THE GREY ELECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 25 July 1913, Page 4

THE GREY ELECTION.

After one of the most bitter political campaigns that have been fought in the 'history of New Zealand, Mr P. 0. Webb, a red-hot Socialist and Labour Federationist, has been elected as representative for the Grey electorate in Parliament. The remnant of the Liberal party may be jubilant at the result. They are welcome to all the satisfaction that is to be derived from the knowledge that they are henceforth associated in and out of Parliament with a gentleman who has pronounced himself in favour of the pernicious strike doctrine, iand whose chief mission in life appears to be to destroy existing institutions. The "Liberals" have preferred Syndicalism to Reform, and tlhey have got it. However, the Reform candidate (Mr Michel) has put up a magnificent fight .against overwhelrr ing odds. Not only was he handicapped by being a non-resident of the Grey electorate, but he Ihad to do battle against two newspapers, the whole force of "Lib-eral-cum-Syndicalism," and ,ai bitter sectarian influence that had been engineered for political purposes. The Grey electorate has gone from Liberalism to Syndicalism, and it will henceforth b« known as the "Red Grey."