THE LYTTELTON ELECTION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XLIX, Issue 5121, 17 November 1925, Page 2

THE LYTTELTON ELECTION.

DECISION STILL IN DOUBT.

MISSING PAPERS NOT YET

FOUND

There has been no change over the week-end with respect to the very interesting position that exists in regard to the Lyttelton electorate. Mr McCombs, the sitting member, is still leading by one vote, and the six missing papers, on which so much depends, have not yet been found. A start with the licensing recount was made yesterday, and it is anticipated that in the course of this count the missing papers will be found mislaid among the licensing papers. The licensing papers are not being examined for the purpose of searching for the six missing ; electoral papers, but are merely be- 1 ing counted in the ordinary course, j The probability that the missing | electoral papers will be found among them is heightened by the fact that, in the electoral papers seven licensing papers were found. It is there- ; fore presumed that electoral papers ; have been mislaid among the licen- ( ! sing papers in the same way that i the licensing papers were mislaid | among the electoral papers. j | The position is arousing very j great interest, not only in the Lyt- ] j telton electorate, but among people j •interested in politics all over the; | country. Whatever may be the ver- , i diet given by those six missing j paper.-, the election will be one of | the closcst in th: political history 1 of tii! 1 Dominion, recalling the exciting contest for Ricearton in 1893, j wlv.-n the lion. G. W. TCussell defeat- ; i d the late Hon. W. Rolleston by one vole. In the Lyttriton contest Mr Lyons, I lie lieform candidal?, must | secure four of (lie missing voles to win. It is practically certain that ;a magisterial recount will be dc- : manded by whichever candidate is in the minority if the papers are. found or if they arc not found. The possibility of the matter being refer led to an rh'cU.Tal court with aj view to having another poll is : already being discussed. Such a eoui't may be :-ot -up on the petition 1 from either candidate, and it is' within the power of the court toj declare the election void.