AUCKLAND WEST SEAT

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21098, 27 April 1940, Page 6

AUCKLAND WEST SEAT

Interest in the by-election in Auckland West has been quickened by the selection of three candidates. Whether the Nationalists will contest the seat may depend to some extent upon the decision of the new “breakaway” party headed by Mr J. A. Lee and supported by the Hon. W. E. Barnard. Speculation is rife whether this new party will place a candidate in the field for election to the seat rendered vacant by the death of Mr Savage, especially since it was criticism of Mr Savage that led to Mr Lee’s expulsion from .the Labour Party. On the face of it, it seems improbable that Mr Lee’s party will contest the seat. The new party may, of course, desire to test the public feeling, or even to split the vote if the National Party should decide to nominate a candidate. Mr Savage for many years enjoyed a very large majority in Auckland West, but Mr Lee claims that he is standing by the original policy upon which Mr Savage and his colleagues were elected, so it is not easy to predict the trend of the voting if all the parties place candidates in the field. Although the National Party has held several conferences on the subject, the organisation in Auckland West has not yet decided whether it will contest the seat. It may be that the final decision will be influenced by the attitude of the “Left Wing” of the Labour Party. Assuming that the rift between the Lee faction and the Labour Party is beyond reconciliation, it may be taken for granted that Mr Lee will take the first favourable opportunity of strengthening his position in the House. He may decide that it is yet too soon to test public opinion and instead to begin organising for the general election next year. If he achieves success in his organisation his party may become a force to be reckoned with next year, for a third party in the political field often brings surprising results. In the meantime* the position has not yet cleared sufficiently to show the public what measure of support Mr Lee is likely to attract. Mr Barnard’s position is equally indefinite. Resolutions by many branches of the party have not wholly cleared the air, and it may be that New Zealand’s attitude to the “Left Wing” will not be demonstrated until the general election.