LYTTELTON BY-ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22631, 24 July 1935, Page 10

LYTTELTON BY-ELECTION

Polling Day, To-day CANDIDATES T. H. M'Combs, Labour, M. E. Lyons, Coalition. T. E. Hills, Independent Labour. G. S. Hamilton, Independent. 1925.—J. M'Combs (Labour), 4900; M. E. Lyons (Reform), 4889. 1928.—J. M'Combs (Labour), 5022; J. W. Beanland (Reform), 3006; W. T. Lester (United), 2734. 1931.—J. M'Combs (Labour), 5404; F. W. Freeman (Coalition), 5372; W. L. Page (Independent). ■ 1933 (By-election).—Mrs E, R. M'Combs (Labour), 0344; F. W. Freeman (Coalition), 3075; E. L. Hills (Independent Labour), 209.

• THE CAMPAIGN CLOSED FORECAST OF RESULT LABOUR’S CHANCES FAVOURED (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, July 28. Eight Labour speakers addressed meetincs in the Lyttelton electorate to-night, and to counter this mass demonstratidn Mr Lyons could reach only two audiences—one at Purau in the afternoon and one at Lyttelton in the evening. The Labour speakers were the candidate himself, Mr T. H. M'Combs, and seven Labour members of ■' Parliament, Messrs H. T. Armstrong, D. G. Sullivan, E. J. Howard, R. Semple, W. Nash, F. Langstone, and P. C. Webb. Some of Mr Lyons’s friends are now inclined to doubt his wisdom in deciding to rely on his own efforts in this campaign. They argue that although he has proved himself a thoroughly competent campaigner, able to do his own fighting, it might still have been wiser to have had a few addresses in the electorate by some of the leaders of the Government in order to stir up among the Government supporters such interest and excitement as would ensure a full poll. The greatest risk Mr Lyon’s runs is that the poll may not be a full one.

The forecast for to-morrow is for unpleasant weather, and in an electorate which contains some sparsely settled areas with steep hill roads the fear is that some farmers will not trouble to go to the poll.

The Independent Labour candidate, Mr E. L. Hills, in the 1933 election polled 269 votes. He expects to poll more tomorrow, and he is likely to take more votes from Mr M'Combs than from Mr Lyons. He has certainly had a much better reception everywhere than he received in 1933.

Mr Hamilton will almost certainly forfeit his deposit. It is difficult to see where he expects to get votes. The Labour candidate, Mr M'Combs, has done nothing outstanding in the campaign. He is a fairly confident speaker, but his speeches, or rather his one speech because he has introduced very little new matter since he gave his first address, have not been such as to command notice or to make new friends for him.

Mr Lyons has conducted his campaign with real ability, showing a degree of political knowledge and sagacity rare even in experienced candidates. He has probably made new friends, or has won back old ones.

In assessing the chances of the candidates to-morrow it should not be forgotten that Mr Lyons has many old friends in the electorate. In 1925 he was beaten by the late Mr James M'Combs after an election petition by only 11 votes. In 1932 Mr M'Combs beat Mr F. W. Freeman’ by 32 votes, and in 1933 Mrs M'Combs won by 2669 votes. All are agreed that Mr Lyons’s position this year is stronger than was Mr Freeman’s in 1933. Mrs M'Combs had a large sympathy vote, and also a strong women’s vote. Whether her son will retain any share of that sympathy vote is unknown to anybody. The majority' of opinion seems to be that Mr M'Combs will win to-morrow, but the Labour people themselves are by no means sure of the result. Mr Lyons s friends think he has a fair chance. The fact is that the whole election campaign has been so quick that it is impossible for anyone to find any evidence to support any forecast of the result. ABSENT VOTERS (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 23. The Lyttelton electors who are absent from the electorate to-morrow may exercise their, vote on making application at any Post Office outside the electorate. The names of such people must be on the Lyttelton roll, and they must still retain their residential qualification. Personal application is necessary, and the residential qualification is lost if the applicant) has resided three months or more in another electoral district.