BY-ELECTION.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19824, 29 September 1936, Page 3

BY-ELECTION.

AT MANUKAU TO-MORROW. Odds Against Mr. Doidge. I BIG LABOUR STRONGHOLD. MAJORITY MAY BE REDUCED. (Special to "Star") AUCKLAND,' Sept. 29 Voting for the Manukau by-elec-tion takes place to-morrow. The candidates, Mir. F. W. Doidge (National) and Mr. A. G. Osborne (Labour) have conducted active campaigns since the fight for Vacancy caused by Mr. W. J. Jordon's promotion to the High Commissionership commenced in earnest on September 8.

In view of the Labour Party's overwhelming majority at the general election, there does not appear to be any hope of success by Mr. Doidge, although the opinion is freely expressed that 'he will substantially reduce the 1935 majority. Last November, 13,384 electors voted, Mr. Jordan receiving 9,345 votes, Mr. H. J, Wiley (National Government) 2,943, and Mr. H. Thpmley (Democrat) 1,020; informal numbered Mr. Jordan's clear majority oVpr b> ppponents was thus 5,38,2, In the 1931 election Mr. Jordan had a majority of 3,394 votes over Mr. S. ftickards (Coalition, Reform), the total votes- cast being 11,408. Although it has not been stated in print, it is understood Labour Party floes, not expect its majority to-morrow to be so great as in November. There are two reasons for this! (1) The total poll at, a byeleetkm is seldom, if ever, so big as at a general election. For instance, 10 months ago 13,384 voted on Manukau's 14,821 roll. (2) Mr. Osborne cannot be expected to command so extensive a personal 'vote as Mr. Jordan, who had represented the electorate continuously since defeating the Speaker, Sir Frederick Lang, in 1922. Despite the fact that the by-elec-tion roll has approximately 16,000 names, there are 17 polling booths, and in November Labour polled very heavily at the four main ones, Mr. Jordan securing 1,631 votes at the Foresters' Hall, Onehunga, 1,076 at Royal Oak, 1,068 at the Salvation Army Barracks, Onehunga, and 1,053 at the Ellcrslie- Parish Hall.

MAY RETURN "TO POLITICS

MR'."F.'M. B. FISHER. '

(Special to "Star.")-

AUCKLAND, Sept. 29

The possibility of. his re-entering the political sphere was mentioned by Mr. P. M. B. Fisher, a former Cabinet Minister, who recently returned to the Dominion, in speaking at Mr. Doidge's meeting at Onehunga last night. Although he apologised for the lack of practice in political speaking recently, _ Mr. Fisher showed by replies to interjectors that -he has not lost the gift of repartee for which he was wellknown while-in Parliament.