LYTTELTON ELECTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21597, 15 September 1933, Page 12

LYTTELTON ELECTION

MRS. McCOMBS' SUCCESS SHOALS OF TELEGRAMS [El* TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday Shoals of congratulatory telegflilms were received this rooming by Mrs. E. R. McCombs, the newly-e.'.ected member of Parliament for Lyttelton. The telegrams were receired by the Telegraph Department in such large numbers that Mrs. McCombs gave instructions that, unless they were more than usually important, they should be delivered with the afternoon mail. Mrs. McCombs stated that her return to Parliament marked a step forward in the women's movement by rpason of the fact that the women had been more unanimous in their support than ever before. She had had telegrams from all over New Zealand, particularly from women and women's organisations, wishing her success. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULT LABOUR LEADER'S VIEWS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WESTPORT. Thursday Upon his arrival from Lyttelton tonight, Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, expressed the opinion that Mrs. McCombs' victory at the byelection conetituted a vote of no-con-fidence in the Coalition Government and reflected public opinion throughout the country. It was also an endorsement of Labour's programme. FurUttr, it was significant because the first woman to sit in the Parliament of New Zealand was a Labour Partj representative.

Mr. Holland added that Mrs. McCombs' victory would be a factor in precipitating a general election that was already overdue, and which would be welcomed by the Labour Party: PERMISSION DECLINED MOTION OF CONGRATULATION VOTE BY CITY COUNCIL Permission to move without notice that the Auckland City Council should forward to Mrs. E. 11. McCombs its congratulations upon her being the first woman to gain Parliamentary honours in New Zealand was requested by Mr. Ai Rosser at a meeting of the council last evening. He said that were lie compelled to give notice it would involve a delay of three weeks, which would make the resolution An absurdity. Mr. D. Donaldson moved that Mr. Rosser bo given permission to move the motion. He thought it would be a fitting one for the council to pass. The endorsement would bear no shade of political opinion. , Miss E. Melville seconded Mr. Donaldson's motion, and the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, called for a show of hands. Fifteen voted for it and six against. The Mayor declared the motion lost. He said the standing orders would not permit a motion to be put without notice unless such action were agreed to by not less than three-quarters of the members present. Including the Mayor there were 21 members v of -the council present, so that the 15 members who voted in favour of Mr. Rosser's motion being moved failed by three-quarters of a vote to establish the requisite majority.