POLICY APPROVED

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22153, 27 September 1943, Page 4

POLICY APPROVED

MR HOLLAND’S CLAIM

“ LANDSLIDE OF OPINION ” (By Telegrapri—press Assoclatlou) CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. “ It is too early yet to know precisely how the election will finish up, but present indications are that the Government will retain a much reduced majority,” said the Leader of the National Party, Mr S. G. Holland, tonight, “but it is clear beyond any doubt whatever that there has been a landslide of public opinion against the Government and its policy of State control and regimentation.

“ The National Party put up a clean fight and this has been widely approved, as the public is tired of personalities and recriminations. Our progressive policy has been approved by a big increase in our vote. With the Government’s overwhelming majority reduced to half a doi.cn, it would be absurd to suggest that the Government’s policy has been approved. The Labour Party used fairly to claim that it represented a majority of the people, but on Saturday a majority of something like 50,000 voted against the Government’s policy and administration and the Labour Party is no longer able to claim that it represents the majority of the people. Non-Party Administration

“In my judgment the election • clearly means that the people voted in favour of the Government calling !]a halt in the expansion of its domestic policy of socialisation and State control. It was a clear vote against the use of the war situation for implementing socialisation, and I believe the public wants to see. party political bickering dropped and the best men from both sides formed into a non-party war administration to prosecute the war effort, but it would appear that outside pressure is too strong and that the Prime Minister is determined to carry on with the present sectional administration.

“ Subject to alteration in voting figures, it would appear that the Labour vote has dropped by about 100,000 votes and as far as can be calculated at the present stage their total vote on Saturday appears to be only about 20,000 more than that recorded for the National Party. These figures should explode the suggestion -hat the general election endorsed Labour’s policy. “ Naturally I am very gratified at the result of the poll and it demonstrates that elections can be conducted without bitterness if there is a will to do so. It looks as if we shall have a team of about 36 members, 16 of whom were members of the last Parliament and 20 new men. I am sure the public will welcome the improvement in the debating capacity of the House. With so many younger men coming into the House public interest in Parliament will be revived.

" I greatly regret losing Sir Apirana Ngata, that grand man of the Maori race. For almost 40 years he has lived aniLworked for his country and I in particular will miss him very much, as it was to him that I looked for so much counsel on matters of Parliamentary procedure, on which he sras an acknowledged authority. Voting By Soldiers

“ One feature of the elections that requires looking into is the soldiers’ votes. The fact that every serviceman had to sign his name and fill in a form giving his regimental number and name has created doubts in the minds of many people as to th • secrecy of the ballot, which we have always regarded as essential to the conduct of cur elections. I know it will be said that the soldier’s name and number were placed in different envelopes, but that does not explain the need for all this filling in of forms. “ I am having inquiries made about the forwarding of election publicity material to servicemen, because it is essential to an election that every voter should bo fully informed as to the issue involved. Tn; Government was able to arrange for several of its Ministers to visit overseas territory and much subtle propaganda was indulged in. “ I have no information when the new Parliament will meet, but I expect to nave a meeting of the new Parliamentary Opposition within a week or 10 days of the final results being announced. The present situation is full of interest, because tne Government already has anounced its decioion to send Mr Nash to Washintogn and another speaker must be found, still further reducing its working majority.”

MANDATE CLAIMED PROSECUTING WAR EFFORT WELLINGTON, Sunday. In a broadcast early on Sunday morning, when the state of the parties was Labour 43 and National 36, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, said he had asked for the support of the people of New Zealand for the unflagging prosecution of the war effort, the efficient and successful rehabititation of our servicemen and the maintenance of our standard of living and social security. “ The country has given that mandate,” said the Prime Minister, “and we propose to exercise it in the interests of the people of the Dominion. The Government will continue its work in prosecuting New Zealand’s war effort, and I am confident that it will have the united co-operation of the whole nation in this the most urgent and important task that confronts us all.”

Mr Fraser thanked the electors for their support and confident and particularly all who assisted so strenuously to maintain the Government He congratulated the Maori people on their clear realisation of the issues at stake and their splendid response at the polls on Friday. “ I regret the loss of a number of tried and trusted colleagues who have rendered splendid service in Parlianient for the people of the Dominion,” said the Prime Minister. “ I specially mention my Cabinet colleagues, the Hon. J. G. Barclay and the _Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, who, as Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Health respectively, have shown such conspicuous ability in administering their portfolios in difficult and trying times.”