THE LYTTELTON ELECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 17 December 1913, Page 4

THE LYTTELTON ELECTION.

♦ The return of the Social-Democratic candidate for the Lyttelton seat hardly comes as a surprise, after the strong position lie occupied in the first ballot. The wonder is that, considering the attitude taken up by the "Liberal" newspapers in Christchurch—which openly declared in fa- 1 vour of the Red Fed. candidate—the majority was not greater. Prom a local political point of view, the election -possesses little significance. From a national it is important. We have, to our dismay, found the majority of people in a New Zealand electorate willing to support the nominee of a body of revolutionaries, a . body that lias defied law and order and has endeavoured to bring devastation upon the whole community, in preference to the representative of good and wholesome government. The contemplation of such a- thing must be" revolting to the senses of every true and patriotic citizen. It is fortunate, however, that Lytfelton.is an isolated electorate, and that the result of the election cannot be accented as an index of public opinion throughout the Dominion. The national significance of the poll is thaiMhe "Liberal" party has identified itself with the forces of lawlessness. This identity will not be forgotten in December next.