BY-ELECTION SEVERE TEST

Chronicle (Levin), 15 August 1947, Page 8

BY-ELECTION SEVERE TEST

MT. ALBERT COULD SPELL FATE OF GOVERNMENT WELLINGTON, August 14. Altliougli the Labour Party securecl a majority of some 1S00 votes in Mount Albert.at the General Election, the byeleetion resulting from the death of Mr. A. S. Richards, M.P., is not being regarded with eqnanimity. It was leamed today that officials'oi the party are to go from Wellington to Auckland next week to eonsider the question of a caudidate, and that there are hopes of an early choice. Considerable organisation is foreeast. A telegram has been sent to the national executive of the Labour Party by Mr. J. li. Kennedy, organiser of the New Ztaland Liberal Party suggesting a combination of interests during the by-election. ' ' To complete our longstanding negotiations for a united Liberal-Labour front," the message stated, "my executive has now decided to obtain a special mandate from the Mount Albert electors by contesting this seat, if possible, with a jointly selected Liberal-Labour alliance candiMr. Schramm Proposed. The Liberal Party has proposed the rtomina'tiou of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives (Mr. F. W. Schramm) as the joint candidate of the two politieaf organisations. Mr • Schramm, who was defeated by the Nationalist candidate, Mr. D. M. Rae.;in Parnell at the last General Election, was the Labour representative fo* Auckland East from 1931 to 1946. The National Party is already con sidering the selection of a candidate, but, in aeeordanee' with practice, the choice will be made by the district brandh of the party. Members of the party resident in the electorate will hold a fealection ballot on Septembei 1 or September-2, and nominations will close on August 22. At the General Election, Miv P. A Hosking stood in the interests of tht National Party against Mr. Richards In an electorate of 14,288 voters, Mr. Hosking obtained sonie 5&00 vo'tes in a poll of roughly 12,800 votes. Changed Conditions. The by-election will take place at a particularly awkward time for the Government, and certainly in less favourable eircumstances, from the Government 's point of view, than those which existed immediately before the General Eleetion. Another importanl factor is that Mr. Richards had a con siderable personal following, by virtue of his long residence in Auckland and close connection with party affairs. 11 is generally recognised that a strong candidate will be needed to hold the vo'te secured by Mr. Richards. Moreover, the Government has, since the Genefal Eleetion, been harassed by industrial strife and threats of trouble. The situation was held in abeyance until the General Election was over, but it was not long after the return of the Labour Government with a slendei majority that critical developments occurred in the industrial spliere. Power aud fuel shortages, which .have been pronounced in Auckland, and the cosf of living are other factors which are bound to concern^the electors. At this juncture, the Government is faced with the unpleasant prospect of developing trouble with the New Zea land Pederation of Labour and its affiliations, which are hostile to the Government '$ measure requiring secret

ballots before trade unions engage in strikes or loek-outs. A deterioration of this particular situation eould well be vital to the Government 's by-election hopes. Fateful Kesult. Indeed, the speculation has already been heai'd in union quarters that unionists, if they were organised for the purpose, could spell the fate of the . Government in Mount Albert. It is agreed that the Government ;s position in office could hardly be tenable if it lost Mount AlbeH. There is the further element that the Communists in Auckland have approach'ed the Auckland Labour Representation Committee for'_ " electoral unity at. the municipal polls in November. The Labour Party remains highly suspieious of the Communists who are especially critical of the Government 's industrial proposals. Sliould the- Communists, wjio have a branch in Mount Albert, be rebuffed over their municipal proposals, they could be a factor in the by-elcction. It is evident that • the Government has a perplexing and changing situation immediately ahead of it. Over all, tliore is the neeessity for the Government to hold its slender majority if it wishes to keep in office. The Mount Albert by-election will be a severe test, in more ways than oue.