THE WAIRAU CONTEST

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 62, 14 March 1906, Page 2

THE WAIRAU CONTEST

VICTORY OF THE " REFORM "

TICKET

The combined facts that there were only a comparatively few pollingplaces, and that the issue was one whose decision either way would not materially affect the "Trade," together with the rather boisterous elements, probably account for the meagre polling at the triennial election of a Licensing Committee for the Wairau electoral district yesterday. In the town booth very little voting had taken place before 2 o'clock, but those who chose the later part of the afternoonv to register their favors found the precincts of the Blenheim Courthouse fairly crowded. The results, however, show that the polling generally was light. The number of voters on the general election roll was 6200, and of these 5238 exercised their rights. The same roll was used yesterday, and only 1600 people voted. We arrive at this approximate result by finding from incomplete res turns (minus the Awatere and Mahakipawa figures) that 7576 votes were given for the nine candidates. It is fair to assume that about one-fourth of the total number of voters' chose to

"plump" for the four-fifths "reform" ticket—that is, slightly over half of those desiring 10 o'clock closing. This hypothesis would lead to the deduction that each elector exercising his or her privilege voted for an average of 4^ candidates. The total number of votes, 7576, divided by 4f gives 1595. Informal votes would number 30, making a total of over 1600 voters, or about one-fourth of the number eligible. It might, in this connection, be pointed out that the booths were few and far between. For instance, the electors of Queen Charlotte Sound were not given a chance to vote at all, except by making trips either to Picton or Manaroa for the purpose— not an inviting prospect, especially with the strong wind of yesterday. The cost to the local bodies of the Wairau will be about £95; whereas Taranaki, for instance, is. spending £200 on the election. The numbers began to be posted on the "Express" board shortly after seven o'clock in the evening, a large crowd assembling in the wonted place as the evening grew. With most of I the country returns in (including a I block vote at Onamalutu for 10 o'clock)

the chances of the " Reform " ticket looked bright. The arrival of the Picton returns, however, tended to equalise matters. The Blenheim returns were now awaited with interest, and shortly before nine o'clock the N to Z booth yielded its vei-dict, the result being distinctly in faVor of the 10 o'clock candidates. At about 9.45 the voting at the A to M booth, where the heaviest polling had taken place, was made known', and this placed the result, so far as closing time was concerned, beyond doubt, the " Reform" quartette, with Mr W. Ching in the lead^ heading the poll, with Mr H. G. Seymour in the fifth position. The two small returns not yet to hand are not likely to disturb Mr Seymour's position. Messrs Ching, McKinley and Sahw, in that order, then addressed the crowd from the steps of the " Express" office. Mr Ching thanked the electors for returning him at the head of the poll, and assured them that he would continue to do his duty to all parties, as he had striven to do in the past. The result of the election would mean ten o'clock closing, and he thought the publicans themselves would be the better for it. From six in the morning until ten at night was long enough for anyone to be at his business. : . Three cheers having been given for Mr Ching, Messrs McKinley and Shaw addressed the gathering^ the latter referring to the good spirit which \ had been displayed by the. opponents of the" reform ticket; and, at his invitation, cheers were given for the defeated candidates. This terminated the proceedings. THE DETAILED RETURNS. The following are the detailed results of the polling in the Wairau electoral district:—

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