POLLING PUZZLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17526, 1 May 1925, Page 12

POLLING PUZZLE.

LABOUR AND MAYORALTY. (Special to the u Star.”) WELLINGTON, April 30. The unsuccessful Labour candidate for the Wellington Mayoralty, Mr Chapman, polled 11,797 votes, tho highest vote for Labour, according to bis estimate, ever polled in New Zealand. Had this vote been exercised for Labour on the full Labour ticket for councillors there would have been a Labour majority on tire council, as eleven of the successful candidates had fewer votes than Mr Chapman. However, Labour did not improve its position in this respect. It lias two representatives only. The explanation given by those concerned in municipal election activity over a long period of years is that many working men vote for a La - hour Mayor on principle, hut they prefer in choosing councillors to pick those they know, and they also exercise some conservatism as ratepayers, preferring lor administrative positions men who have not advocated expensive experiments, but who undertake to keep the rates within reasonable limits. Commenting on this interesting feature of the elections, the Wellington ** Rost *’ suggests that- Mr Chapman’s Mayoral vote does not represent the Labour voting strength, and that thousands who are neither members nor adherents of the party gave their support to Mr Chapman because of his past services and the skill with which he conducted his campaign, but that does not affect the position as the electors must, view it. It is proved that Labour has solid voting strength, and if the party can capture also the votes of a number of non-party citizens it has but a little way to go to win. Those people who do not wish to see Labour in a position to carry out its programme must m future copy Labour thoroughness in organisation and Labour unity when faced by opponents. The work- must not be left till the last, minute