TAURANGA BY-ELECTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 March 1923, Page 5

TAURANGA BY-ELECTION

COMMENT BY,SIR HEATON . ,\i-.[i ■; RHODES (United Press Association). , CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. , Sir Heaton Rhodes said he was •naturally pleased at the result of the Taßranga by-election, though he could not see how a district which had supported Sir W. Herries and tho Reform party for a quarter of a century could suddenly change its front. There was ■no reason for any such change. Mr Massey..would now be able to carry on though his majority of three was not very -satisfactory., ■ There were undoubtedly many difficulties ahead, but had Sir Joseph Ward been elected those difficulties would no doubt have been increased and another election wculd have beoa inevitable. At the same time Sir Joseph Ward had never made his policy clear and in none of his speeches had he indicated how' he would vote on a motion of no-confidence in Mr Massey. His attitude in that direction was still a mystery.

COMMENT BY LONDON TIMES (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). • (Published in The Times). LONDON, Marsh s''. The Times, commenting on Mr Mmsey's victory at Tauranga, says ihat while the failure of Sir Joseoh Wtrcl to retujn to the arena in which he played so honourable a part may bo regretted, it is tb'bedioped the st-eugthemng of Mr Massey's position will enable bhi. to attend the Imperial Conference at a time when the whole struct ave of Empire is gradually undergoing a change The unswerving loyalty, essentially British ideals, and sound .10-.noicns.ihso of the people of New Zealand, expressed through Mr Massey, will be iuvuJuu'ble m helping to ensure that attention of the structure does not make for weakness.