Everybody Talking About Election Result

Chronicle (Levin), 6 December 1949, Page 3

Everybody Talking About Election Result

(W.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

CopyrigJitJ

LONDON, I)ec. 4. A week ago Britain was taking very little interest in New Zeaiand's politics and lier General Election. Ever sinee the news'of the Nationai Party's victory came through, however, it haa beeu a main topic of conversation through out the country, with practically every newspaper eommenting upon it, while many people have been heard remarKing upon it in buses, trains, and public houses. It has.'also caused interest on the Contment, and reports of Anjerican observations have been published in British newspapers. It is not an exaggeration tb say that the election result has become a pomt of world interest. In British newspapers not only were editorials devoted to it, but cartoons as well, while radio photographs of Mr Holland and his wife and daughters at home and of Mr Holland being greeted by electors have also been published. The Daily Mail used a cartoon captioned "The One That Got Away," showing a figure escaping from a Soeialist prison. The Daily Express showed Mr Attlee, Sir Stafford Cripps, Mr Bevin, and Mr Strachey in traditional mourn ers' garb carrying a pall on which there wras a New Zealand ballot box and the inscription ' 'B.I.P., Mr Fraser's Government. ' ' Mr Shinwell and Mr Morrison followed with wreaths, and Mr Shinwell saying: "What do you mean, Herbert? We shall be able to keep these elothes for our own f uneral. ' ' Conservative Jubilation The British Conservatives have been jubilant at the result, and there have been several "digs" at the Labour Party in the House of Commons. The Conservatives are devoutly hoping that Mr Menzies will now be returned Jin Australia; indeed, Mr Holland 's victory has inereased to a marked degree the interest of the British public in the approaehing poi! on the other side of the Tasman. The Daily Expresa, however, warns the Conservative central oflhce that the New Zealand result is an augury and a portent of things to come "only if that amorphous organisation takes a tighter grip on its ow;a body politic and administration.,, Among the weekly journals, The Spectator observed that there is a certain suggestive similarity between the issues in New Zealand and in Britain, adding: "The trend is towards freedom and away from an excess of planning. " It goes on to say: "The Conservative leaders (in New Zealand) having been in opposition of 14 years, are to some extent unknown quantities, but none of them is individualiy of the ealibre of men like Peter Frasei or Walter Nash. On personal ground the defeat of men^who have eo-oper-ated so cordially, so loyally, and so unreservedly svith this country in both peace and war is to be regretted, but those sentiments are the monopoly of np party, and whateArer effect the cliahge of Government may have at Wel 1 liigto.n ' it will leave the ties between New Zealand and Britain precisely where they alwrays were. Ttiey could not be closer. There is not the smallest danger of their becoming less. ' ' World Attention. A report from the New York correspondent of the Daily Express stated: "NearJy every New Yorker I met toda'y — a doctor, a mastersalesman, train. travellers, business men, several newsmen, and a novelist — had the sanm question: What do the New Zealanu elections mean? There could not have. been more talk if a Trumanite had been kieked out in Connecticut. Most of the United States newspapers tried to answer the query." It seems reasonably - certain that world attention will be directed on Mr Holland and his Cabinet for some time to come.