MOTUEKA REFLECTIONS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 396, 3 December 1932, Page 4

MOTUEKA REFLECTIONS

The clear-cut victory won by the Government candidate for Motueka is signficant of the attitude of the general electorate. Particularly strong efforts were made by both parties to capture the seat, and the result has been the return of the Government candidate with a majority of over 600 — over 100 more than that which was given the late Mr. G. C. C. Black when he stood as.an Independent in 1931 to defeat Mr. Holyoake in a straight-out contest by 517. It is true that in the by-election, the Government, candidate had the advantage of personal acquaintanceship with the electorate, but the Labour candidate was in his turn, one of the acknowledged stalwarts of his party. Mr. P. C. Webb, has always been a sincere Labour man, but even to-day, it is possible that the unpopular stand which he took against conscription during the war has not been forgotten. Like many other members jof his party, he savours of the extremist and this is a taint which the New Zealand voter finds it difficult to forgive. Mr Holyoake, on the other hand, is a young man, untrled in politics, but of vigorous personality and Orthodox political views. His predecessor, the late Mr. Black was a similar personality, but of more independent professionsl The Motueka electorate is very evenly divided between the agricultural and pastoral community and the minerS in the Reefton area with "their very definite Labour allegiance. In view of all these circumstances, , the result of the election is decidedly

the electorate was far from being orthodoxly Coalition in its sympathies. On the other hand, the by-election has proved conclusively that it prefefrs the Cdalition to Labour. The candidature of the Hon'Roderick McKenzie, an old Liberal stalwart, probably prejudiced Mr. Webb's chances more than those of Mr. Holyoake, but even taking that into account, the result of the election is a definite set-back to Labour. Doubtless both the Government and tlie Opposition will be able to provide full and sufficient reasonsj for success and defeat, but if anything is to be read dnto the decision of the Motueka electors, it is the fact that except in preponderately industrial communities, the policy of the Labour party has not the confidence of the people. Allied to this is the equally evident fact" that the Coalition has its full share of critics; It is 'iiiteresting to speculate what the result would have^been if a really