NO SURPRISE AT RESULT IN BAY ELECTORATE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 71, 2 December 1949, Page 4

NO SURPRISE AT RESULT IN BAY ELECTORATE

A walk down the street m Whakatane yesterday conviaeed one that the election resalt was a sensation almost on a par with that of the 1935 election, x when Labour swept to office with such a tremendous majority. But there was no surprise at the result so far as this electorate was concerned. Also, there is general satisfaction that Mr Sullivan is one of those named as a probable member of Mr Holland’s cabinet. That Mr Santon did well in, the circumstances is generally conceded, even though the sitting member’s majority was so substantially increased from 1634 in 1946 to 3367. It is now recognised that the trend here was part of something Domin-ion-wide. Moreover, Mr Sullivan’s figures from individual. polling places suggest that he holds the confidence of many groups who might be expected to have strong Labour sympathies. Details from polling places in the . Beacon’s area:—

New Government Can Do The Job

Speaking (over the air when the Bay electorate result was finalised on Wednesday night and when it had become clear that the Labour Party was going out of office, Mr W. Sullivan expressed his sincere thanks to the electors for the majority they had given him, his indebtedness to the National Party organisation and his thanks to the local committees. “We hope and feel,” he said, “that we can do the job the Party will be called upon to do. I want to assure everyone, even those who have opposed us, that we will do our best to steer the country along the course it should go. Though they have elected no members of our Party, the Maoris need have no fears concerning our treatment of them. We shall do our utmost to carry out our undertakings to all the electors.” Licensing Figures

Compared with previous polls the figures for State Purchase and Control increased considerably on Wednesday in the Bay of Plenty Liquor Licensing issue. However, continuance had an undoubted majority over .control and prohibition. There w’as an unusual vote at Omaio where, of the 15 votes cast, 12 were for prohibition, two for State control and one for continuance. The Bay of Plenty vote was:— Continuance 7596 State Control 2634 Prohibition 2988

Santon Sullivan Awakeri Hall 69 223 Edgecumbe .... 185 291 4 Galatea 52 82 t Kaingaroa .... 755.2 Kopeopeo 296 469 Kutarere .... 15 53 Manawahe ... 21 53 Maraenui 2 4 Matahina .... 29 13 Matata .... 51 138 Murupara 43 46 Nukuhou North ... ..... 15 76 Ohope 39 152 Otakiri .... 30 122 Raukokore .... 13 22 Ruatoki North 7 . 32 Taneatua .... 132 272 Te Teko .’ .... 99 159 Te Whaiti .... 44 29 Thornton ....' .... 42 112 Torere .... 7 9 Waimana .... 19 150 Wainui .... 3 33 Waiotahi .... 21 38 Whakatane .... 376 702 Opotiki 388 796 Rotorua .. 2096 2373 Electorate Totals . ...4952 3319 Informal 63.