HAURAKI ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1931, Page 3

HAURAKI ELECTION

PRESS COMMENT. (Otago Daliy Times). The Reform Party was fortunate in having as its candidate a local farmer who hears an honoured name, and is himself personally popular. Tlie United and Labour parties were ropre seated by the candidates who polled well on their respective behalf's at the general election in 1928, and the candidate in tlie interest of the Country Party was the president of trio Farmers’ Union in the Auckland district, who may be presumed to have counted on capturing a large share of the farming vote that went to the Reform Party at the last election. The result of the contest possesses a definite significance. In the first place, it constitutes a clear endorsement of the economy programme, which was supported by both the United and Reform parties in Parliament. Mr Petrie, the Socialist candidate, received, indeed, onlv about a hundred votes more, in admittedly a smaller poll, than were recorded in his 'favour at, the, last general election. On the other hand, there wa s a striking drop in the support given to Mr Allan, the candidate of the United Party. It seems probable that the warnings which we"c addressed to the ehwtors respectin" the larger of a s> lit vote bad tlie effect of leading many of those who voted f°r M' - Allan on the previous occasion to tra isfc fa ir allegiance this tine to Mr M'.'.uey as the hutiSocialist candidate who had the best prospects of success and that tin ir votes compensated the Reform Pn tv for the support which it lost throir'ii H'e c''nd''l:vt nr." of Mr Ross. The rebuff whHt Ins been administered to the Country Pnrtv —in tbc respect that its cendi'bit" orC'-jed an ignominious positin’’ -t the bottom of the poll and Ins snfb’-rwi the loss of liis Aopnsit a iM-nrfme that <eeins to be shared with him by Mr Mian—may he regarded as a salutary declaration on the part of tlie electors that even in .''•-■H;,-u] f e action of the Farmers’ Union in intruding into the political arena is unwarranted.