THE BY-ELECTION

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1933, Page 10

THE BY-ELECTION

ECHOES IN THE HOUSE

MR. HOLLAND PROPHETIC

It was inevitable that in the early part of the session there should be references to tho Lyttelton by-election. There wcro several in tho House of Representatives yesterday, some in serious and others in lighter vein.

The Leader of tho Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) suggested that the Government should mako up its mind to go before tho electors within tho next three or six months. .

Tho'Minister of Labour (the Hon. A, Hamilton): We havo heard that before!

Mr. Holland: Oh, we will go next month,if tho Minister is impatient. The Leader of tlie Opposition said that if tho Labour Party could coax or drivo the Government before the people it would secure a majority of the votes cast. Reference had been made previously to the Government's victory in the Motueka fight, but he would remind the House that Labour increased its' vote on that occasion by 1000 votes, and the Government had only saved the seat by the intervention of a third candidate, and the promises made by the Minister of Finance to the fruit growers—promises that were never kept. , '■■ "J- '■ ■■'::- ■ : The Minister of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Ransom): What about promises at Lyttelton? s. , ■ Mr.- Holland: They didn't come off at. Lyttelton, (Laughter.)- The Govornmeiit tried to win out at Lyttelton with -a third candidate. They said, "Look to the 'Hills' whence our help comes," but tho "Hills" failed them. (Laughter.) ■

Tho Leader of the Opposition said he had warned members of the Cabinet to keep away from Lyttelton, and ho thought they would have been wise to have refrained.

Mr. H. Atmore (Ind., Nelson): They know that now.

Mr. Holland: I suggested to them It would (bo a graceful gesture on tho part of tho Government and a compliment to the women of New Zealand if Lyttelton had been allowed to go by the board. - j Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (Ind., Eden): Good advice, too. Mr. Holland said the icsult of tho election had been to increase Labour's majority from 32 to 2700. The significant thing about the by-election was that tho result reflected the opinion of tho public throughout the "Dominion. "I want to congratulate the new member for Lyttelton," said Mr. Holland. "She was a splendid candidate, and she will make a splendid member.'.-'

Mr. Holland recalled that Mr. Coates had claimed that the Government had a mandato to extend tho life of Parliament. ,

Mr. R. Semple (Lab., Wellington East): And put the "Boston crab" on a man because he refused to believe it. (Laughter.)

Tho Minister of Health (the Hon. J. A. Young) challenged. Mr. Holland's statement that the result of tho byelection reflected the opinion of New Zealand", and said it reflected the opinion of Lyttelton only.