DULL CAMPAIGN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18764, 22 July 1935, Page 10

DULL CAMPAIGN

LYTTELTON ELECTION ELECTORS APATHETIC SHALL POLL EXPECTED It is becoming increasingly apparent that the majority .of electors in "the Lyttelton electorate are apathetic towards the campaign now hi progress. This attitude is m striking contrast with that displayed when the previous byeleetion wasa held two years ago, and it is dear that unless something crops up in the last |V\v days, the poll will be a small one.

Tito by-election is not even a popular topic of conversation. In sonic residential portions of the electorate this apathy is likely to prove a greater handicap to .Mr. M. E. Lvoiis, Government candidate, than to .Mr.'T. 11. .McCombs, who has the advantage of a solid band oi enthusiasts in those districts where Labor polls well. The inference to be drawn from tiro absence of excitement at the meetings of the Government candidate in the industrial areas is that most of the electors have already made up (heir minds as to how they will vote,' and arc not interested in what' can be said either for or against the Government. Mr. Lyons lias been changing his tactics during the past week, ancl has become a more vigorous defender of the Government., and attacker of the Labor Party’s policy, more especially in regard to ifs plan for guaranteed prices for farmers. Mis supporters are convinced that lie has shaken the faith of many electors in. the Labor plan, which lias come into the forefront as an issue in the election, but it is lull’d to say what 'effect this line of attack will have. Mr. Lyons is finding it- difficult to work up enthusiasm among the people, who, while opposed to Labor, are not favorable to much of what the Government has done. It is in this atmosphere that the election is being fought. The Labor Party canijiaign* managers are doing their best to stir up hostility to the Government, with tbo object ol securing a, victory that will be. bailed as notice to the. Government to quit at the end of the year, but. even they are finding that people are indifferent. Possibly the electors of Lyttelton have had too'much of a feast of politics in the past couple of years, and are regarding the present' election as something of a nuisance in view of the early approach of the general election.

There are still many observers who flunk'that Mr. Lyons lias a. chance ol winning the seal, but the strangely quid atmosphere of the campaign docs nut lend much support to that, view. The two Independent candidates are already so far out of the hunt that few people even mention them. During.the past lew days the supporters of the Labor candidate have been making a special appeal to sentiment, by emphasising the fact that, if 31,v. McCombs is returned a world’s record will lid established, as it,'will be the first lime in history that a father, mother and'son will have sat for the same seat in the life, of one Parliament. In view of tho nearness of the general election, this appeal is being favorably received by' a number of electors, who have no party allegiances.