WIDESPREAD SWING

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 19, 23 July 1945, Page 6

WIDESPREAD SWING

COMMENT BY MR. HOLLAND

Two facts emerged from the by-etec-tion with: crystal clearness, said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr: Holland) yesterday. First there was' a big swing against the Government which, coming on top of the earlier National successes at Awarua and Hamilton, one a country seat and the other a town seat, showed how widespread the swing really was. Second, the reason for the decision to vote National now of so many people who previously voted Labour lay in their discontent with the Government over its determination to complete its . programme of State Socalism and interference with the legitimate rights of the people. \ ■■■ • "No doubt Mr. Fraser will claim the result as an endorsement of the Government's policy, but the reduction of its majority from 2800 to under 800 cannot be lightly put aside," continued Mr. Holland. "It is the clearest possible indication that the Labour Party is steadily on the down grade and has lost its grip on the people's confidence. In view of this the Prime Minister should boldly decide not to proceed with his further programme of State socialisation pending the General Election next year. ' , "Whether he is strong enough to overcome the growing influence and power of, the outside pressure groups which: decide what the Government may or may not do today and. strong enough to bow to the will of the people remains to be seen. Saturday last was a bad day for the Labour Party." Mr. Holland said the result was particularly interesting because there were no complicating factors such as Independent candidates. The Labour nominee, Mr. Walls, was one of the most popular men in the movement and was very well known because of his many years' service on local bodies in Dunedin. The National candidate, Mr. Norman Jones, was a brilliant young returned soldier who was quite unknown before bis selection. He would certainly be heard of again.