 13 20 5 Whananaki 4 14 — Whangaroa .... 22 6 2 Whangaruru S. . 9 14 — Soldiers’ votes 370 315 ,82 Totals Number on 2950 Roll, 4156 9275 608