LABOUR HOLDS MT. ALBERT

Chronicle (Levin), 25 September 1947, Page 7

LABOUR HOLDS MT. ALBERT

MAJORITY HAS SLIPPED A LITTLE AUCKLAND, Sept. 24. The Government retained the Mt. Albert seat^and its majority of foui in the House of Kepres'entatives when the by-eleetion caused by the death of Mu A. S. Kicliards, was held today. The Labour candidate, Mr. W. W. Dreer, gained a majority of 1532 over the National candidate, Mr. C. J. Gafland. Alr. Itichartis' majority over Mr. F. A. Ilosking in the generai election was 1857. Mr. Freer's total . was 6857 votes compared with 5325 for Mr. Garland. l'ostal, absentee, seamen's and declara^ tion votes which are still to come total 859 but eanuot alfeet the result. J' Foree votes, which will probably total about 60, were not available tonight*. The poll was a good one, 13,041 oi 14,839 electors 011 the rolls voting. Iiq the generai election when there were 14,288 on the rolls, 13,583 voted. Mr. Freer, wlio was born at Sandringham 27 years ago, has been secretary of the Auckland Labour Kexiresentation Committee since early this year. Ile was formerly a journalist. He served in the army for three years years during the second world war." He is married and has two sous. *'I am extremely pleased that "the clectors of Mt. Albert have declared so defmitely to the people of this eountry that they are solidly behind the achievements and aims of the Laboui Government," said Mr. Freer when the result was lcnown. "1 feel that a lit; .ting tribute to the iuemory of Mr. liiehards has been jiaid by liis formei constituents. " "The National Party polled very nearly the same as at the generai eleclion," said Mr. Garland. "The Laboui majority dropped by about 300 which is an indication tliat there is still a steady swing awaj' from the Government aud it is only a question of time before the National Party is on the Treasury benches. ' '