IN THE BALANCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 97, 24 April 1912, Page 7

IN THE BALANCE.

MAYORAL CANDIDATES. TO-DAY'S ELECTION. Last flight the candidates for the Mayoralty of the city of Wellington delivered their final appeals to the electors and to-day ©very effort is being made to assure success. The day, being showery and miserable, is calculated to produce anything but a heavy poll. Indeed old municipal officers and men. whose coivnection with municipal polls dates back to twenty years confidently predict that the voting will proportionately, be tlie smallest on record. This does not apply to the city only — suburban boroughs where the electors are to-day required to cast a ballot for the man whom they 'consider is best fitted to direct their local affairs. Almost since the booths were open .rain has continued to fall in a, more or lees persistent drizzle, and up to noon the voting had been unprecedentedly small. At 11 a.ni. not more than 200 electors had recorded their votes at the principal booth at the Town HalL Im the luncheon hours, however, a little more activity was displayed, but the indications are, as already stated, that the poll will be a very light one. A few motor-cars have been pressed into service, bub there are not many visible signs that the contest is being fought vigorously to-day. As to the relative chances of the respective candidates for the city, little I can be predicted. The supporters of Mr. D. M'Laien are confident that their nominee will top the poll. Mr. Biss'e friends are equally confident. They believe that th© Labour candidate will not get a -solid Labour vote, and that j Mr. Biss's all-round qualifications will place him in the premier position. /On. the other hand, Mr. Smith's supporters i will not hear of his defeat. They argue that his long services in local government will stand him in good stead, and claim that it is only a fitting tribute to his unswerving devotion to the city's affairs that he should be elected for at least twelve months to direct the municipality's many enterprises. Still, Mi". Wright's supporters are not without hope. He has conducted a vigorous campaign, and he is credited with hay-; ing a good and efficient organisation. However, the ultimate result should be available about 8 p.m., or shortly afterwards. CITIZENS' DUTY. "Londoner" writes :—"ln: — "In electing a Mayor the citizens should consider what ' is due to the City and vote for the candidate who will best represent the city. It is an absolute duty to vote, and every man o> woman who neglects to vote- hinders a city's prosperity.'' ! PETONE AND HUTT. j Polling afi Lower Hutt and Petone to I day was very slow; and in both districts tbe prospects are that very few votes will be recorded. It is expected that the results will d© mad* known between 8 and 9 o'clock.