CLOSE CONTEST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 November 1925, Page 5

CLOSE CONTEST.

FOR LYTTELTON BEAT. I ' FINAL PAPERS BELIEVED LOST. (BY TELEGRAPH —PEESS ASSOCIATION.) /CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 12. With six absent votes yet to come, Mn J. Me'Combs (Labour), the sitting member, is leading Mr M. E. Lyons (Reform) by on© vote in the contest for the Lyttelton seat. The figures axe: * Me'Combs 4900 Lyons ... 4899 Thist reduces Mr McCombs’ lead, the figure® prior to the counting of absent votes being: McCombs 4614, Lyons 4609. The six outstanding voting papers are believed) to be lost. They aje absent voters’ papers, and there is a possibility that they have been slipped by error in a bundle of licensing papers. The missing voting papers will be identified, if they are found, by comparing their numbers with those of the declarations under which they were claimed. These declarations are in the returning officer’s possession, but the voting papers are missing. .Some very interesting facts have come out in connection with t-he election. It appears that a number of seamen to whom seamen J s permits had been issued found; themselves in Lyttelton on the day of the poll, and voted at the local booths. Their votes, however, have been disallowed, and it is presumed) that this action was taken under the clause that, unless a seaman in such a case produces his permit for endorsement, Ms vote is di&allwoed. In another case it) is alleged that a seaman’s vote was disallowed on another ground altogether. Of course, rumour is very busy in connection with the election, and it seems certain that whoever may be declared elected a very searching recount will follow the present proceedings. Meanwhile it! is impossible to say when the final decision, will be reached. Mr Lyons, the Reform candidate, said to-day that, in view of the closeness of, the election, there would be a magisterial recount.

IN OTHER ELECTORATES. FINAL! COUNTS. ' \ , W AITEM AT A. A. Harris (G) 7101 A. G. Osborne (L) •• • • 3524 T. Lamont (N) .. v 1653 ' Majority for Harris ...... 3577 1922—A. Harris (iG) 4586, F. H. Burbush (0) 3315, OR. F. Way (L) 2047. Majority for Harris, 1271. WAIMARINO. R. W. Smith (N) 3745 F. Langstone (Lab.) .......... 360 Q Majority for Smith ........ .145 Twenty-two absent votes awaiting declaration. 192-2 —F. Langstone (Lab.) 2900, R. W. Smith (L) 2013, D. D. McLean.(R) 1662, G. J. Gol&finsh (L) 507, H. W. •B. Littlewood 1 (I) 10: Majority for Langstone, 887. -