THE FATEFUL DAY

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 297, 14 December 1911, Page 5

THE FATEFUL DAY

POLLING OF THE SECOND BALLOT.

EXCITING

The ten hours between 9 o'clock this morning and 7 this evening will finally settle the fate of the rival political parties, and of the sixty candidates contesting the thirty-second ballots throughout the Dominion. At the general election last week the political issue was largely clouded by the simultaneous struggle between the combating forces on the liquor questions, but to-day the electors go to the poll unconfused by ;liy counter interest to that which it concerned with the return of representatives to Parliament. ROUND THE BOOTHS.

A state of suppressed tenseness is evident at most of the polling places of the Grey Lynn and Parnell electorates today, the concentration of vehicles and workers by the opposing forces In these two districts being manifested in a greater appearance of activity and the display of more favours than last week. Although the weather prospects were not encouraging when the tray broke, this morning, the clouds lifted sufficiently to foster the hope of a comparatively rainless day, and as the morning progressed and matters grew no worse overhead the voting at nearly all the polling places went along pretty steadily. A constant trickle of voters passed quietly in and out of the booths, some going on foot and others arriving more luxuriously by motor car and cab, and although in some cases the reports were that the numbers arriving were not quite equal to those of last Thursday, it is evident that the polling is going to be very heavy, considering the elimination of the licensing question. It is anticipated that owing to the inability of many workers in the city voting to-day until after business hours that a great rush will set in between five and seven o’clock 10-nigbt, so that every effort is being made to get as many voters as possible to the poll before that time, in order to leave the field clear for those who wish to register their political opinionj on their way home from work. In the Auckland province there are sis seats involved, three of them being in close | mvimity to the city itself, and party feeling has in all of them run pretty well to the top of the glass during the past few days. In Parnell the electors, are judging between Sir John Findlay, the Liberal candidate, and Mr J. S. Dickson, the hope of the Opposition ; in Grev Lvnn, the Hon. Geo. Fowlds is to grips for Liberalism with a Labour candidate, Mr John Payne; while across the water the supporters of Mr Napier (Liberal) and Mr Harris (Opposition) are each attempting to prove their man to be the chosen, of the people. Over at Waitemata the contest i» also of the keenest, the Opposition forces having put forth every effort during the past, week for Mr. Harris, while the Liberal party has been ralluing enthusiastically to Mr. Napier’s banner, heeling at DevonporL Birkenhead, and Northcote runs very high, and this morning’s polling at these population centres of the electorate was steady. Reports from the country portions of the district point also to good voting, and it is anticipated that before closing hour the figures will come very near last Thursday’s in point of numbers. In the three country electorates of the province where a second ballot is being taken. Raglan must of course go to the Opposition, the two candidates left in both belonging to that political persuasion. but in the Kaipara and Ohinemuri electorates the position is practically reversed In Kaipara the Government candidate, Mr. Stallworthy, is opposed by an Independent Liberal in Mr. Coates, while in Ohinemuri, Mr. Poland, with a ma joritv of over 1100 votes on the first ballot, is pitted against Mr. Hickey, a Socialist. THE RESULTS. “STAK” DISPLAY IN FORTSTREET. The first results of to-day’s polling are expected at about 7.30 this evening, and from that time on the returns will be given promptly as they come to band. Again we remind our readers that no questions can be answered over the telephone.