OVERSEAS VOTES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 227, 24 September 1943, Page 6

OVERSEAS VOTES

INTEREST LACKING COUNTING AT N.Z. HOUSE N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 10 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 23. The counting of the"-votes cast for the general election by New Zealanders on service in various parts of Britain is progressing at New Zealand House. The voting ends at 5 p.m. to-morrow. The results will be cabled to Wellington, where they should be received on Saturday morning. It is likely that some further votes may reach New Zealand House by post on Saturday. They will also be cabled, but are not expected to be many. It must be admitted that there is a fairly widespread lack of interest in the election on the part of members of the forces, a large number of whom are known not to have voted, one estimate being that this applies to nearly half of those whose names appeared on the lists compiled by the returning officer. There are apparently several reasons for this, one being that many of them have been away from New Zealand for two or three years and have either lost interest in home politics or do not know personally the candidates in their districts.

Candidates Not Known One member of the R.N.Z.A.F. said: "I am not interested in party politics, but I would like to know the candidates. I vote for the man, not for the party, and as I do not know any of the candidates in my electorate I am not voting."

Another airman did not know the party policies when the voting was held at his station. These policies subsequently reached the station in pamphlet form, but he still seemed disinclined to vote. At another station every New Zealander voted except one. He was on leave, but stated that he would vote. Quite a large number of New Zealanders on leave voted at New Zealand House. Whatever number of votes is cast, it must be said that every step has been taken to see that New Zealanders all over Britain are informed of the election and what to do to obtain a vote. The New Zealand Forces Club is holding a dance and party on Saturday night, when it is hoped that the election results will be announced.