THE BY-ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17504, 21 December 1918, Page 8

THE BY-ELECTIONS

(Fbom Oub Own Cobeespondjknt.)

WELLINGTON, Doocmbor 20. Tho aftor-election speeches o£ Mr Semple and Mr Harry Holland last night wero full of jubilation about tho decisivo victory which they alleged thoy soored over tho National vj over anient. . Mr Holland declared tliat tho • result of tho poll in "Wellington South was anothor lino of hand-writing on tho wall for tho National Government to see. j Somple spoko of tho psychological effect of ' the victory on tho rest of the country, and ho declared that the samo sort of thing Would bo dono by the workers all over the donunion when tho general election oamo round. In order to achieve that end the Labour people would inaugurate a campaign to cover tho wbolo country after tho New Year.

As a matter of fact tho figures for Wellington South give tho Labour peoplo no reason for self-oongratulation. Mr Semple actually polled 1850 votes less than tho successful candidate in 1914 and moro than 600 votes less than the candidate second on the list in tho same election. The poll at the by-election was 4100, and at the general election 7642. It is not fair to take tho voting as an indication of what would have been tile result in a hard-fought election. Mr Semple was tho only candidate who had an efficient organisation behind him. The other candidates had no enthusiastic support and no organisation. Every effort was made by the Labour people to poll every vote thoy could, aud if 2412 represents anything like the full strength of Labour in tho electorate, Mr Semple will havo but a short term as a member of Parliament. Mr Castle lost his deposit, and he will probably lose his deposit every time ho stands for Wellington South or any other seat. Peoplo havo gone to his meetings to be entertained, and' they havo always come away satisfied with their evening. Mr Frost is an unattractive candidate, and the wonder is that nearly 1300 people went to the poll to vote for him. The _best organisation and the meet generous aid would not place him at the top of the poll. It has been said by the Labour talkers thai the National Government was behind Mr Frost and that the name Independent was mere camouflage. Mr Frost was never recognised as a National Government candidate

In Palmerston North 3lx Nash won by a less .proportion of votes than Mr Buick had by in 1914. Tho Labour people gained nothing of. consequence. All they can say is that thoy did remarkably well with a weak candidate, for they had a weak candidate.