NO CHANGE IN MANUKAU

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22538, 1 October 1936, Page 10

NO CHANGE IN MANUKAU

The result of the by-election shows that there has been no real swing of political opinion in Manukau in the last 10 months. Electors remain substantially of the same mind aB in November, and have again endorsed the Labour policy by a majority of over two to one. Both Government and Opposition parties must have polled close up to their full strength, the vote of well over 12,000 being a remarkably high proportion of the roll to be cast in a by-election. Mr. Osborne and Mr. Doidge started the campaign on level terms so far as the personal factor was concerned, both being strangers in the electorate. The Government's policy thus became the central and dominating issue, and the voting proves as near as need be that, if the Government has not lost support, neither has it gained any. The electors stand where they did, admitting no cause as yet to change their November judgment. It may be argued that on this occasion Labour did not benefit by the personal vote for Mr. Jordan, but that loss should have been counter-balanced by the fact that Mr. Osborne was the candidate of the party in office, with all that was made to mean to electors by visiting Ministers. Mr. Osborne has earned congratulations on being returned by a vote and with a majority of which any member of Parliament would be proud. His bearing in this and previous campaigns has won respect, and he should prove a worthy representative. At the same time it is to be regretted that Man«kau did not see fit to strengthen the Opposition, to which Mr. Doidge's courage and analytical gifts would have been a distinct acquisition.