CHANCES REVIEWED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7138, 28 November 1949, Page 4

CHANCES REVIEWED

WAIKATO AND NEARBY ELECTORATES HOW LABOUR PARTY JOURNAL SEES THEM The following reviews of the prospects of candidates in the elections named are taken from The Standard, and they are of course strictly the views of Labour’s official journal:— Majority Will Flop Mr W. S. Goosman’s 5100 majority of 1946 in Piako is likely to flop considerably on November 30. He is being opposed this time by Mr G. P. Kenah, a well-known and most successful Raglan farmer, who has a good insight into the farming policy of the Labour Party. Mr Goosman is conducting an unusually bitter campaign and Mr Kenah’s quiet, unassuming manner, have earned for him much praise from the Piako electors. Mr F. W. Doidge, M.P. for Tauranga, has the Mayor of Waihi, Mr H. J. Pickett, opposing him this time and evidently fears that his 2700 majority has vanished, for he is adopting a stay-at-home attitude, and is putting far more weight into his own campaign than he has done before. Mr Pickett is a pleasant speaker —lacking the flambuoyant manner of Mr Doidge—and much more interested in New Zealand than in promoting the private ideas of Lord Beaverbrook! He has a royal chance of teaching Mr Doidge that New Zealand comes first. His late start in the campaign should be against the best chances, of Mr J. R. Burfitt, Labour Candidate for Waikato, held in 1946 by Mr G. F. Sim, M.P., by about 4300 votes. Mr Burfitt is campaigning intensely, and has a telling way of putting his story over from the platform. Mr Sim, on the other hand, has adopted too many of Mr Goosman’s tactics —both on the platform and in the House—and this should react in Mr Burfitt’s favour. Raglan Will Not Be Lost Faced again by the man he beat by 13 votes—after his opponent had gone to the Courts to try and get elected in 1946—Mr A. C. Baxter, M.P., should Score a convincing majority in Raglan. Mr Hallyburfon Johnstone, whom he ousted in 1946, had six months to prove his ability, but did so little for the electors that his defeat was enevitable. On the other hand, there has been no more conscientious member in looking after the interests of every section of his constituents than Mr Baxter. This fact, a highly important one in Raglan, should assure his return with a greatly increased vote and majority. Moreover, there has been a heavy population increase, particularly in the working-class area of Frankton. What Will It Be? The last seat in this area is Hamilton, one of New Zealand’s most rapidly expanding towns. In 1946 Mrs G. H. Ross, M.P., had a majority of 327 over Mr J. J. Granville, who is again opposing her. Undoubtedly Mrs Ross's close connection with many organisations stood her in good stead three years ago, but connections of this sort have to be modified considerably when a member has to attend to all the business of Parliament. Labour’s Campaign list wjell organised and Mr Granville, greatly improved after his initial attempt, has been conducting a first-rate campaign, free entirely from personalities. South of Hamilton is the most likely seat to change hands, and in Mi- Granville, the city would have a representative who would gain the respect of the whole House of Representatives for his obvious sincerity and fair-mindedness. Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M. P. had a majority approaching 4000 three years ago, and is this time being opposed by an outstanding speaker, in Mr F. J. Kitts. Waitomo is a very complex electorate embracing almost half of North Taranaki, and extending to Te Awamutu. It was one of the worst cut-up electorates at the last boundary revision, and campaigning is made difficult accordingly. Mr Kitts will put up a good fight, arid, although the prospect of winning is too remote, it would not be impossible for him to drastically cut down the sitting member’s majority.