LABOUR DEFEAT

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21604, 15 December 1941, Page 6

LABOUR DEFEAT

BY=ELECTION RESULT

MR W. SULLIVAN ELECTED SUBSTANTIAL REVERSAL OPOTIKI, Sunday The contest for the Bay of Plenty seat in the House of Representatives, rendered vacant by the death overseas of the former member, Lieutenant A. G. Hultquist, held yesterday, resulted in a clear-cut victory for the National candidate, Mr W. Sullivan. The voting was as follows: W. Sullivan (National) 4,452 C. Mills (Government) 2,859 Majority for Sullivan 1,593 There are approximately 750 soldiers' votes yet to be received. The voting at the 1938 election was: A. G. Hultquist (Labour), 4964; W. Sullivan (National), 4795. Majority for Hultquist, 169. While the National Party supporters throughout the electorate were confident that Labour would suffer a reverse, the majority at the poll was greater than anticipated. Heavy Poll Taken

The polling was exceptionally heavy for a by-election. The number of votes cast was 7311, compared with the final figure of 9759 at the general election in 1938. There were approximately 1400 fewer names on the roll for the by-elec-tion, while the number of Bay of Plenty soldiers overseas who were eligible to vote was large. At nearly every booth the change-over in the vote was marked, and at the Waioeka booth Mr Sullivan received 44 votes to his opponent’s one. At the general election Lieutenant Hultquist had a majority vote at both Whakatane and Opotiki, but on this occasion Mr Sullivan gained over 400 votes at these two places. Mr Sullivan is 49 years of age and is a member of a well-known contracting firm. For 13 years he was Mayor of Whakatane, being elected unopposed on each occasion. He was also chairman of the Harbour Board. He is the father of seven children, and his eldest son is a pilot in the Air Force. Party Leader’s Comment “The issue at the Bay of Plenty by-election was clear and distinct,” said the Leader cf the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland. “Labour put f. rward its case to justify a continuance of party politicis, whereas the National Party strongly advocated sinking political differences in the common cause and the formation of a truly non-party Government for the duration of the war.