GISBORNE SEAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22198, 7 December 1946, Page 6

GISBORNE SEAT

CIVILIAN VOTING OFFICIAL FIGURES TROOPS’ VOTES TO COME The official count of civilian votes cast in last week’s election for the Gisborne seat was announced to-day by the returning officer, Mr. P. 'D. Leahy, as under:— Barker. Harry (N.) .. GlB2 Coleman, D. W. (L) .. 8154 On these figures the sitting member, Mr. D. W. Coleman, holds a majority of 1972 votes. The votes cast by servicemen have still to be added to the totals, and four absentee votes are known to be outstanding. In all, 219 ballot-papers were designated as informal, these including a considerable number of postal votes received after the official closing-time. An examination of the ballot-papers showed the normal number of ballots spoiled by errors on the part of voters, but there was no evidence of wilful and mischievous defacing of papers, such as has been noted in some past elections.

The official count of votes cast in the Eastern Maori electorate is approaching finality, but it is not expected that the declaration of the poll will be made until Monday afternoon. The returning officer for the Eastern Maori district, Mr. R. J. Thompson, has received the official polling figures for service votes allocated to his territory. The troops gave Sir Apirana Ngata 52 votes, against 38 polled for Mr. T. Omana, the sitting member.