GENERAL ELECTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 245, 16 October 1925, Page 8

GENERAL ELECTION.

THE ROLL CLOSED. GREAT INCREASE IN ELECTORS AUCKLAND ELECTORATES ALL SWELL. EDEN INCREASES FIFTY PER CENT

The supplementary roll, -which closed in Auckland at six o'clock last evening, brings the total of names on the rolls of eight electorates in the Auckland district to as against 87,010 in 1922. This increase of 18,5G7 electors in three years seems conclusive proof of the efficacy of the new law, which makes enrolment compulsory, and if the percentage who go to the booths on polling day ie maintained, there will be a record vote east for the election of 1925.

There was a great eleventh hour rush to get on the rolls before the '•supplementary" closed yesterday, there being Ji continuous crush at the Auckland Electoral Office in High Street. Some of the applicants for registration had attained their majority only since the closing of the main rolls, whilst many others had but recently completed their residential qualifications. But by far too many were those peculiar people who invariably leave everything to the last minute. In the latter category there are many who "miss the bus" altogether, and this was actually the rase, for a good many applications were not received until after six o'clock and so could not be dealt with.

Despite the plain warning that applications posted at the Chief Post Office after six p.m. yesterday would not be considered for the "supplementary," fully one hundred applicants seemed "to think that any time would do. The post marks showed that some of the applications were not posted until one o'clock this morning. These applicants will pet on the rolls though—for the 1028 elections! Names added hy means of the "supplementary" number:— Auckland Ontral 17ns Auckland Enst 1750 Aucklan-1 "West 137.". Knskill l.w, Eden ISSJ3 Parnell 14<!2 Crpy Lynn 1314 Waitemata 1213 A list of corresponding numbers of electors who have been removed from the' main rolls through death, transfer, change of name by marriage, etc., will be published at the end of the supplementary roll. By far the greatest increase is in the electorate of Eden, where the number of electors has swollen from 0331 to 13,704 —an increase of 4463. The roll totals for 1922 and 1925 are as hereunder:— 1922. 19M. Auckland Central... 9,846 10.TO1 Auckland East 11.307 "12,048 Auckland 'West 11,057 12.711 Farnell 11,687 1-1.343 Waitemata 11.171 13.90 ft Roskill 11.788 15. Oβ* Grey Lynn 10,813 13,217 Eden 9.331 13.794 Totals 87,010 105,877 The time fixed for the closing of nominations' of candidates is noon on Tuesday, October 27, or eight days before the date of the election. '

THE WAITEMATA SEAT. MR. HARRIS AT DEVONPORT. A vigorous defence of the Reforn Government's treatment of old-age pen sioners, and of the present immigratioi policy, which he considered was justifiec by New Zealand's capacity to absorl new arrivals at the rate of ten thousanc a year, was made at Devonport las' evening by Mr. A. Harris. Mr. Harris quoted figures to show tha the amount paid in pensions had in creased from £030,000 in 1912 t< £2,500,000 in 1924. The meeting was marked by an almos total absence of interjections. To t challenge, however, that Mr. Coates wai a "ratter" from the Liberals, the candi date replied that if there was any mai who would never "rat" it was the present Prime Minister. Mr. Harris confined his attack upon Labour very largely to its "usehold" tenure system, which he described by forcible epithets such as '"unadulterated confiscation," "robbery-hold."' and "legalised robbery." At the conclusion of his address which was along the lines followed at Takapuna the previous evening. Mr Harris was given a vote of thanks foi his past services, and confidence in hit candidature and the policy of the Govern ment. AUCKLAND CENTRAL. MR. PARRY AT EDEX TERRACE. Mr. W. E. Parry, Labour member for Auckland Central, received a most attentive hearing from a well-filled hall in Eden Terrace last evening. The candidate spoke for two hours on similar lines to his opening address. In the course of his remarks, Mr. Parry eaid if the men and women of this country were satisfied with their wages, houses and present conditions, then they would vote for the Government. If not, then for himself and the Labour party. "The fight and row we are having," declared the member, "is not against the individual, but the system which produces poverty and degradation on the one eide, and luxury on the other." At the conclusion of the meeting Mr. Parry was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. On dealing with banking, Mr. Parry said he was struck with an unusually large amount on the Estimates to cover the expenses of a delegation to other countries to inquire into Agricultural and State Banking, one of whom was Mr. Poison, the president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, and who had expressed himself strongly in 1924 in iVn™ ° f -, a Farme «' Party, and especant to note thatl& m * 1 si S nin " gone abroad just before has now «nd the cost to the Monk / elec «<m*, veetigation will cost II l° T this *»»- Australia to insSrate the %*t " COSt namely, £10,qoo, whUAni: 6 Bank ' of over five milliont. mdc * P ro fit