Thames Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1935. LABOUR’S BIG DAY.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19572, 28 November 1935, Page 2

Thames Star

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1935. LABOUR’S BIG DAY.

“With malice towards none; with charity for all'; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.”—Lincoln.

The overwhelming majority with which the electors of New Zealam yesterday placed the reins of Government in the hands of the Labour Party for the first time in the history of the Dominion, was a staggering blow to Labour’s opponents, and no doubt very surprising to the most optimistic of its supporters. It is the clearest of mandates that the old order of social conditions, or, as Labour terms it, starvation in the midst of plenty, must be changed, and that the party’s demand for endorsement of State control of currency and credit as the crucial plank in its plan of restoration is a justifiable claim. In this respect La-

bour has been given such a majority that there is no possibility of hindrance in putting its policy into full operation. The position of the two main parties, Nationalist and Labour, is practically reversed compared with the result of the previous election in 1931,, while the strength of the Independents remains unchanged. As was generally anticipated tho Democrats failed to impress the electors, but it was perhaps surprising

that not one of that party’s candidates was elected, even the leader of the party, Mr. Hislop, being at the bottom of the poll in Masterton. The total gains by Labour, almost wholly at the expense of the Nationalists, were 28 seats, including three held by Ministers of the ForbesCoates administration. Thames was in line with the general swing to Labour, and Mr. Samuel, the Independent and formerly Government candidate, had to lower his colours in favour of Mr. Thorn, one of the original stalwarts of the Labour movement in the Dominion. Mr. Samuel’s departure from the political arena is to be regretted, as in many respects his sympathies were all Avith the humanitarian policy of Labour. This is proA 7 ed by his re-

peated protests on any matters dc

trimental to the welfare of his constituents, and it was mainly on the party principle that he felt compelled to break with the Government. However, as the results elsewhere clearly indicate, Mr. Samuel would most probably have suffered defeat even as a Government candidate. In their speeches last evening both victor and vanquished—and this applies also to the party leaders —showed a most welcome spirit of friendship apart from their political differences. Mr. Savage’s appeals for the co-operation of all in the task that lies ahead, and the assurances by the leaders of the Nationalists of their willingness to co-operate wherever possible will give heart to Labour in the projected attempt to better the conditions of .that large section of the community which has been suffering privation for so long. The country’s new leader again gives his assurance that the Dominion has nothing to fear as the result of entrusting its fortunes to Labour, and this should go far to scotch such stupid ideas

that the bottom has fallen out of everything as the result of Labour’s success. No sensbile jxerson expected to see the banks draped in mourning to-day, or that the usual current of everyday business would cease to flow. It is generally realised that the Labour Party has a very thorny path to tread, particularly in regard to its agricultural policy, and until it sets out to do what it has promised to do there is' no occasion for unnecessary alarm, which would only be damaging to the future interests of all. Until Labour j reveals its hand in the matter of monetary reform criticism might well be withheld.