FAILED TO VOTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26636, 5 December 1947, Page 6

FAILED TO VOTE

LABOUR SUPPORTERS DISSATISFACTION WITH PRESENT ADMINISTRATION Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, Dec. 4. Labour Party officials here regard the heavy reduction of the party’s majority in Westland with misgiving. They state that ;t is quite apparent many Labour voters abstained from voting, and that in many Labour electorates this abstention would have cost the party a seat. Within the trade union movement where the core of the Labour vote is found, there is much dissatisfaction with present administration of Laboui policy. It is not such that keen trade unionists would want to vote, for a candidate opposing Labour, but is considered to have been sufficient to keep many away from the polling booths. Though these people continue loyal, enthusiastic supporters of Labour principles, they believe that the present Labour administration has lost close touch with the worker. Side issues were introduced into the Westland poll, and no doubt had some effect on the voting, but it is generally considered here that the outstanding feature of the by-election was undoubtedly the apathy of Labour’s own supporters.