BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1949

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

BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1949

ELECTION RESULTS Mr W. Sullivan’s retention of the Bay of Plenty seat in Parliament was no surprise, probably not even to his opponents. But the increase in his majority from 1634 in 1946 to 3367 on this occasion must be a source of considerable satisfaction to his supporters.

However, the fact of that increase in the majority casts no reflections on Mr Godfrey Santon’s efforts. The figures here, as in practically every other electorate in the country, showed a definite swing of public opinion against the Labour Government. For a newcomer to politics, Mr Santon’s effort was a creditable one, and both he and those who worked in his campaign need not feel their failure too deeply. The odds were too great against a party that has not been able to satisfy the people that it has the answer to the pressing problems of the day that affect every household —the high cost of living, the housing shortage, high taxation, shortage of consumer goods, industrial troubles.

It must be admitted by anyone who really wants to be fair that the Government just defeated put some useful legislation on the Statute Book, that some of its measures have definitely been helpful to the majority of our people. We have assurances that the good measures will be retained, and that the progressive paths pioneered by their predecessors will not be eschewed by the new Government we have chosen.

But we are also assured that a halt will be called to the march along the paths that lead to the sort of restrictive laws that interfere with the freedom so dear to British people and ultimately to dictatorship.

By the free exercise of our mocratic rights we have reminded our late legislators that no employee, however efficient and trustworthy he might be, can afford too long to ignore the chidings of his employers, be those chidings ever .so gentle. Now that we have decided to make a change, it becomes the duty of the National Party to carry out the policy on which they were elected to office by the majority, having due regard at all times for th interests of the not inconsiderable minority that 'opposed them. Assurances have already been given that the Maori people will not be allowed to suffer any disadvantages through having no representatives on the Government side of the House, and that is as it should be. Definitely it has to be conceded that the Maoris have made progress under the Labour .Government and have won privileges they are naturally keen to preserve. But, even so, more vigorous campaigning might have been expected of Nationalists in the Maori electorates.

We feel sure however that the Maori need have no fear. No good thing will be destroyed by the new Government, but it has rightly declared its intention of eradicating anomalous and discriminative laws. If the election results give cause for satisfaction to some and for sorrow to others, there is one aspect of them tljat will be regarded with relief by Nationalists and Labour supporters alike. The figures show beyond doubt that the Communist Party is still a political nonenity in this country. They prove that the almost hysterical-fears expressed by both big parties were occasioned by a bogey without much substance.

Wise, fair administration will keep it that way, because the only food on which revolutionary doctrines can thrive is the dissatisfaction of under-priveleged masses with laws that tend to aggravate and perpetuate their unfortunate conditions.