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Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1930, Page 4

The result of the Invercargill election should he- very acceptable to the Government, and will be specially gratifying to the Prime Minister on the eve of his departure for the Imperial Conference, Following the recent taxation policy brought down, and spreading the net for extra, revenue as wide as possible, all classes of the community are more or less covered. On that account the extra levy could not be expected to he very popular, and must have cost the Government candidate many votes. The result however of the polling yesterday, left Mr Vincent Ward with a majority of practically 500. Generally the Government candidate polled well throughout the electorate despite the popularity and platform strength of his opponent, Mr Hargest. In the twenty polling booths, Mr Ward headed the voting at fourteen booths, including the principal booth where lie had a majority of 180 votes. In the six booths where Mr Hargest was loading his advantage excepting in one instance did not exceed 100 votes. Altogether, therefore, Mr Ward has a creditable victory for the Government, while at the same time Invercargill did a good measure of justice to the memory of the groat statesman who has just passed away. At the same time, mention might be made by the fitting propriety of the Labour party in all the circumstances,

standing down from tbe contest. The action indicated the sincerity of the sentiments in which the loss of Sir Joseph Ward was expressed by the party.