UNITEDS RETAIN SEAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1050, 14 August 1930, Page 10

UNITEDS RETAIN SEAT

Invercargill By-Election MR. WARD’S MAJORITY OF 492 Keen Interest in the Contest Special to TUB SUM INVERCARGILL, Today. THE anticipations of a close poll in the by-election proved to have been justified when the results were announced last evening and, although the United candidate s majority is substantial, it is little more than five per cent, of the total votes cast and Reform’s vote of 4,309 indicates that the pai ty gained ground since the last election.

The figures were as follow: Vincent Ward (United) .. 4,799 James Hargest (Reform) . 4,307 Majority for Ward . . . . 492 There are still close on 700 absentee and postal votes to be counted, but it is extremely improbable that these will affect the result, for Mr. Hargest would have to poll approximately COO of them to assume the lead. Frequently in a by-election there is apathy among a large section of the electors and the percentage of those casting votes is not high. Yesterday however,-the keen interest taken in the contest, the efficient organisation of both sides and the bright sunshine prevailing during the day contributed to a heavy poll. Actually 9,139 electors in Invercargill went to the poll and this total, with approximately 700 absentee and postal votes, makes the grand total 9,840. There were 12,000 electors on the roll, so that the percentage exercising their votes was 82. The first returns came in at 7.15 o’clock from a Southern booth. There was a steady flow of returns until 7.50, when all but one had communicated with the returning officer and there was then no doubt that Mr. W ard was assured of victory. At the majority of the 24 booths the Government candidate polled heavily, but in at least six Mr. Hargest had a lead and it was apparent that some districts, including certain Labour centres, had plumped solidly for Reform, while in certain booths, where polling was heavy, the voting was very even, the candidates being separated by less than a dozen votes. CROWDS HEAR MR. WARD A vast crowd congregated in Post Office Square where the results were posted as they came to hand. The victory for the Government candidate was well received, although United supporters rallied at the Grand Hotel, from the balcony of which Mr. Ward was expected to speak. His appearance on the street was the signal for an enthusiastic demonstration. In thanking the electors Mr. Ward said he would endeavour to emulate the example of his father. The result of the election vindicated the courageous action of Mr. Forbes and his Cabinet in facing a difficult position in such a plucky manner. Mr. Hargest earned the approval of

the crowd by his sportsmanlike acceptance of defeat. He warmly congratulated Mr. Ward and told the electors that he felt the affairs of the constituency were in safe hands. PREVIOUS RESULTS Comparisons are often alleged to be odious, but they are also interesting, and the figures for the General Elections of 1925 and 1928, when compared with yesterday’s, convey much information. In 1925 Mr. Hargest was Reform candidate against Sir Joseph Ward, while Mr. P. Hickey was tli Labour representative. Mr. Hargest was only 159 votes behind Mr. Ward in a poll of 10,500, while Mr. Hickey secured only 811 votes. It was no secret then that many Labour votes went to Sir Joseph Ward, and it is probable that the majority of the Labour votes went to Mr. Vincent Ward yesterday, just as it is probable that had there been a Labour candidate Mr. Hargest would have been at the head of the poll. When the figures for the 1928 election are compared with yesterday’s it is found that Reform has gained ground considerably. Sir Joseph Ward polled 7,389 votes to Mr. S. M. Macalister’s 4,131. This gave the United candidate a majority of 3,178, as compared with a majority of 492 yesterday. The by-election was fought to a certain extent round the Budget presented a few weeks ago by Mr. Forbes, and the voting makes it seem that, although his proposals have not yet met with the unanimous approval of the electors, many in Invercargill who have long been Liberal stalwarts continue to have confidence in the party. It is a significant fact that Mr. T. O’Brvne, one of the leaders of the Labour Party in Invercargill, stated when the result of the poll was announced that had Mr. Hargest not attacked him in regard to the attitude of the Labour Party he would have been the successful candidate in the poll.