LABOR’S EASY WIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18253, 23 November 1933, Page 9

LABOR’S EASY WIN

DULLER BY-ELECTION TWO-TO-ONE MAJORITY A HAPPY ATMOSPHERE (Pur Press Association.) WESTPORT, last night. The Buffer by-election to fill the seat made vacant bv the death of Mr. 11. E. Holland, took place to-day. The weather was beautifully fine, but the voting was disappointing—a lot less than at the genetal election. The final result was:— Mr. P. C. Webb (Lab.) 4696 Mr. lan Simson (Lib. Lab.) ... 2229 When the result was announced, both candidates addressed a large gathering assembled in front of the Princess Hotel. Mr. Webb said the result was a triumph for tiic Labor Party, and a lurtiior warning to the Government. He thanked his old workmates and committee for standing so loyally to him. While regretting the cause of the election, he was pleased to have Mrs. Forman. a daughter of the late member, alongside him to witness the triumph of the party so ably led by her late father. He did not think Mr. Coates, Mr. For'" os or Mr. Simson had a policy that would get the country out of tile mire. The election had been conducted in a straightforward maimer, and he and Mr. Simson were the best of friends.

Mr. Webb said he could not hope to (ill the place of Mr. Holland, but expressed a wish that he might be “Paddy tho Next Best Thing.” He was out to do his best for the district and, concluding, he thanked those who had voted and worked for him. The fact that others had voted against him would not have the slightest effect in any service he could do for them, and he hoped to be worthy of the confidence of Buffer. Mr. Webb called for cheers for the defeated candidate.

Mr. lan Simson, replying, said that he did not expect to win. (Laughter.) Many people had not voted, the total of both candidates being just slightly over that polled at the last election by Mr. H. E. Holland. It was not to the credit of the district that more people had not exercised their votes. He had told the people to vote for “Paddy” if they could not vote for him. but to vote. It was his ■ntention to stay here and he would he Westport’s next Mayor. (Laughter.) He knew Mr. Webb would do Ills best

’> ’’ : s job, but Labor would never get on without the Liberals. * voice: The Liberals are dead.

The. candidate : I’m not dead. (Laughlcr). On Mr. Simson’s caff, three cheers wore given for Mr. Webb. Mr. Webb then made an announcement concerning tile Victory Ball to he held to-night, and Mr. Simson, stepping forward amid laughter, said: “I’ll be there.” “VERY SATISFACTORY” LABOR LEADER’S COMMENT (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. “The result is very satisfactory so far as we are concerned,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, commenting on the result of the Buffer by-election. “It was not a very big poll, and the absence of a straight-out Government candidate robbed the contest of a good deal of interest. But, so far as the polling went, the Labor Party, has every reason to bo satisfied with the result. We have every reason to be satisfied with the candidate who has been elected. Mr. Webb is a well-tried man who has always done good service out of tho Houso and in it, when Labor was not, as popular as to-day. He will be a real acquisition to the strength of the party in tho House.”