New Zealand Memories Issue 160

STORY
The nineteen thirty five election. What a night that was! I was fifteen and had only recently become
aware of politics. Every adult who came to our house in the weeks before the election talked parties
and policy. The predictions of dire results if ‘that Labour rabble’ (as they were referred to by some) got
into power was a little frightening. Community conversation was littered with polemical speculation.
My mother was a good listener, but maintained she was apolitical. As president of the Plunket Society she
was totally committed to promoting the Plunket cause, whichever party gained the benches. Dad favoured an
Independent candidate.
Nowadays on election night, most will watch results broadcast on the television. In 1935, in my hometown
of Blenheim, hundreds gathered on the pavement outside the front window of the Marlborough Express while
they watched for the progress bulletins. The people filled the road, that triangular gap where the old Post Office
stood on one corner, the Club Hotel on the other, and met High Street at the junction. The Marlborough Express
was opposite. The atmosphere was expectant, excited and jovial. Similar scenes
were occurring at that same moment in townships all around the country; in
the main centres the public trooped in their thousands to watch the bulletins
unfold. (The photograph at left shows the scene outside the Evening Post office
in Wellington.)
Dad spent the evening of the general election at the office of the Independent
candidate. Mum looked after the Plunket restroom for the convenience of
the country women waiting in town while their husbands joined the crowd
watching for the election results. I spent my time between standing outside the
newspaper office, and rushing back to the Plunket rooms to let Mum know
how things were going.
The results were posted flat against the inside of the window – big hand
printing, blue pencil on white paper. At the appearance of each bulletin a cheer
would go up from whichever section had reason to cheer. I couldn’t see any ‘Red
Feds’, ‘Commies, ‘Labour agitators’ or layabouts. I saw lots of good citizens of
Blenheim. Various members of the gentlemen’s two clubs from nearby strolled
along to watch for a while and then nipped back to report to their cronies, have
a little liquid refreshment and return to witness the landslide victory of the first
Labour Party.
By ten o’clock it was clear that the United / Reform Government had gone
down; although some Labour supporters stayed on to savour the victory others
quietly went off home. Mum and I waited at the Plunket Rooms for Dad.
Eventually he arrived. While we waited for Mum to lock up I asked, “What’s
going to happen now Dad?” “Nothing much”, he replied. “We have a new
government with a lot of new ideas”. n
The first Labour Cabinet, 1935 led by Michael Joseph Savage (seated at right).
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. 1/1-018443-F
Election Night crowds in 1935 outside the Evening Post office in Willis Street,
Wellington. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. Ref: F-32710-1/1. Crown Studio Collections.
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