POLLING DAY TO-MORROW

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 September 1943, Page 6

POLLING DAY TO-MORROW

PROCEDURE AT’tHE BOOTHS,

Altogether - 291 candidates have' gone to the polls in the General Election—the first held in the Dominion j for five years. This is the largest number in the political history of the • Dominion, and is allocated as fol- . lows: — j Labour Party 77 National Party . . . . <7 Democratic Laboui’ Party .. a 4 I People's Movement .. 25 Real Democracy Movement 17 Fighting Forces League . . Independents number .38, including six Independent Labour candidates, two Independent Nationalists, one Conservative, one Liberal, one Chris- ( tian Pacifist, one Peace candidate, and one Social Democrat. Besides Awarua and Mataura, the only otner seat which the Labour Party is not, contesting is Nelson, held by Mr. H. Atmore (Independent). The National Party has not nominated candidates for Kaipara, Palmerston North and Buller, but is supporting Independent Nationalists in the first two electorates. . . t The polling booths will remain open from 9 a.m. till 7 p.m., and as- I sistance is rendered the poll clerks by electors voting as early as possible, thus relieving congestion in the closing hours. Every elector w>io at the close of the poll is present m the booth for the purpose of voting is entitled to vote in the same manner as before the close of the poll. If a woman has changed her name by marriage she is still entitled to vote in the right of her former name as it appears on the foil. The voting procedure is simple. On receiving the necessary papers after his name has been checked on the roll, the elector retires to an inner compartment and mark the papers as directed thereon. The papers are then folded to conceal the votes, the official marks are exhibited, and the papers are placed in then’ respective ballot boxes in the presence of the Deputy-Return-ing Officer. As m the past, the method of voting involves crossing out the name of the candidate for whom it is not desired to vote. A ballot or votingpaper may not be taken from the booth, any person retaining possession of such a paper rendering himself liable to a fine not exceeding £lOO. The procedure of absentee voting is straightforward. Such a voter applies at a booth in the ordinary way, giving his full name and the roll on which it appears. He makes out his declaration and then, after filling out the voting and licensing papers, places them in an envelope, which he seals before the electoral officer. The envelope is subsequently posted to the appropriate Returning Officer to record the vote. Sick, • infirm, and blind persons, and others unable for similar reasons to attend polling places, are covered by special provision. An elector who is ill or infirm and in consequence cannot attend a booth can obtain a postal vote certificate and postal ballot-paper from a Returning Officer at any time after the issue of the writ and before the time for the closing of the poll. Such an elector must apply to the Returning Officer of the district in which he is registered. . . In the licensing poll the vote is invalid unless two of the three proposals enumerated are struck out. Though absentee votes may be recorded at any polling place except the Town Hall, special provision has been made at the Courthouse to deal with them, and it is hoped that as many such votes as possible will be registered there. Electors from Runanga, Brunner, and other nearby parts of the Buller electorate should vote in their own electorate. Seamen should vote with the Collector of Customs.

COAST ELECTORATES Fewer persons will be entitled to vote in the Westland and Buller electorates to-morrow than in the previous two elections. There are 11,794 names on the roll for Westland, compared with 12,494 in 1938 and 11.491 in 1935. In 1938 10,757 valid and 45 informal votes were cast and in 1935 there were 10,335 valid and 70 informal votes. For to-morrow’s poll there are 10,619 names on the Buller roll, compared with 10,842 in 1938 and 10,203 in 1935. At the last election 9358 valid and 75 informal votes were cast and in 1935 there were 9109 valid and 213 informal. . In the 1938 election Mr. O’Brien was returned with a majority of 3729 over Mr. E. B. E. Tuylor (Ncitionulist) for the Westland Seat, his majority in 1935 being 3677 over Mr. H. R. Young (Nationalist). In 1938 Mr. Webb was returned for Buller with a majority of 6144 over Mr. Maddison (Nationalist). The polling booths in Greymouth and district will include: Greymouth, Alexander Street, Hibernian Hall: High Street, United Pavilion (Recreation Ground); the Courthouse; Grey Hospital; Harbour Board Office; Public School; Public School, Blaketown; Town Hall. Boddytown, Mr. W. Duffy’s residence. Cobden, Public School. Kaiata, Public School. Kumara, Pearn’s Hotel. Kumara Junction, Public School. Parqa, Public School. Rotomanu, Public School. South Beach, Stratford Blair’s Mill Office. Taramakau, Public School. Dobson, Public School. Dunollie, Buffalo Hall. Runanga, Public School. Stillwater, Public School. Taylorville, Public School. Wallsend, Dickson’s Hall. Roa, Public School. Ngahere, Public School. Moana, School Building.

MAORI ELECTION TO-DAY POLLING FOR FOUR SEATS Polling took place to-day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.rn. for the four Maori seats. Twenty-one candidates presented themselves, the largest number being nine for Northern Maori. The results should be available about 7.30 this evening. The candidates are: — SOUTHERN MAORI E, T. Tirikatene (Labour). V. O. M. Thomas (National Party). J P. Tikao-Barrett (Independent R.D.M.). Te Ari Pitama (Independent). Last Election.--}:. T. Tirikatene (L.), 715: T Bragg (N.), 230: P. .McDonald (1.1. 87. Majority for Tirikatene. 485. NORTHERN MAORI D. W. Taylor (I.). Eru Moko Pou (N.). Kahi Harawira (1.L.). Paepae Witehira (D.S.L.). Paikea Herare Toka (1.). Pene Tuwhare (I.). Samuel William Maiqha (1.L.). Tapihana Paraire Paikea (L.). William Keina Poata (1.L.). Last Election. —P. K. Paikea (L.), 4669; Tau Henare (X.), 2G58; 11. Taretana (LI, 115: M. Tawhnl (I.). 79. Majority for Paikea. 2011. Seat, vacant since death of Hon. P. K. Paikea on April G, 19'13. WESTERN MAORI , ' Haami Tokouru Ratana (L.). Makawe Rangitaura (I.). Matenga Peka (U.L.). Pei Te Hurihui Jones (1.L.). Teia Te Tuahu Reweti (I.). Te Rakaherea Woodbine Pomare (N.). Last Election. —IL T. Katana (L.). GiGO: P. te 11. Jones (L). 219"; Taile Te Tonio (X.l, I .‘{fill: T. R. Hops (1.!..), 169. Majority far Ratana. 12G7. EASTERN MAORI ' Sir Apirana Ngata (N.). Tiaki Omana (L.). Last. Election —Sir Apirana Ngata. (N.), 4113; R. T. Koliere (L.), 3019; T. Omana (1.L.). 2126;. 11. D. Dansey (I.), 343; Matti Rangl (1.L.), 534. Majority for Ngata, 10C4.