THE INVERCARGILL ELECTION

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1930, Page 10

THE INVERCARGILL ELECTION

Since the abolition in 1876 of the provincial system of government the Invercargill electorate has been remarkably loyal to Liberalism. From 1882 to 1887 it was represented by Conservatives, and from 1891 to 1896 by a.member who was first elected as a Labour representative and then became an Independent and was for the most part a supporter of the Liberal Government. From 1596 to the present time the electorate has returned Liberals, and Mr. Vincent Ward, who was successful at the by-election yesterday, is the third member to occupy the seat during that period. The Hon. J. A. Hanan, who still serves the Dominion in the Legislative Council, enjoys the distinction of having held Invercargill from 1896 till 1925 without defeat, and at times without opposition. When he chose to retire Invercargill transferred its allegiance to Sir Joseph Ward, who had previously represented the neighbouring constituency, and now the, electorate has very happily selected the son of the distinguished member whom it so recently lost. The election of Mr, Vincent Ward is a happy circumstance inasmuch as it is a tribute to his father’s memory and an indication that this young man, untried in public life, has commended himself to the judgment of a substantial body of voters. Whether he will prove a source of strength to the United Party and the country is for the future to 'discover, but he is certainly to be congratulated on his success, for his opponent, Mr. Hargest, was only beaten by less than 2CO votes when "he contested Invercargill in 1925. The partisans who study election figures will, no doubt, point out that the United Party’s total, which will probably be about 5000 when all yesterday’s votes are accounted for, represents a decline of more than 2000 from the 1928 figures, while the Reform vote shows an increase of some hundreds. It is possible, however, to attach far too much significance to calculations of this kind, the results of which are apt to vary according to the party predilections of the calculators. The safer plan is to take a quite impartial view of the byelection and its results. It leaves the voting strength in the House of Representatives as it was before, and introduces a newcomer, who begins his political career with the best wishes of a country that holds his illustrious father’s services in grateful remembrance.