THE BY-ELECTION

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20961, 15 September 1933, Page 10

THE BY-ELECTION

SCRUTINY OF ROLLS jyORK TO BEGIN TO-DAY Although there cannot now be the slightest doubt about the outcome of the Lyttelton by-election, the returning officer, Mr J. J. McGahey, and his staff still have a good deal of work to do before the final declaration can be made and Mrs McCombs sworn in as a member of Parliament. The scrutiny of the rolls will begin this morning, when it is expected to have to hand all the rolls from the booths, even the furthest outlying. The official scrutiny will be followed by the official count and the declaration of the poll.

The scrutiny of the roils calls for exacting work from the electoral office staff, who have to go throuf' every vote cast to check the accuracy of the rolls from the booths. The main source of error is duplicated voting, which is generally caused through similar names confusing the poll clerk. Rtfils used at the booths are forwarded to the Christchurch office, and there checked. Under a special provision of the act *he Chatham Island totals are received by wireless. During trie scrutiny the candidates are allowed to be represented in person or by a scrutineer, and notices have already been sent out to the three concerned. The length of time taken for tne scrutiny depends entirely on the number of errors discovered, but Mr McGahey estimates that he will have completed this work and aiso the official count within a week. Absentee, postal, and seamen's votes are nearly all in.

HUNDREDS OF MESSAGES

MES M'COMBS CONGRATULATED

Hundreds of telegrams, letters, and telephone messages conveying congratulations were received by Mrs E. R. McCombs yesterday from •well-wishers all over the country. After her strenuous campaign Mrs McCombs was taking a rest, and members of her family were kept busy attending to the messages received. . , ~ Telegrams began to pour into Mrs McCombs's home early „in such numbers that she gave instructions to the Post and Telegraph office to retain all except those of outstanding importance for delivery with lier afternoon mail. When they did arrive, they made an imposing array.

At the meeting of the Riccarton branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union yesterday afternoon it was decided to send a letter cf congratulation to Mrs McCombs. Mrs McCombs is the president of the Sumner branch of the union and is one of its earliest members in Canterbury. TRIBUTE BY AUCKLAND WOMEN (l'flEßß ASSOCIATION ?ZIXGTt*U.) AUCKLAND, September 14. Miss Ellen Melville, president of the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women, said it was fortunate that the first woman elected to Parliament should be one of such undoubted capacity and experience in public work and one who would be able to convince the public that women were as well suited as men for Parliamentary work. Miss B. Carnachan, former Dominion president, expressed delight at Mrs McCombs's election, saying that she was the right kind of woman to be elected. It had now been proved that her worth had been recognised, not only by women <who had long known it), but by men. Dr. Hilda Northcroft said it was very appropriate that Canterbury, which was a pioneer in all women's movements, should send the first woman to Parliament.

NOTICE OF MOTION REQUIRED AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL CONGRATULATIONS [THB PBESS Special Sorylcu.J AUCKLAND, September 14. Permission to move without notice that the Auckland City Council should forward to Mrs E. R. McCombs its congratulations upon her being the first woman to gain parliamentary honours in New Zealand was requested by Cr. A. Rosser at a meeting of the council. He said that were he compelled to give notice, it would involve a delay of three weeks, which would make the resolution an absurdity. Cr. D. Donaldson r. oved that Cr. Rosser be given permission to move the motion. He thought it would be a fitting one for the council to pass. Its endorsement would bear no shade of political opinion. Cr. Ellen Melville seconded Mr Donaldson's motion, and the Mayor (Mr G. W. Hutchison) called for a show of hands. Fifteen voted for it and six against. • The Mayor declared the motion lost. He said the standing orders would not permit a motion to be put without notice unless such action were agreed to by not less than three-quarters of the members present. Including the Mayor, there were 21 members of the council present, so the 15 members who voted in favour of Cr. Rosser's motion being moved failed by three-quarters of a vote to establish the requisite majority.