ROTORUA SEAT HAS THE EXPERTS GUESSING

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 146, 12 November 1954, Page 1

ROTORUA SEAT HAS THE EXPERTS GUESSING

NECK AND NECK STRUGGLE IS PREDICTED As the election results come in tomorrow, Saturday, night, the new Rotorua seat is likely to provide a neck and neck struggle between Mr P. B. Allen, National, 40 year old plastering contractor, and Mr R. Boord, Labour, 46 year old assistant secretary of N.Z*. Labour Party. T'his view is expressed in an interesting series of articles now appearing in the daily press, previewing the general election, and written by two of the best-known political journalists in New Zealand, Messrs William Green and Eric W. Benton, who1 have been

members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery for nearly ten years. The Rotorua seat is one that has all the experts guessing, state these commentators. Both candidates have exceptionally good wartime Army records, Mr Allen rose to the rank of major and was invalided home after being wounded at E1 Alemein. Mr Boord roso^from the ranks to command the 24th Battalion as lieutenant-colonel. Mr. Allen has lived in Rotorua since he went to the Rotorua High School. Mr Boord contested the Bay of Plenty seat unsuccessfully two elections ago, when it included Rotorua.

Labour may poll well at Mangakino hydro-electric station and in the mushroom forestry centre of * Tokoroa. This may be counterbalanced in the rapidly expanding new farming schemes. The issue will be decided in the town of Rotorua. . On 1951, figures Rotorua slightly favoured National but it has had Labour members for some years in the past. Whoever can pick the outcome of the Rotorua seat can almost work out exactly the state of the parties on polling night. Although not specifically referred to by the commentators quoted above, the presence in the contest of Mr H. C. McCready, Social Credit, complicates any attempt to predict the Rotorua result. While the Social Credit candidatps in Hobson and Marsden, and in Dunedin, are thought likely to poll substantially, the Rotorua position in this respect is more uncertain, though Mr McCready is reported as having had good meetings.

Of the ten seats in the South Auckland, Waikato, King Country and Bay of Plenty districts, interest on election night will centre on the new Rotorua seat and the traditionally marginal seat of Raglan. The National Party should hold the remaining eight seats. In the case of Raglan the result is complicated by the presence of Mr W. L. Manger, a Social Credit stalwart of many years standing.