PARNELL BY-ELECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21020, 8 May 1930, Page 10

PARNELL BY-ELECTION.

MR ENDEAN RETURNED. A MAJORITY OF 1485. A CLEAN CONTEST. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, May 7. The by-election for , the Parnell seat in Parliament, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr H. R. Jenkins, who supported the Government last session and later developed Independent tendencies, was held to-day. About 11,000 names were on the voters’ roll. The day was fine, and throughout the polling hours there wore brisk scenes at the principal booths. There waa a fairly heavy poll recorded, and the election of the Reform candidate was very well received by the crowds outside the newspaper offices. The fight has been one of the cleanest in the history of New Zealand politics, and all three candidates testify to this fact. There were 25 polling places, and Mr Endean was ahead at 22 of them. Special telephones were installed at the returning officers’ headquarters, connecting into the Prime Minister’s rooms at Rotorua and the Cabinet Ministers’ room in Wellington. The result of the polling was as follows— 4 W. P. ENDEAN (Reform) , . 4607 W. A. DONALD (Government) .. 3122 T. BLOODWORTH (Labour) .. 2065 Majority for Endean, 1485.

There are 250 absent • votes, 145 postal votes, and three seamen’s votes yet' to count. At the general election in December, 1928, the figures were —H. R. Jenkins (United), 5642; J. S. Dickson (Reform), 4793; J. W. Yarnall (Lab.), 1661. ADDRESSES BY CANDIDATES. Addressing, the crowd after the announcement of the result, Mr Endean paid a tribute to Mr Donald and Mr jloodworth for the clean fight they had made. ! “We have fought, I believe, a good honest fight, and my first duty and pleasure is to congratulate the victor,” said Mr Donald. “I have done my best for the United Party, but my beat was evidently not good enough. The party will not be unduly disturbed by this defeat. After alk the Parnell seat has been a Reform seat for very many years, and the electors have now gone back to their old love. We live to fight another day, and when that day comes if the United Party Executive sees fit to honour me with their nomination 1 shall be only too pleased and proud to come out and fight for the party again.” Mr JBloodworth said: “ 1 want to join with Mr Donald in congratulating Mr Endean on the victory he has won today. -He has won it in a fair fight. I knew it was a difficult job we were undertaking, but I went into it to do the best I could. It has given us the opportunity of explaining the Labour Party’s position to the electors, and I think the Labour movement will be better understood, not only in Parnell but throughout the Dominion, as a consequence. May I congratulate Mr Donald and Mr Endean on the fair and sportsmanlike way they conducted their campaigns. We close the contest, as we started, the best of good friends.” The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland, ALP.), who also spoke, said they knew Mr Bloodwortb was taking on an immense contract when he entered the Parnell fight, and it did honour, to his courage. It was pleasing to observe with what little bitterness and absence of recrimination the contest had been conducted. Air Bloodwortb had succeeded in substantially increasing the Labour vote in the constituency as now formed —a constituency that was not and never had been Labour in sentiment. The result of the contest would make practically no difference to the parties in the House. MR ’COATES INTERVIEWED. PRINCIPLES AND NOT PERSONALITIES. (Special to Daily Times.) ‘ AUCKLAND, Alay 7. ** I extend my heartiest congratulations to Air Endean and all those who have been associated with him on the victory that has been gained,” said the Leader oi the Opposition (Air J. G. Coates) tonight. “ The result cannot have anything but a good effect on the politics of New Zealarid. We have seen two men who have represented Parnell in Parliament—ll. R. Jenkins and J. S. Dickson —put their own interests aside for those of the party in whose principles they believed. and as the leader of that party it has been particularly gratifying to me to note the manner id which they have worked for the return of Air Endean 1 would also like to congratulate Mi Donald and Mr Bloodwortb on the fighl they put up throughout.' The contest was fought on principles, and not on personalities, thus putting it on that high plane on which all right-thinking people wifi agree our politics should be pjaced. The majority which has been, given to Air Endean also shows that the? Reform Party and the principles it stands for are live vital factors, and that the party is far from being in that mornbund state which some would have the electors believe. The victory at Parnell will hearten those who lyive been actively engaged in keeping the party ilag aloft. AIR ENDEAN’S CAREER. A native of the Auckland province, Air Endean is about 46 years of age. He is a son of the late Air John Endean, a well-known Thames and Auckland resident, Air Endean was educated lit the Auckland Grammar School, and later gained his LL.B, degree at the Auckland University College. He commenced practice as a barrister and solicitor in Auckland about 21 years ago. For a time be practised on his own account, but in 1910 he arid Air J. A. Holloway joined in partnership, from which Air Endean retired about six months ago. In sporting circles Air Endean is widely known and esteemed, particularly in the yachting world. For the past two years he has been commodore of the Royal New Zea-

land iacht Squadron, and he has played an important part in ensuring the sucCC tl i tlle unm,al Anniversary Day regatta having recently been chairman oi the Regatta Committee. During the war Mr Eiulcan joined th o Royal Naval volunteer Kesovvc a,nd saw service ir iidiiopean waters. He lias never previously sought political lioncims. but lie ts known as a capable speaker ami a suecesslul member of the profession from which he has recently retired. STATE OF THE PARTIES. The parties in the House may be stated as under:— GOVERNMENT ... 94 REFORM " 20 LABOUR .... on INDEPENDENT .. " 7 Tile Independent members rue: Mr Speaker, Messrs Poison, Wilkinson, Homan, and Riishworth. Messrs Broadfoot and hletchor may also bo placed i n the same class.