MANUKAU RESULT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19139, 7 October 1936, Page 14

MANUKAU RESULT

MR. WESTON’S COMMENT

“BEGINNING OF A SWING”

Mr. C. H. Weston, K.C., chairman of the Dominion executive of the National Party, in a statement on the result of the Manukau by-election, stated that in his view the figiuves of the voting showed the beginning of a swing away from the existing Government, which seems to be inevitaoie in New Zealand politics. “This,” he says, “is the result of tin system which has been more and more followed in the last 30 years of Governments taking a hand in voters’ private affairs. In consequence a Ministei spends most of his administrative daj making semi-judicial decisions between two sets of opposing interests, one oi which his decision will mortally offend because its pocket is affected. In a country with a small population, this position is accentuated by the fact of oui being so close to one another. The careers of New Zealand Alinistries during the last 20 years bear out this opinion as their lives do not seem to; extend much beyond one Parliament.” The election was very keenly fought and as far as the National Party was concerned its candidate was good, its organisation excellent, anti the co-opera-tion between the Parliamentary Party and the Dominion and Auckland executives of the warmest character. “But we must take our hats off to the Labour organisation,” said Mr. Weston. “I suppose the New Zealand Labour political machine to-dav is probably the most perfect of its kind in the world. Everything was attended to down to the last detail. ' With the contribution from the compulsory unions, its funds are ample and it can afford, including trade union organisers as distinct from secretaries, to have over 2CO organisers pocking in New Zealand at the present time, keen, efficient, and well paid. To the National Party it is an example and a warning.”