SEAT RETAINED

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20822, 5 June 1939, Page 9

SEAT RETAINED

MAJORITY OF 3713 CHRISTCHURCH BY-ELECTION LABOUR CANDIDATE SUCCEEDS (By Telejrrarh.—Press Association^ CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday The result of the by-election yesterday for the Christchurch South seat rendered vacant by the death of Mr E. J. Howard resulted:— R. M. Macfarlane (G.) „. 7492 M. E. Lyons (N.) Majority for Macfarlane 3713 There are 314 postal and 232 absentee votes not yet counted. Of 15,590 on the roll 11,271 re-

corded their votes, the polling being approximately 70 per cent. The voting at the general electi u last year was:— E. J. Howard (G.) 9885 Gladstone Ward, (N.) 3890 Majority for Howard .. 5995 There were 20 polling places and at all but one of these Mr Macfarlane received a smaller vote than was given to Mr Howard last year, while Mr Lyons’ vote at 12 of the 20 booths was greater than that given Mr Ward. APATHY CRITICISED CANDIDATES’ SPEECHES MR LYONS’ SATISFACTION (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Sun lay It was agreed by both candidates that the only speeches after the result would be those over the air from station 3YA. Mr Macfarlane was surrounded by a small crowd of admirers in Cathedral Square, and persuaded to give another short talk. He declined at first, but was overruled by the assembly. In his address over the air Mr Macfarlane emphasised, as he did later in the Square, his belief that approximately 2000 Labour voters had refrained *rcm voting through apathy engendered by their firm belief in the result being an easy win for Labour. “No doubt a large number of Labour supporters took the issue much too cheaply, and simply did not bother to vote,” said Mr Macfarlane. “ Had the full strength of Labour voters in the electorate gone to the poll the Labour vote would have been much bigger.” Mr Macfarlane said that the Government was being severely criticised, but the result of the by-elec-showed that the majority of the peotion showed that the majority of the people were still behind Labour firmly. He emphasised that there, had been no personal animosity engendered by the contest.

“As the candidate carrying the National Party banner in the contest, I was the first to congratulate Mr Macfarlane on the splendid vote he secured,” said Mr Lyons. “ I am satisfied that the vote for the National Party was definitely better than that given the party in the general election. The vote accorded the Labour Party has been reduced and in nearly every booth the National Party vote increased. I do take some satisfaction while congratulating Mr Macfarlane at the thought that I secured this vote off my own bat.”

“As Nationalists, however, we must watch and wait,” he concluded.