TO-DAY'S IMPORTANT CONTESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 102, 30 April 1913, Page 5

TO-DAY'S IMPORTANT CONTESTS.

: BUSY TIME AT POLLING BOOTHS. A WET ELECTION DAY. The elections are in progress to-day in connection with the City Council, _cspital Board, Harbour Board, and suburban municipal councils, while the halfholiday poll is also being taken at the same time. Unfortunately, wet weather prevailed, and this fact is likely to somewhat affect the voting, since inclement weather conditions have always been found to militate against a big poll. Never before have so many issues been put to the electors at one and the same rime, and in no polling booth in the city were less than four ballot papers served out to each elector, while in two of the suburbs there were five issues upon which the elector had to cast his vote. Greater interest than usual is being taken this year in the City Council, Hospital Board, and Harbour Board elections. City electors had to-day no less than 49 candidates to choose from, there being 35 for the IS seats on the City Council, 10 for the five city seats on the Hospital Board, and four for the three city seats on the Harbour Board. Likewise a very great deal of interest is being evinced in the half-holiday poll. The ballot paper sets forth each day of the week, and the elector is at liberty to vote for any day he favours. Should Saturday be the day selected, the halfholiday will he computeorily observed on that day in the city and the boroughs of NewmaTket, Mt. Eden, Mt. Albert, Grey Lynn, Birkenhead, and Northeote. Voting has been in progress since 9 o'clock this morning. In the city alone there are 19 polling places, providing 63 booths, and the Registrar of Electors is being assisted by a staff of 120. The voting this morning was better than expected, in view of the unfavourable weather conditions, and it seems likely that there will be a heavier poll than usual. The booths remain open until 7 o'clock this evening. The counting of the votes recorded well naturally be a big undertaking, and it is likely that the first "announcement—that of the City Council results—will not take place until 9 o'clock. The Hospital Board results will be the next announced, "then the Harbour Board, and finally the halfholiday poll. The latter results, it is expected, will not be available bet-*-, i midnight.