POLICY ENDORSED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24194, 9 February 1942, Page 4

POLICY ENDORSED

NON-PARTY GOVERNMENT * MR. HOLLAND'S COMMENT (S.R.) WELLINGTON. Sunday "The results of the by-elections in Temuka and Hauraki show very clearly that the suing in public opinion shown in the earlier by-elections, especially the Bay of Plenty, has been more than maintained," said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, in an interview to-day. Mr. Holland said that in Temuka at the 1938 general election the National vole was 56 per cent of the total, whereas on Saturday it had swollen to I'A per cent. The same applied to Hauraki. where the National vote had jumped from 06 per cent to 77 per cent. As expected, the petrol restrictions resulted in a smaller poll, especially in the country districts, otherwise the National vote would have been larger still. "The result." said Mr. Holland, "can fairly be interpreted as a remarkable endorsement of the Opposition's attitude in connection with the war effort and iu» advocacy of a truly nonparty Government as being essential to the maximum war effort. In 120 polling booths on Saturday electors ill widely separated parts gave the National Party majorities in 112 booths, or 9:i per cent of the total.

"Our two now members, .Messrs. J. Acland and A. S. Sutherland, will greatly strengthen our team in the House. Mr. Acland is a comparatively young man who has just recently begun a career of local body service. He is a son of Sir Hugh Acland, the eminent surgeon, and comes from one of Canterbury's oldest and mosft respected pioneer families and should do well in Parliament. Mr. Sutherland has had a wide experience of public service, having served for many years on local bodies, land boards and the Auckland Harbour Board, of which he is now deputy-chairman.

"With the addition of Mrs. M. V. Grigg i Miil-('anterbury) and Mr. W. Sullivan (Bay of Plenty), the strength of the Opposition party is increased to L'fi members, of whom Messrs. J. Hardest and T L MaeDonald are overseas," conclut led Mr. Holland.