ELECTORS VOTE EARLY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22534, 17 October 1938, Page 8

ELECTORS VOTE EARLY

“LAST MINUTE RUSH” AVOIDED UNUSUAL FEATURE OP LICENSING POLL “Vote early”—the appeal to electors made by returning officers at most elections—was well responded to in Oamaru. The “last minute rush” dreaded by poll clerks and officials at the booths was not , experienced, and returns were made available much earlier than usual, the first—from the Courthouse—being received at 7.13 p.m. Most of the voters, taking advantage of the Saturday morning holiday, recorded their votes early, and at some of the booths rush periods were experienced in the early morning with fewer voters and slack times during the afternoon. By 1.30 p.m. an estimate that more than 3000 electors had voted in Oamaru was made by the Returning Officer for the electorate, Mr F. Stoop. When the booths opened at 9 a.m. queues were formed at some polling places; it was in the first two hours of the morning that the election staff experienced its busiest period of the day. All the town booths were busy with the greatest rush at the two booths at the South School. At no time, however, were there any unnecessary delays, and the whole poll was carried through steadily and efficiently. Contrary to expectations the polling was not as heavy as was at first thought. The effective number on the roll was 11,721. and excluding informal and absentee voters and votes by declaration, a total of 10,340 was recorded. The parliamentary election results were available much earlier than usual, except for a small total —14 votes in all—from the booth at the school, Lower Harbour, Port Chalmers, At midnight on Saturday there was still one return in the licensing poll which had not come to hand, but this will not affect the result. An unusual feature of the licensing poll in the electorate is that voters, although showing a preference- for Continuance, in the national issue, have nevertheless strongly supported nolicence in the district. The figures in the national issue were Continuance 5065, State control 561, Prohibition 4119, and in the local issue. No-licence 5159, and Restoration 4769. Besides the votes polled at the booths a further total of about 340 was received in postal votes, ' including three from Australia. , PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS SOCIETY’S' annual meeting The annual meeting of the _ North Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held recently, the president, Mr A. Bloch, presiding over a good attendance of members. The annual report and balance-sheet (which have already been published) were adopted. . The election of officers resulted as follows; —President, Mr A. Bloch; i vicepresidents, Ven. Archdeacon J. D. Russell. Major H. S. Orbell. Dr Fitzgerald, Messrs A. W. Woodward, M. ss. Holmes, and H. Hay; secretary, Mr H, S. Williams: treasurer, Mr A. Stock; committee, Mrs Corlett, Miss Stockley Jones, Messrs A. Bremner, A. C. Bossence. and G. Gardiner: auditor, the Rev. B. O. Plumb; veterinary surgeon, Mr Hayhurst; honorary solicitors, Messrs Lee, Grave, and Zimmerman; inspectors, Messrs Flett and Stock.