GENERAL ELECTIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2354, 21 November 1908, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTIONS

THE GISBORNE SEAT.

THE SECOND BALLOT

It is announced that Section 115 of the Electoral Act will apply to Tuesday next in this district in the event of a second ballot taking place in connection with the Parliamentary election. Shopkeepers must observe the day in lieu of the usual weekly half-holiday. Factory - employees are to be allowed up to one hour to record tlieii; votes. The arrangements for the taking of the second ballot have been completed. The necessary papers have been distributed throughout the electorate. Tho voting will take place next Tuesday at the same booths as on the occasion of the first ballot. BAY OF PLENTY SEAT.

Mr. Gow, the Opposition candidate for the Bay of Plenty seat, is at present in Auckland, and will probably arrive in Gisborne on Sunday. A private message received from Opotiki states that the poll at the second ballot in tliat district is likely to be much more favorable than was the first, which " was influenced by local considerations. .It is anticipated that Mr. Gow will secure a heavy vote at Rotorua, which at the first ballot gave almost a block vote 'for Mr. Lundon. Though citizens of a Government town, the residents are by no means enamored) of Ministerial methods. OTHER EITECTORATES. THE EGMONT CONTEST. ELTHAM, Nov. 20. The candidates left in the secondballot in Egmont are working quietly, but have no Shown no disposition to take the hustings again. Mr. Wilkinson has joined Mr. Dive’s committee, but it is -a question how many supporters he can take with him. It is supposed that Mr. Wilkinson gained a proportion of votes on his Nolicense views, and these will probably go to Mr. Wake now, as well as a number of Astbury supporters.

CONSOLING A DEFEATED CANDIDATE.

TAIHAPE, Nov. , 20. A large meeting here last night, representing all parts of the electorute? decided to banquet Mr. R. M. Smith, Independent Liberal candidate, in recognition of the good fight lie made when he came within 153 votes of defeating Mr. Remington. A purse of sovereigns will also be presented to him. THE WELLINGTON NORTH CONTEST. WELLINGTON, Nov. 20, Mr. Izard’s supporters have decided to thrown in their lot with Mr. Bolton against Mr. Herdman in Wellington North. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. Mr. W. F. Massey,. M.P., Leader of the Opposition, is to .speak in the Wanganui Town Hall to-morrow night. . THE LYTTELTON SEAT. LYTTELTON, Nov. 20. The official scrutiny of the electoral poll at Lyttetlon, was completed at 10.30 a.m.' The figures are us follows: Laurenson 3682, Thacker 2789, informal 51. DUNEDIN SOUTH OFFICIAL RETURNS. DUNEDIN, Nov. 20. ‘ The Dunedin South official returns are: Sidoy 4289, Douglas 2360, and Fleming 581. THE TIMARU DISTRICT. TIMARU, Nov. 20. Last evening the Political Labor League, whose candidate (Mr. Koller) was defeated at the first ballot, passed a resolution, by 39 votes to 13, expressing the opinion, that the interests of the Labor party will he best served byt the election of Mr. Oraigie, the Government candidate, and urging the Labor., party to vote in his favor. A committee was appointed to act in conjunction with Mr. Craigie’s committee for the prosecution of the campaign. Mr. Koller polled' 1275 votes.

NO" FRAUDULENT VOTING

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 20.

Inquiries made from the returning officers in Christchurch show that there were practically no attempts to vote fraudulently at the recent elections in this city. A few apparent duplications have been noted, but they are 'attributed to clerical slips made in the bustle of work on election day.

TELEGRAPH OFFICES TO BE KEPT OPEN. WELLINGTON, Nov. 20. All telegraph offices will be kept open on Tuesday night as on the general election night. THE SECOND BALLOTS IN WELLINGTON PROVINCE. VERY KEEN INTEREST- DIS- , PLAYED. A FORECAST. [Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON, Nov. 20. The excitement over the second ballots is becoming intense, and oven the women are infected with the political virus. It is surprising what a keen interest they" are now taking m the contest. Even those who never before took, any interest m politics are now most eager to learn ail they can about the pros and cons of the second ballot and other political issues; in short, they are taking • most intelligent interest in The situation, and are very decided m then opinions, while at the same time acting calmly and deliberately. A rumor got about the city this afternoon that Mr. Izard after a would contest the second ballot tor Wellington North against Mr. Herdman it being stated that the wrong names had been placed at the head of certain figures. It appeared, however that the rumor was unfounded. Tlflre was, however, something pe<m-

liar about tlio situation, as, may be surmised from the following facts. The Government Printing Offico,, it appears, is so rushed with work that the Government had to arrange with a local newspaper to print the ballot papers for the second ballot in 'this constituency. In the middle of -the printing word was suddenly received from an official source to stop the printing. This probably was what gave rise- to the rumor as stated. However, the rumor turned out to be groundless, and the printing of the ballot papers was resumed. Mr. Izard has now transferred his allegiance to Mr. Bolton, tho candidate who put him at the bottom of tho poll, but largo numbers of his OAvn supporters resent his action, and have declared in favor of Air. Herdman. The latter had a magnificent meeting last night, and this afternoon an advertisement asking lady supporters to meet him resulted in a crowded and highly enthusiastic meeting. Indeed, it was the .most enthusiastic women’s political meeting over held in Wellington. Air. Herdman said that whatever happened .at the second ballot he would always remember the enthusiasm of his last night’s meeting and of this meeting of the women of Wellington North as the brightest spots in liis political career. Some people profess to think that the battle on Tuesday will be a close one, but oven with the combination of tlio other two candidates and the united forces of the Government arrayed against him, I confidently predict an easy win for Air. Herdman, who by his manly and-straightforward actions and downright criticisms lias Avon general respect. In the Wellington South electorate, Air Wright, the Opposition candidate, is steadily gaining ground, and there is every indication that Air. Barber, the Government candidate, avlio had-a huge majority at last election, AA'ill be beaten on this occasion. Air. Barber is working hard, but Avears a worried look, and his address to the workers at the statue to-day did not make a great impression. In Wellington-East the GoA'ernment candidate is already hors-de-combat, and the contest is between* the Independent Labor candidate, Air. McLaren, and Air. .Atkinson, Avho has a substantial, majority on the" first poll. Air. Atkinson avus an Independent Avitli Opposition leanings, but last night'lie wobbled somcAvhal, and this want of backbone inav cost liim the seat. Had lie declared straight out as an Oppositionist, lie Avon Id Avin. A man Avho knows the district well assures me that he will lose ground as the result of bis last night’s meeting. Nevertheless, be still lias a chance. The other second ballot ,is for the Suburbs seat. Air. -Luke is opposed to Air. Fitzgerald, a young man hitherto unknown avlio has made a good sliOAving. It is difficult to say avlio will win. The result of the first ballot shows that bad- a good Opposition man come out the seat Avould have been a certainty for liim.

At Palmerston North the Opposition candidate’s chances are improving, Avliile on the hand Air. AYoods’ chances haa-e not been improved, but rather the reA-erse by an extraordinarily ill-judged article in the “Manawatu Daily Times” (the GoA'ernment organ in Palmerston North) in AA'liich there is a thinly A'eilcd suggestion that if Air. Buick is returned it may mean the loss of the dairy school at Palmerston North. The article li'as aroused intense indignation in Palmerston. _ / For the AlanaAvatu scat Air. Newman, bhe Opposition candidate, is regarded as a certainty.