INVERCARGILL'S VOTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20642, 14 August 1930, Page 10

INVERCARGILL'S VOTE.

COMMENT OF LEADERS.

PRIME MINISTER GRATIFIED.

ATTITUDE OF MR. COATES.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday.

"I feci very gratified with the result of the Invercargill by-election for several reasons," said the .Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, this evening. "Mr. Vincent Ward's return by so substantia! a majority enables an association with Parliament to bo maintained—through the loyalty of Invercargill—with the name of one who has rendered great service to New Zealand. It gives the Government the support of a member who, I am sure, will become a distinctive figure in the House. The election was fought under difficult conditions for the Government candidate, because it followed so closely on the announcement of the taxation increases, when the first feeling of natural- objection had scarcely subsided. " Ultimately I feel sure that the people as a whole will realise that the Government's financial policy is dictated solely by a desire to maintain New Zealand's credit at a high level by methods which, under the circumstances, are the fairest and most equitable that could b<3 devised. Invercargill has given si splendid lead in this respect to the whole Dominion. It has taken the reasonable view of the position and generously given a verdict which will encourage the Government in its efforts to cope with ;a difficult economic position, which I hope will soon be relieved."

"While personally congratulating Mr. Ward on his success ono cannot be wholly disappointed with the result of the poll,'' said the Leader of the Opposition, Rfc. Hon. J. G. Coates. "The largo reduction in the United Party's majority, compared with the general election, when there were also only two candidates, must be regarded as a clear indication that its mana is not improving. Of course, itcould not be held that the decision at the Invercargill poll would accurately reflect the feeling of the country as a whole on this subject. It was only to bo expected that in the special circumstances sentiment would largely influence the vote. The Reform Party is satisfied that Mr. Hargest fought a splendid fight and we may reasonably hope that at the next general election Invercargill's verdict will be somewhat different from that given to-day."-