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Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1931, Page 4

The unanimity of the British electors in last week’s polling was remarkable. The “set” against Opposition. Labour was so pronounced as to be almost uncanny. The people (realised the trend of the Labour policy and decided to have none of it. The turnover of the electors was so pronounced that thousands of votes which hitherto went to Labour were on this occasion •cnigt against tile party. The wiping out of ex-MinLiters, who had been in the forefront of the Labour campaign for so long, showed the set determination of tile electors to be rid of what was regarded as a dangerous element in the present state of affairs. Yet Labour members wjio had adopted tlre attitude of considering the country before party, were retained, wmle National Labour candidates had a. gain of thirteen seats. Some of the majorities were large. Mr Thomas came through with a twenty thousand majority,' though at first he . was reviled and denied a hearing by the men whom he had helred throughout his career. Enlightenment came in the end. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, whose scab was *in dou’-t, came through with a majority of lux thousand, Mr Fender-son's son was defeated. So al i we read of the defeat of Trade Voion representatives, all of which conveys a moral to the average election to porter over. While the “set” against Labour was so marked, the expression < f confidence in tlie National Government is something to the credit of the British character.

The vote re-e'stablished Britain’s greatness in emergency, and the position of the country before the world 'was greatly strengthened. This unanimity of the electors makes history not alone for Great Britain, but also for the Empire, and for the world at large. A great opportunity presents itself for the good of all.