The General Election

Once every three years the people of New Zealand have the democratic right to elect to the seat of Government the candidates of their choice. Last month, the people put the National Party into power, thereby unseating a Labour Government which held office with a slim majority during the previous three years. The swing against Labour was most pronounced, the National Party, on the preliminary count having won 45 seats to Labour's 35. Six sitting Labour members had lost their seats on the preliminary count.

On the home front, the sitting Nelson member, Mr S. A. Whitehead (Labour) was returned with a majority more than treble that of his 509 1957 figure. Without any doubt, the Nelson railway project, for which Labour had pledged its support, was the major reason for Mr Whitehead's increased majority. He alone, of all Labour members returned, had his majority increased to such a level.

The Nelson railway link affected the general election result to a great extent just as it did in the Nelson electorate. It was made a political football, and in the month-long campaign was kicked backwards and forwards around both islands.

In Nelson, as in other parts of New Zealand according to reports, there was an apathetic approach towards the campaigning. Meetings, with the exception of those which the two major party leaders addressed, were very poorly attended. The electors, it seemed, had either made up their minds for whom to vote, or were content to remain at home and hear political addresses over the radio.

The local figures on the preliminary count were:

S. A. Whitehead (Labour), 7836.

C. W. Martin (National), 5992.

A. H. Mahan (Social Credit), 1145.

Majority for Whitehead, 1844.

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Mr Whitehead: "We will give you the railway."

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Mr Martin: "We won't".

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Mr Mahan: "We have the answer"