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AFTER THE BATTLE

DISAPPOINTED LABOUR SUPPORTERS REFUSE TO HEAR THE VICTOR. Great interest was taken in the result of the election, and several thousand people waited about the city until the returns began to come through. The results wore posted outside the "Evening Post," where tho crowd was so dense that the running of trarncars had to he stopped. It was evident from the first that the crowd contained a big proportion of Labour sympathisers. The firet returns to arrive, from the smaller booths, showed that Mr. Luke was leading, and they were received in silence. When, later, returns placed Mr. Holland temporarily in the lead there was a tremendous outburst of cheering. The announcement of the final result gave tho supporters of the National Government candidate thoir cue, and the roar of npplause showed that they wore present in substantial numbers- The Lahour element replied with "Boohs and hoots.

Soon after eight o'clock the new member for' Wellington North, Mr. J. P. Luke,, appeared on the "Evening Post" balcony. He was received with a tremendous outburst of cheers, groans, hoots, and miscellaneous noises. He waited some time for silence,- but the Labour section of the crowd had made up its mind not to accord him a hearing, and the short speech he made, was not heard by anybody but those in his immediate vicinity. He said that lie wished to return thanks to the electors who had assisted to place him ai. tho top of tho poll, and to record, through' him, their determination to support the National Government at a. critical time in the history of the nation. His victory was an expression of the will of the people and an emphatic statement of their desire that the Government should continue to play its part in tho winning of the war, and support the brave men whs were fighting in the trenches. He realised that his victory w?.s not a personal victory. Mr. Luke thanked the members of his committee, and said he wished to say of the defeated candidates that they had put up a splendid fight, goodnatured as far as politics could be expected to be good-natured. Mr. Luke then called for cheers for Mr. Holland, Mr. Brandon, and Mr: i'olson. The noisy section or thfi crowd roared angrily at all three names, apparently under the 'impression that Mr. Luke was still.speaking <jf his victory.

The Right Hon. W. P. Massey's appearance on the balcony was the signal for an'uproar of mixed cheers, hoots, and cat-calls—a continuous roar, interspersed with counts-out, which woro partially obscured by tho cheers of those favouring the National Government. Tho Prime Minister mad» no attempt to speak, but stood there bareheaded and smiling as tho crowd roared its mixed sentiments from tho packed street below. Some larrikins among the crowd armed themselves with bananas and pelted them at those on tho balcony. One solitary egg was thrown. Its flight was stopped by tho result hoard, and some of its contents bespattered those- standing by. Attoi waiting for a quarter of an hour, tho Prime Minister, seeing that it was useless to attempt to speak, took his departure, remarking that it was evident that his opponents , took their defeat badly.

MR. HOLLAND'S SPEECH, \ Mr. Holland, who arrived a few minutes later, was given a fairly quiet hearing after prolonged cheering had subsided. He said that he wished to thank those electors who had voted for

him as the representative of the Labour movement in New Zealand. Labour had gone into the fight with clean hands, and it was coming out with clean hands. Labour had tried to lift tiie light to an intellectual plane. Ho was not responsible for what Dr. Thacker or anybody else had done, and in any case nobody who supported tho Massoy-Ward Government had any right to complain, when it was remembered that for the last twelve months the champions of Labour had been gagged by the fear, of prison. The result of tho election would hearten the impressive forces of the Dominion. Labour bad polled 1688 votes, in 'Wellington North in 1914, and that day it had increased its 'strength by nearly 1000 votes. Labour had challenged the Government in one of the most Conservative of all city electorates, :md had cut down its majority considerably. The light had shaken the foundation of the Government's posi-

tion in Wellington North, and it had linked up the Labour, forces throughout New Zealand. A voico: "In your opinion." Mr. Holland: "Not only in my opinion, but in the opinion of the Otago Labour Council, tho Canterbury La- y hour Council, the Auckland Labour Council, and of Labour bodies from end to end of New Zealand. AVc have fought a clean tight with clean hands. We brought no buckets of mud into this campaign, we have made no personal charges, we have fought with all tbu daily papers against us. In the days of tho future, when wo come to light, we will have daily papers of our f>>vn, anM we will have better organisation. Those of you who voted for the Government to-day will get during tho next twelve months exactly what you voted for."

A. voice: "We will gladly put up with it."

Mr. Holland added that Labour need not he ashamed of tho result of the election. It had cut down the Government's majority, and it could look forward with hope to tho general election, when Labour would return a majority of its own members to Parliament. When that happened tho flag of freedom would wave over New.Zealand, and this could never be while the present Government was. in office.

THE BREVITY OF MR. BRANDON. " Mr. Brandon said but a few words: •• "I wish to thank those electors who, voted for me. 'I accept tho decision of the umpire, and I hope to continue my life as a loyal citizen." (Applause.)' MR. POLSON. "I am beaten, but not dismayed," said Mr. Poison. "I take satisfaction from the fact that a majority of the votes have been cast against the National Government. 1 will try again, [f necessary, I will bo like Robert the Bruce, and try seven' timps. Determination will win in the end. When the general election comes the National Government will be put in its place. I thank my splendid committee for _ its work. I extend my congratulations to the successful candidate, though I do not agree with his politics." (Applause.)

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19180301.2.62

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 139, 1 March 1918, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,076

AFTER THE BATTLE Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 139, 1 March 1918, Page 8

AFTER THE BATTLE Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 139, 1 March 1918, Page 8

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