OAMARU ELECTION

Southland Times, Issue 18930, 2 May 1923, Page 5

OAMARU ELECTION

MR MACPHERSON’S VICTORY MAJORITY OF 340 (Per United Press Association). The final figures were:— Mr J. A. Macpherson (Lib.) .. .. 4352 Mr E. P. Lee (Ref.) 4012 There are 262 absentee votes to come. The figures at the General Election were as follows: Macpherson 4074 Lee 4051 “RE BIRTH OF LIBERALISM.” MR WILFORD JUBILANT. OAMARU, May 1. After the final figure? had been posted, both candidates addressed the very large crowd assembled watching the results. A gcod hearing was accorded the victor and vanquished. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr T. M. Wilford, was received with loud cheering. He described the result of the poll as the re-birth of Liberalism, which would ring from end to end of the Dominion. He stressed the pcint that Mr Macpherson could have had the assistance of all the speakers ; he wanted, but Mr Macpherson preferred to fight the battle on his own. Their splendid victory showed that the public conscience had been aroused despite the propaganda by the press and the Prime Minister. The people had recognised that Mr Macpherson’s cause was right. Mr Wilferd referred to the fact that the meaning of the Oamaru election was “Justice triumphant.” The result of the polling had shown that it was an appropriate name. Mr Wilford said that Liberalism stood in the middle of the road, not for class consciousness or class rule, but for the welfare of all. The Liberal Party desired to promote the co-operation between capital and labour. This must be accomplished, otherwise the country would stagnate. He congratulated Mr Macpherson on his great victory, and after saying that Mr Lee had taken his defeat like a sport, Mr Wilford called for cheers fcr both candidates, which were heartily given. A rousing demonstration in honour of Mr Macpherson and Mr Wilford followed. MR MASSEY’S COMMENT. FOUGHT ON SYMPATHY ISSUE. CHRISTCHURCH, May 1. “The election was fought,” said the Prime Minister to a press representative, “on Mr Macpherson’s part wholly on the ground of sympathy, and not on general politics. The sympathetic issue was preached on every platform and used in every possible direction. It was also quite evident that a large majority of the new enrolments voted for the opposition candidate. Complaints were freely made that many persons who voted at the General Election in the neighbouring electorate of Waitaki and even in Dunedin, were able, after a few weeks’ temporary residence in Oamaru, to secure enrolment for the by-election. It is clear that the four weeks’ residential qualification is capable of great abuse and it is evident this was taken full advantage of at to-day’s election. From returns at present to hand, it appears that Mr Lee increased his support in Oamaru town, compared with the General Election, and that circumstances mentioned have caused the loss of a Minister whose work for the Government and country was characterised by conspicuous ability and distinction.” EXTRAORDINARY INCREASED VOTING. CHRISTCHURCH, May 1. Interviewed on the ferry steamer, Mr Massey, who had just received the final Oamaru figures, had little to say. “I will say this,” he remarked, “in all my long experience of electioneering I have never known a single instance when an election had been upset where the seat had been taken from the man who was declared elected at the General Election. The polling at Oamaru was heavier than at the General Election, and there seems to have been an extraordinary increase in the voting at some places and it is difficult to account for.” In reply to a further question, Mr Massey said he had nothing to say in regard to the position of the parties.