GENERAL ELECTIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2355, 23 November 1908, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTIONS

THE GISBORNE SEAT.

■' SECOND BALLOT REQUIRED

MR. CARROLL SIXTEEN VOTES BEHIND ABSOLUTE MAJORITY

By Saturday’s mail a large number of absent voters’ ballot papers reached Mr. IT. E. Hill, returning officer for the,Gisborne electorate. In all 133 absent voters’ forms were issued. The official count and checking of tlie roll was commenced on Friday land finished last night. The returning officer declares the-result of the first ballot in to-day’s issue. A second ballot is necessary, the Hon. J. Carroll being short of an absolute majority by 16 votes. The final figures are:— Hon. James Carroll ... 3485 W. Lissant Clayton ... 1454 G. E. Darton ... 2062 Total number of valid votes ••• ••• 7001

The absent voters’ ballot papers to band number 102, of which 56 were for Mr. Carroll, 17 for Mr. Clayton, and 27 for Air. Darton, while 2 were' informal.

Tlie second ballot will, therefore, take place to-morrow. The same arrangements will bo observed as in the first ballot. The polling booths will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The same officers will be in charge. Shops must observe a half-holiday. Factory owners must allow their employers time to vote without deducting any wages. Hotels must also close from noon until 7 p.m., and it is hold in the law that any gift of liquor during those prohibited hours shall be deemed to bo a sale.

EASTERN MAORI ELECTORATE

The date of the Maori election for the Eastern Maori district is Wednesday, December 2nd, and the attention of employers of Maori labor is directed to tho following provision in tlie Legislatve Act, 1908, section 185 (par.-h): “Every person who employs any Maori who is entitled to vote shall afford him a reasonable opportunity of recording his vote, and every person who fails so to do shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £5.” The hours of poll arc from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Following are the polling places in the Gisborne and *’T6logn Bay districts: House of Hori Niania, Te Reinga; school-house, Tiniroto; schoolhouse, Muriwai; schoolhouse, Waerenga-a-hika : schoolhouse, To Karaka; meeting house, Whakato; schoolhouse, Onnoml; schoolhouse, Waeronga-o-kuri; public hall, Wliatatutu ; schoolhouse, Waimuta ; schoolhouse Whangara ; Courthouse, Tologu Bay; Hutchinson’s station, Tuarua; meeting house, Paetawa. The following are in Waiapu County: Schoolhouses at Tokomarn, Whareponga, Waipiro, Hiruharema, Tnparoa, Waiomatatini, Kahukuna, Rangitukia, Te Araroa, and Hick’s Bay; stations at Takapau (Waipiro) and Pakihiroa ; meeting houses at Reporua, Tikapa, and Horoera*

The candidates for the East Coast constituency Aire Mr. A. T. Ngata, the present representative, and Mr. R. Paaka (Parks), a resident of Wairoa. Mr. Paaka addressed a number of natives at Gisborne on Saturday.--.He was accorded an attentive bearing. No open expression of opinion on his candidature was given by the meeting- ~ AUCKLAND EAST. There will be no second ballot lor Auckland East. Mr J. E. Baume being elected with 3333 votes against 2249 recorded for Mr. V. Richardson. The Press Association message on the night of the elections gave Mr. Richardson 3249 votes, probably through an error In transmission.

THE HAWKE’S BAY CONTEST

[Press Association.]

HASTINGS, Nov. 21

Sir William Russell's and Mr. Dillon’s supporters are leaving no stone unturned to secure victory lor their respective candidates. Every motor car, private and hired, is touring the country canvassing for one or the other candidate. It is expected that Mr. Dillon will win, but not with much to spare. Many who voted against Sir William Russell on the first ballot are known to be now supporting him. The x>rohibition party intend asking questions at meetings, and voting for the man who answers most to their satisfaction. The other candidates are .now accompanying Mr Dillon /and speaking on his behalf at his meetings. THE EG MONT SEAT. ELTMAM, Nov. 21. The filial count (including permits to conic) is: Dive 161 S, Wake 1385, Wil’ki nson 1013, Astbury 679 . THE MANAWATU CONTEST. FELL DING, Nov. 21. In the second ballot campaign Mr. Newman, Opposition candidate for Manawatu, had a good meeting at Tanoua fast night. His supporters are confident of his election. BANQLETTING A MEMBER. The Oolvton supporters of Mr Guthrie, the new M.P. for Oroua, are arranging to give him a complimentary banquet. DUNEDIN AND CHALMERS. DUNEDIN, Nov. 21. Dunedin North official returns: .Barclay 3384, Thomson 3066, Green 532, informal 66. Dunedin Central official returns: Arnold 4043, McDonald 2531. Chalmers: Allen 2556, Clark 2463, Barr 102. Mr. Allen was 4i short of an absolute majority. A RUMOR. TO FIND A SEAT FOR MR. McNAB. DUNEDIN, Nov. 21. According to an Invercargill correspondent, rumors are in circulation there to the effect that Mr. may decline election in order thut_ efforts may be made to' induce Mi. ■ Nab to stand for Invercargill in the Government interest.

THE OTAKI POLL

WELLINGTON, Nov. 22. The Otaki final results' are as -follows:—Field 2024, Browp 1931.

WELLINGTON’S OPPORTUNITY

(“Evening Post.”)

Wellington citizens demonstrated admirably -at the first ballot- that they were capable of taking a national view of politics. They looked past the measures of rhetoric that were poured out ceaselessly for them b.v various dispensers, and fixed their gaze upon the man. For four of the Wellington seats —the Nor lb, East, South, and Suburbs—there were twenty-mile starters, but thirteen fell the first- fence, and only eight are left for tlie final hurdle. For seven days eight men ivill be striving desperately for mastery, and they will again go over tlieir platforms, - plank by plank. The structures should be now familiar to the constituents, but we believe that in this day, when the prospect of introducing a wholesome leaven of reform into Parliament gladdens the national thinkers, a reference to the strength of. some and the weakness of others will do good service in a good cause. In the East Messrs A. R. Atkinson and D. M’Laren are left for the duel, a national legislator against a champion of Independent .Labor. In the first, count Mr Atkinson surpassed his leading opponent by 650,- and he should be able to win the electors’ final favor. Mr Atkinson is pledged to a policy, which is instructively progressive. He is a man qualified to not only point to the flaws and abuses in the present Government’s administration, but able to suggest healthy remedies. He cannot only diagnose the sick man’s case, but can give a prescription for bis restoration to better health. For this he has previous legislative experience to help him, and lie has the talents and training to fit him for the high task. We join with others in admiring Mr MLaron for his plucky fight, and we are aware that many electors will be inclined to give him a sympathetic vote, but urge upon them that it is more important to have sympathy for. New Zealand, which sadly needs a strengthening of Parliament, than sympathy for one man who stands for a class.

Mr A. L. Herdman. who left Mr Bolton nearly 1000 in the rear, is entitled to maintain his lead, because he, too. is a thinker of the which New Zealand requires in these times when “little men” predominate in Parliament. lie has been in the House of Representatives, and he knows well that the great public services cry out for reiorln. His opponent states that he, 100, is out lor the good of ali New Zealand, but the electors must remember that lie is practically pledged to the ruling party. He has reserved an '‘independence” for “’minor details,” but in the vital things that matter he is at one with the Government, which is loth to parr with its political control of the railways and the whole Civil Service. Mr Holton lias stepped into the .shoos which Mr Izard dropped in the race, and will be backed by all the strength a! the Government’s command. Therefore, the watchmen of the North should be on their guard and fight hard for Mr .Herdman, for the benefit of New Zealand as well as their constituency. Tin- most pleasing, as the most remarkable, feature oi the battle in the South was the polling of Mr R, A. Wright, who came within 250 of Mr Barber, credited with power to command the absolute majority. A vigorous critic of the Government’s erring ways thoroughly _• "extended” the Government's nominee. The voting showed that the district had a capacity to look above the lower level of parochial polities and rally around a| mart who stood for high achievement, i Mr Wright’s foes throw a “fad” or two at him, but even with his extreme views on the license question, the general breadth of his aims and his determination to give them effect place him above Mr Barber as a man worthy of the people's goodwill. THE SECOND BALLOT. POINTS WORTH NOTING. A good deal of misapprehension exists in respect- of the second ballot, and all .sorts Of questions have Imen asked in regard to it. The following facts should be -noted by those in doubt upqn the subject. Every person whose name was on the roll for the first ballot (with the exception of "-absent voters,” who arc mentioned later) has the right to vote at the second ballot, whether he uctuallv voted on the first occasion oi not. ' No names are struck off the roll because their owners did nou Absent voters'are unable to vote at the second ballot, for two reasons. Firstly, they have already used and surrendered their absent voter s permit at the first ballot. Secondly, m the case of -a second ballot, polling booths are open only in those districts where a second ballot is being carried on, so that the absent voter would be unable to record his act.,, even if ho retained his permit, mio Second* Ballot Act contains no vHeience to absent voters. It states tb-rt the election shall be carried out pi ecisolv flic same as under the P-'noi-paUAot, but with regard to absovm voters this is not practicable fr i u the nature of the case. The disfra i h semen t of absent voters for the final and most important issue constitutes a strong objection to the Second Ballot Act, which was freely used when the measure was before the House. It is stated that the brier interval between the first- •arid second noils would not -allow of the renewal of -absent voters’ permits, and if such a privilege could be granted, it would iie necessary also to grant- pci mi s to other absent voters who miay ■ leave the district after the first poll, or -after the issue, of the writs. Ino law requires, -however, tjat the rot s shall not be altered after the -wilts nvo issued. , . , , , j.i.k t u regard to seamens rights, the case is different. The seaman is granted a permit which extends oxer n year, and- he records, his vote x\ ith a collector of Customs wherever he mav be. The seaman can vote at any time between the issue of the writs a,ud day of polling, so that his vote is good tor the second ballot-, -as well as for the first. . Except in the case of ten country electorates, for which a fortnight’s interval is provided, second ballots must ho held" exactly one week attev the first poll. The - Bay of 1 lent* •s the onlv electorate which will have to wait-i fortnight for its second ludiot -on- this occasion. , . All candidates for the second bal'd- arc entitled to receive from the Government "expenses” due’to tha iuUOYatkra. not exceeding ioU. ,lne

Government does not defray -any other electioneering expenses of oandi<iiites. Returns of expenditure art* ■sailed for. but only to ensure that the candidate lias not spent more than £2OO on his campaign, that keying the limit fixed by law. • The three days’ -restriction on printing, circularising, -and other illegal acts, applies to the second ballot. as well as. to the first-. Many curious points arising out of the second ballot provision in a general election are ■accumulating. Until a few days ago it was not clearly known whet her the compulsory halfholiday for shops and hotels applied to a Ra-r lia merit-a ry general election, or whetaer it was made statutory on account of the local option poll, which is taken the same day. Inquiries made elicited the information that the half-holiday, both in respect to tlio shops and the hotels, must be observed to-morrow, precisely as on last Tuesday—shops to close from 1 P.m. (instead of on the Thursday), and hotels in the districts where second ballots are being held, from noon until 7 p.m.