LEAD INCREASED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 48, 6 December 1946, Page 4

LEAD INCREASED

MR GERARD’S ELECTION WIN RECOUNT FOR ASHBURTON Apart from soldiers’ votes, final figures, after the official count, in connection with the Ashburton seat at the recent General Election were made available by the Returning 'Officer, Mr Haymes, today, These give Mr Geoff Gerard a slightly increased majority, his margin over the official Labour candidate, Mrs Ann Newlands, now being 1479, against 1447 (excluding service votes) after the preliminary count. Few discrepancies were found in the official count, and it is apparent that deputy returning officers carried out their work very thoroughly. In one small booth of only about 50 votes, there was an error of 11 votes, but otherwise there were few mistakes. On the night of the election, advice was received by Mr Haymes that 59 soldiers’ votes had been cast, these being 24 for Mr Gerard and 85 for Mrs Newlands. This figure is still subject to confirmation, and, consequently, has net been included in the totals announced to-day. The final figures, apart from soldiers’ votes, are as follows: R. G. Gerard .. 7351 A. Newlands .. 5872 Informal .. . - 03 Majority for Gerard 1479 There were 13,865 eligible voters on the roll. Of the 630 absentee and seamans votes outstanding, Mr Gerard secured 321 and Mrs Newlands 309, while the postal votes were distributed as follows: Mr Gerard 205, Mrs Newlands 187.

IN OTHER DISTRICTS NO CHANGES SO FAR The work of re-counting the votes cast in the General Election last week has been proceeding throughout the Dominion and final official figures are ; now coming to hand. The -results so far received through the New Zealand Press Association are: \ .' Remuera R. M. Algie (National) 8465 j. Freeman. (labour) . 4Ut)U c Majority for Algie ....... 4405 North Shore Dr. A. M. Finlay (Labour) . . 6958 H. T. Morton (National) .... 6/20 : Majority for Finlay 232 Onehunga A. G. Osborn’e (Labour) 8603 W. K. King (National) Majority for Osborne ..... 3399 Franklin J. N. Massey (National) ... - 8532 A. D. J. Gunn (Labour) .... 45U» Majority for Massey ...... 4024 Otghuhu C. R. Petrie (Labour) 6883 A. Murdoch (National) ..... 6693 Majority for Petrie ..... 190 New Plymouth .E. P. Aderman (National) . . . 7418 G. Nimmo (Labour) 7010 Majority for Aderman .... 408 Brooklyn P. Fraser (Labour) . 8145 S. Hardy (National) ....... 4257 Majority for Fraser . . . , , 3888 Christchurch Central R. M. Macfarlane (Labour) . . . 8237 A.' Ostler (Communist) 302 A. Wills (National) ....... 38bs Majority for Macfarlane . . 4368 Hurunui W. H. Gillespie (National) . . . 7 J 7 8 J. Mathison (Labour) , jb3J Majority for Gillespie . . . 1439 Napier A. E. Armstrong (Labour) . . . 7717 A. J. Price (National) ....... 5910 Majority for Armstrong . . . ISO 7 St. Kilda i x 7fio7 F. Jones (Labour) L. J. T. Ireland (National) ... 639/ Majority for Jones- 1 210 Dunedin Central P. G. Connolly (Labour) .... 7566 T. K. S. Sidey (National),. 5563 t Majority for Connolly .... 2003 Dunedin North R. Walls (Labour) 7751 N. W. Jones (National) 6188 Majority for Walls 1563