SOUTHLAND SEATS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25338, 23 September 1943, Page 4

SOUTHLAND SEATS

MR HAMILTON’S PROSPECTS (Special) INVERCARGILL. Sept. 22. With the sitting members, Brigadier J. Hargest and Captain T. L. Macdonald, in Awarua and Mataura respectively, returned unopposed, interest in the elections in Southland seats is confined to Invercargill and Wallace. In the city, candidates’ meetings have been poorly attended and little indication has been given of public opinion. The sitting Labour candidate, Mr W. M. C Denham, had a majority of 2156 at the last election and must be difficult to unseat; but the National candidate, Mr W Bell, has a substantial following and his public popularity was enhanced by his administration of the Home Guard in Southland for its first two years. The Democratic Labour candidate, Gunner L. M. A. Harbord, is a stranger in the electorate and does not appear to command much support, although he can be expected to take a certain number of votes from Mr Denham. „ , x , In the Wallace electorate Mr Adam Hamilton appears to be in a strong position, although he has been assailed in some districts for remaining in the War Cabinet after the resignation of Mr S G Holland and other Nationalists This may not improve Labour’s chances as the National supporters who are disgruntled because they consider Mr Hamilton supported the Government are unlikely to transfer their allegiance to the Labour candidate, Mr J. J. Lynch. TJhey may, however, be inclined to vote for the Independent candidate, Mr P. J. J. McMullan, who is a 25-year-old returned airman and a vigorous and fluent platform speaker. Generally, however, Mr McMullan has not attracted great support, although his audiences have been impressed by his forceful attacks on both the principal parties for what he describes as the failure of the Government and the Opposition to grapple with present and post-war problems and to prepare for New Zealand to raise its voice at the peace conference. Mr Lynch has considerable personal popularity as a prominent district far-

mer, and he has solid support in the mining districts of Nightcaps, Ohai, and Glenorchy, but he has lost the benefit of the large public works camps which were valuable to him in 1938,