Taupo vote result today

Press, 21 April 1982, Page 1

Taupo vote result today

Parliamentary reporter

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sir Richard Harrison, will be told at 1 p.m. today the result of the Taupo electoral petition. The Chief Justice, Sir Ronald Davison, will deliver the ruling of the specially convened High Court to the Speaker and it will be the

first item of business when Parliament sits at 2.30 p.m. Copies of the judgment, and the High Courts reasoning on the many challenges to votes presented to it, may not be available until tomorrow, but the immediate result will answer the most-talked-about question in this Parliament — is Taupo a

National or. a Labour seat? National's Mr R. M. McClay has a 14-vote majority, and the man who held the seat in the last Parliament, Labour's Mr J. W. Ridley, has sought to have that result overturned.

If Mr Ridley is successful, the potential exists for a “hung Parliament.” If he

fails, the Government will continue with its narrow majority.

Predictions at Parliament Buildings last evening were guarded, although observers gave an edge to suggestions that the National majority in the seat may be marginally increased as a result of the petition.

More universal acceptance was being given, however, to suggestions that the Opposition may well try to force a snap debate in the House, whatever the result.

If Mr Ridley is successful, the Government will have 46 seats, against 44 for Labour and two for Social Credit, the Press Association reported.

The recount for the seat was completed on Monday evening after the petition hearing before three High Court judges, with the Chief Justice presiding, ended at the T.H.C. Wairakei Hotel earlier in the day.