THE LYTTELTON RESULT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21596, 14 September 1933, Page 8

THE LYTTELTON RESULT

The Lyttelton by-election has resulted in the return of the Labour candidate, Mrs. McCombs, by a substantial majority. On the personal side it can be said without any qualification that the new member is a woman of high capacity who will make a very able member of Parliament. From the viewpoint of proved ability and suitability for public life, the first woman to secure election to the New Zealand Parliament, 14 years after the passing of legislation giving the sexes equal rights in respect to candidature, need fear no comparison with the average male member. These facts can be admitted cheerfully by those who do not care for the political company Mrs. McCombs keeps. Turning to the contest itself, the result was entirely as might have been expected. It would, in fact, have been a surprise if the verdict had gone otherwise. There has inevitably been some inaction from the high level of support accorded the Coalition generally at the last election, reflected in the majority with which it was invested, and, so far as Lyttelton itself is concerned, in a very close contest for what had long been a Labour seat. In all the circumstances Mrs. McCombs was bound to have the best chance of winning the seat, and she has proved herself fully capable of grasping the opportunity. Records show that it is exceptional for the Government of the day to win a seat away from its opponents,' at a by-election in New Zealand. In fact, the chances are often against it holding one previously in its possession. Lyttelton has not proved an exception. The result leaves the party situation as it was. The Labour Party is no stronger numerically by reason of this success. Its members will naturally make the most of the rise from the very narrow majority in 1931 to the impressive figure by which Mrs. McCombs beat the Coalition candidate. They would be more than human if they did not. They may be left, therefore, to the enjoyment of this exercise, with the reflection that one by-election alone proves very little.