The Wanganui Chronicle WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1931. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS REVIEWED.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 111, 13 May 1931, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1931. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS REVIEWED.

'"pHK municipal elections now being complete they merit review

The outstanding features of the Wanganui Municipal elections were the absence of a constructive platform for the future, that is the immediate future, in the advocacy of the Labour Party. This absence naturally told heavily against them and compelled them to take up a defensive attitude. The defensive tactics adopted was to disparage the “Genus business man.” This disparagement, however, was an inappropriate substitute for policy and made it difficult for the. Labour candidates to win votes. The difficult tactical position held doubtless accounts for the elimination of Mr Rogers from the Mayoralty and Mr Scott from the City Council. Mr Rogers has worked hard, during the past four years, to build up a strong personal following. He has succeeded in this, lienee his topping the poll for the Hospital Board. His opponent, Mr Armstrong, has not indulged in any “nursing of the constituency’’ and the voting in- his favour indicates the strength of the antipathetic votes against Mr Rogers. The personal following of Mr Armstrong would have supported Mr Rogers’ opponent whomsoever he may have been. Obviously, therefore, seeing that Mr Rogers’ personal following has not deserted him altogether the decision going against him in the Mayoral contest leads to the conclusion that the Labour Party, as a party, is not popular at the present time. This reading of the contest results is fortified by the results of the municipal elections elsewhere. In Wellington Labour has been rejected. In Christchurch, Mr D. Sullivan, M.P., despite his being favourably placed with the public secured the City Mayoralty for Labour with a much reduced majority. In Auckland Labour previded no successes for Labour and in Timaru the Reverend Clyde Carr, M.P., failed to secure a seat on the Hospital Board. Despite the depression, the Labour Party, which preaches the divinity of discontent, has not been able to improve the position. This is contrary to expectations, and tends to falsify the fear that Labour would sweep the boards at the Parliamentary elections. An analysis of the causes of Labour's unpopularity at the present time should repay the exercise, for it will throw some light upon the very important question as io whether fusion, coalition or inter-party co-operation would be desirable.