LABOUR WINS WESTLAND BY-ELECTION

Chronicle (Levin), 4 December 1947, Page 6

LABOUR WINS WESTLAND BY-ELECTION

GREYMOUTH, Dee. 3. Tlie Westland by-eleetion resulted in tlie Labour Party retaining the seat by a majority oi 1915 on present figures, witli about 550 votes to be counted yet. Out of 14,818 enrolled, 12,713 voted or nearly 84 per cent eompared with 94 per cent in the 1946 election. Final iigures tonight were: — J. B. Kent, Labour . . . . . . 7039 J. F. Lockington, National . . 5124 Majority .-. .... , . , . 1915 For the 1946-. election the figures were: — • 0 'Brien, Labour 9097 Chivers, National 4381 There remains 514 absentee, declaration, jiostal and 3eamen's votes to be counted. At the general election Mr. O 'Brien secured 594 and Mr. Chivers 306 out of a total of 900 absentee and other outstanding votes, Mr. Kent said: "The election niark ed the close of an era of represehtation in Parliament by oue u'honi we all re vered and as his suecessor I humbly dedicate myself to your service to carry on where Mr. O 'Brien left olf. In this heavy task I am consoled by the thought that so many of you liave stood firm by our late friend. I ask you to help me so that together, under God's guidance, we may march forward and onward to goals of peace, happiness and continued prosperity. " Mr. Kent congratulated his opponent on his efi'ort and added-that he expected tlie majority to exeeed two thousand. k Mr. Lockington, congratulating Mr. Kent, said the National Party increased its vote bv over 1000, truly a great victory. The time was not far distaut when this electorate and the Doininion wpuld return to sound government. Mr. Fraser said the election of Mr. Ivent to represent Westland by a majority of nearly two thousand was very satisfactory. Mr. Kent '.s success liad been demonstrated by the fact that Westland is an impregiiuble Labour stronghold. All the distortious, exaggerations and misrepresentations of Nationalist speakers and work in the electorate, failed to shake the allegiance of tlie people oi Westland to the Labour Government and its poliey ot social justice. KLr. Kent had a ceiy difiicult task following Mr. O 'Brien be cause oi the latter's personal popularity throughout Westland. The result was a clear and definite vote of conii dence in the Labour Government. The comparativeiy small gain oi: 740 votes by the National Party was really a poor return for the very streuuous and often unscrupulous elforts it niade to stampede the electors. On tlie other liand a substantial reduction in the Labour vote had to be frankly admitted. 11 r. Praser congratulated 11 r Kent, thanking hini and his friends and supporters who worked so untiringly for the victory they achieved.