TAURANGA BYE-ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1923, Page 2

TAURANGA BYE-ELECTION

[nr IELEOTtAirr —riR tress association.] REFORM VICTORY: TAURANGA, March 28 The bye-election for the TauFanga seat (rendered vacant by the death bf Sir AV. Herrics), was held to-day. The result was a victory for the Reform candidate, Mr McMillan, by a majority of over 1000 votes. Mr McMillan (Reform) 42-10 Sir Joseph Ward (Liberal) 3121 Reform majority HB3 RESULT OF LAST ELECTION. Sir W. 11. Herrics (Reform; 4108; .Mr T. Johnston 'Liberal) 2849; Reform majority, 13-19; 1919 Reform majority 18 GO. CANDIDATES’ THANKS. TAURANGA, March 28 K After the result Air .McMillan expressed his thanks to all who had assisted him. He said the result was a complete vindication oi Mr Massey s administration. He also was extreme- -j* ly proud at having been named by Sir W. l-lerries as a worthy successor. He called for three cheers lor Sir Joseph Ward, which were heartily given. Sir Joseph Ward also thanked the electors who supported him. He said he had no feelings of any kind whatever against those who did not vote for him. He accepted the decision as a philosopher and a sportsman. lie felt that the country is to-day in a dangerous position, that it required the best brains in Parliament to niako it prosperous. As a man with an interest in the country, he felt that ho could assist, and he would take the opportunity, as a private individual, of placing his views before the people front end to end of the Dominion. While making no reflection on anyone as to the conduct of the election, tSir Joseph Ward said lie was quite aware lmw the campaign had been conducted against him. lie had fought this election fairly, and clean. In conclusion. Sir Joseph thanked the members of his committees and also Air Milford and tlie other members of Parliament who had assisted him. Their aid, he said, he had declined, until ho had found himself almost overwhelmed by the speakers out on behalf of his opponent.

Sir Joseph then called three cheers for Air AlcAlilhtn, which were heartily given. Cheers were also given for Airs McMillan, for Lady Ward, and for Mrs £- ... ' Woods. ■* The election was all over and the town was clear by nine o’clock. LABOUR VIEWS. J WESTPORT, March 28 Speaking after the result of the Taiiranga election was known, Mr H. E. Holland (Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party) said:—The result lulu no special .significance, except to further indicate the declining popularity of the present Government., and the inability of the Liberal Party to “conic back.” In 1919, tho Government's majority was 1860, in 1922 it stood at about 1-100, while this year it was 1110Btit there was really no big conflict of political principle involved. It was a struggle between personalities. Had Sir Joseph M aid been elected, he did not see lmw it would have affected the political situation, he did not see howit would have affected the same complications fur the Liberals. In all his speeches, Sir Joseph had made it clear that he wa> utterly opposed to a dissolution of Parliament, but he gave no indication of what line of action would take, if elected, to dissolution. It was dear to everybody that, in -tub a case, a dissolution could only have been averted by a coalition of the Reformers and Liberals (whether of the whole Liberal Party or only a section). MT.nl. Taiiranga made ( J clear was that the fight of tho ftitute was between the Labour Party and the present Government, plus reinforcements from the Liberal ranks. Already, since December, there had been two front-rank defections from the Liberal ranks, and he was of the opinion that the Taurnngn result would have tho effect of sending certain other Conservative Liberals into Alt- Ala-soy's camp. One of tho inevitable- of the near future was a Re-form-Liberal coalition. There had been no Labour candidate in the field at Taiiranga. merely because of a lack of organisation, Imt that would he re- J inedied, and a Labour candidate would take tlie field there when the next general election eventuated. He also hoped to see a Labour candidate in the field for every constituency in the Dominion. HON G. J. ANDERSON. CHRISTCHURCH, March 28 Seen by a representative of “TinPress” after tlie final figures came to hand, lion G. J .Anderson said that, naturally, lie was very pleased at tho result, as it showed that the Government, its policy, and its history were endorsed by the electors of Taiiranga. Taiiranga had been a Reform stronghold for about a quarter of a century, and the electors had shown that tho cry that the seat had been held for Reform merely tliroujfli the personal V popularity of the late Sir William ’ Merries had been proved incorrect. The merits of the Party had been recognised by the electors. Air Anderson went mi to say that he hoped the result, of tin' election would ho to

maintain the present Government in its majority as shown last session, and he hoped that another general election would not now be necessary, and that the- Government would lie enabled to resume its policy of careful administrat ion.