Labour’s By-election Majority Reduced

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31551, 13 December 1967, Page 34

Labour’s By-election Majority Reduced

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, December 12. Labour’s majority in the Palmerston North by-election is cut from 749 on election night to 592 in the final result announced tonight.

Mr J. A. Waldlng’s election night majority, originally announced as 699, was altered after the official count when it was found that 50 Labour votes had been given to Social Credit.

The final figures (with the 1966 figures in parenthesis are): —

J. A. Walding (Labour), 6939 (7606). G. N. Cruden (National), 6347 (7865). J. B. O’Brien (Social Credit), 2410 (1620). P. J. Wedderspoon (Democratic Labour), 61. J. Q. Goldlngham (Progress), 31,

At the 1966 General Election the National Party’s majority was 259.

There were 24 Informal votes in the by-election. Of the 1811 special votes, 37 of them from overseas, National received 733, Labour 577, Social Credit 176, Progress Party 5 and Democratic Labour 5. Four special votes were informal and 311 were disallowed.

A total of 15,815 persons voted of a roll of 19,770 and 103 special votes were allowed for people not on the roll.

This gives a percentage of 79.58 for the turn-out of voters, compared with 89.38 at the General Election. In the final result Labour took 44 per cent of the votes cast (45.18 per cent in 1966); National, 40.2 per cent (45.22); and Social Credit 15.3 per cent (9.6).