ECHO OF HAURAKI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 188, 11 August 1931, Page 8

ECHO OF HAURAKI

UNITED PARTY TWITTED WHAT OF NEXT ELECTION? WELLINGTON, Aug. 8. Chaffing reference to the result of the Hauraki by-election was made in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr A. Harris (Reform, Waitemata). He twitted the Government with having used all its forces in an endeavour to persuade the electors to vote for the United Party candidate, with the result that Mr E. Allan had lost his deposit. Mr Harris said that all the leaders of the party had concentrated on the electorate with the addition of 1 Private” Munns in charge of the subsidiary forces. The United Party had had the advantage of having a very estimable gentleman, well known throughout the district, as its standard bearer, a gentleman who at the last General Election had polled approximately 3000 votes. In spite of all that, Mr Allan had only succeeded in polling under 1000 votes, and he had lost his deposit. Surely the result of the by-election had shown that the Government was not in favour with the people of New Zealand. He had always been led to believe that by-elections were a barometer of public feeling. A Government member: “What about Waipawa ? ’ ’ Mr Harris: “That happened a long while ago. Things have changed since then. I think I am right in saying that the loss of deposit by a Government candidate is unprecedented in the history of New Zealand.” Mr F. Langstone (Labour, Waimarino) pointed out that 1500 electors in Hauraki had failed to vote, and it was very difficult to say how their votes would have gone, He ventured to say that by the time the General Election came round the 1500 people would vote for Mr Petrie, who carried the Labour Party’s banner. (Reform laughter).