The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1946 NEXT MONTH’S ELECTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 39, 18 October 1946, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1946 NEXT MONTH’S ELECTION

THE election campaign 1946, was officially opened by the Prime Minister last Tuesday evening when he addressed a packed audience in the Auckland Town Hall. In the Bay of Plenty we have been a little slower, the first election speech by the National candidate, Mr W. Sullivan IVI P. taking place at Awakeri last evening, and the initial Laboui shot being fired this evening by the Labour candidate Mr Raymon Boord. The campaign promises to be intensive, for the outcome will be noted with the closest interest by an audience which is world-wide. New Zealand is still regarded as the major political experiment within the Empire, and its progress or otherwise under a revolutionising Labour legirne fs regarded as the answer to numerous international queries seeking to mend the sorry state of affairs ruling generally today The election as far as the Dominion is concerned can likewise be regarded as crucial. Labour has held office for three consecutive terms, (including the prolonged war period) and the acid test of the Party’s continuation m office or otherwise is governed by the majority opinion of the peopie as to whether it has acquitted itself m a manner calculated to be in the best interests of the nation as a whole or not. The question will be answered clearly and firmly’ at the polls on November 27th. It has been patent to fair-minded observers that in 1935 when the political landslide occurred, there WAS an urgent need for the reforming legislation which Labour introduced. The truth of this is borne out by the willingness of the Opposition to embody all the more important enactments within the scope of its own policy. The test of Labour’s popularity however will be the growing body of public opinion which declares that it has gone far enough \ and that socialistic legislation in this country can ohljt go a. certain distance and then must be halted. This is the greatest counter the National Party possesses,, and it is noteworthy that, seldom in the Dominion s political history has either side been so well organised, so well equipped financially, or. so impregnated with paity dogma and slogan, as they are today. By the outcome of the election both sides run the risk of either standing or falling and the blow to the unsuccessful party is quite likely to be a' ‘knock-out’ one for keeps. A notable development in latter years is the growing body of opinion which has become thoroughly sickened of the whole set up. Intensified politics enabling one section of the community to dictate a course of government has tested the patience of many, but as far as the forthcoming election is concerned this aspect will be given no avenue of expression. We are firmly convinced however that it will depend largely on the vaguaries of this unknown vote, to spell the success or failure of most of the candidates on either side.