POLLING DAY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 71, 6 March 1933, Page 7

POLLING DAY

GERMAN ELECTIONS EXCEPTIONALLY HEAVY VOTING AHMED POLICE GUARD BOOTHS. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received 6, 12.30 p.m.) Berlin, March 5. Polling day passed with comparative calm but Herr Hitler’s supporters maintained their propaganda to the end, aeroplanes decorated with the old Imperial colours flying over Berlin, through which 25,000 members of the Ex-Servicemen’s Association and the Steel Helmets marched in honour of President von Hindenburg. Bonfires were lit on the hills overlooking the frontier to synchronise with Hitler’s appeal of “Germany awake.’’ The poll was exceptionally heavy. Early estimates show that 97 per cent, of the electors voted in Silesia and the Ruhr, the, average being 85 per cent, iu many other areas. Eight thousand Germans living abroad passed the main frontier stations in order to record their votes. The extent to which the Nazis intimidated the other parties is shown by the absence of Republican, Communist and Socialist flags. The police are carefully guarding the Swiss and other frontiers to prevent the escape of Communists. Peaceful polling is ensured by policemen guarding the booths earn g carbines, revolvers and rubber truncheons with Nazis and Steel Helmets armed with revolvers and truncheons as auxiliary police. STATE OF THE PARTIES. The figures to 9.30 show that 8,900,000 votes were polled, representing 43.4 per cent, of the electorate. They are divided as follows:— Nazis 3,479,300 Socialists 1,466,500 Communists 933,800 Centre 740,000 Nationalists 586,000 Bavarian People’s Party 396,300 German People’s Party 112,600 Socialist People’s Service 101,100 State Party 94,400 It is already significant that the figures are showing that the Nazis in Bavaria have increased their votes sometimes by 50 per eent. Elsewhere it seems clear that Communists will lose heavily. Many Communists abstained from voting, assuming that their elected representatives would be prevented from taking their seats. Others deserted to the Nazis and Socialist ranks. Catholics, who were previously strong in Bavaria and the Rhineland, suffered severe setbacks. LATEST RETURN. (Received 6, 2.55 p.m.) Berlin, March 5. The voting figures at 10.30 were as follows (23,166,200 votes having been counted, 60 per cent, of the electorate): — Nazis 9,955,600 Socialists 4,309,900 Communists 2,825,900 Centre 2,262,500 Nationalist 1,628,400 Bavarian 1,207,000 German People’s Party 280,600 Christian Socialist People’s Party 241,300 State 222,700 The electoral system provides that every 60,000 votes for a particular party elects one member thereof. Each party prepares its list on a national basis, the names being selected seriatim. Thus the leaders are certain to be elected.

The last Reichstag numbered 583 deputies. Apparently to-day’s heavy polling will increase this. Those already elected include Herr Hitler, General Litzmann, Prince August Wilhelm, Dr. Frick, Herrs Goering and Goebels (all Nazis); Braun, Loebe, Hoeltermann, the Reichsbanner leader (all Socialists); Hugenberg, Eddte, von Papen (Nationalists); Thaclmann, Clara Zotkin (Communists). An interesting scene was witnessed at Munich, where at Brown House, the headquarters of the Nazi Party, many youths carrying skis on their shoulders went to the polling booths before entraining for mountain skiing resorts. Brown House officials are jubilant at the early successes. I VOTES AND SEATS. (Received 6, 2.20 p.m.) Berlin, March o. i At midnight the voting was as I follows: —

Votes. . 15,897,200 Seats. 264 Socialists 6,576.300 109 Communists . . 4,487,700 74 Centre . 4,104,900 68 Nationalists .. . 2,838,200 47 Bavarian . 1,206,300 20 Christian 357,200 5 German 401,500 6 State . 336,900 Q Invalid 315,600 —