LEADER OF OPPOSITION’S COMMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 169, 21 July 1941, Page 6

LEADER OF OPPOSITION’S COMMENT

LANDSLIDE AGAINST GOVERNMENT (Press Assn.) Christchurch, July 20 “Two things stand out in the War temata by-election,” said the Leads, of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, in commenting on the result. “The first is the unexpectedly large vote and the second the heavy landslide against the Government.” In the 1938 election, he added, 59 out of every 100 voters voted for the Government, but on Saturday only 44 in each 100 still supported the Government and its majority had been reduced from 2260 to 400. “Mrs. Dreaver had the advantage of a battery of the Labour Party’s front-line platform speakers, so it can be assumed that the Government scored nearly its full strength,” said Mr. Holland. “The same applies to Mr. Lee’s candidate. It can therefore be imagined what will happen to a majority of 400 when the National Party’s organisation swings into action. “Following on the Waipav/i byelection and the municipal elections, the result further demonstrates the pronounced swing in public opinion in 1938. Each election since then has made the writing on the wall easier to- read,” concluded Mr. Holland.