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THE GENERAL ELECTION.

1 THE GOVERNMENT'S VICTORY. PEOPLE’AGAINST RECKLESS FINANCE. AUSTRALIAN COMMENT. Atutralian-New Zealand Cable Association Received December 23, 8.35 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 23. The Telegraph, commenting editorially, on the Australian and Now Zealand elections, says, regarding New Zealand : “The victory of the Government is a sign that the electors \yill not tolerate reckless finance, that they resent political manoeuvring and quack remedies, and that they will vote tor the man who puts facts before them most honestly and clearly. The feeling expressed by the olocto/s noth in Australia and Now Zealand is not so much confidence in a political leader, as apprehensivcness for the future of the country. In both countries the men who are interested hot merely in the question of sound government, but in stability and progress of industry, have been found to be in the

majority. ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES IN DUNEDIN SOUTH,, In connection with the Dunedin. Soutli election, Mr W, R. Clarke, scrutineer for Mr J. T. Paul, has forwarded a communication to the Chief Electoral Officer alleging certain irregularities during the recount of votes and the counting of absent votes. It is understood that legal advice is to .be obtained to * decide whether steps should be taken in the Supreme Court to have the election declared void. Mr Clarke’s letter alleges that on his attending the returning officer’s office at 9 a.m. on the 19th, at the place and . hour appointed for tho official recount, he found, seventeen parcels of ballot papers had been opened, and some ' four '‘thousand papers numbered and that such parcels had not been again .. scaled. These parcels had boon opened oh tho previous day, and had been left overnight in unsealed bundles: that certain ballot papers had been tampered with by the. returning officer* to tho extent of opening tho sealed corners of such ballot papers,: thereby disclosing the identity of the voter ; that an

unlocked and unsealed ballot box had been used to receive and retain the absent voters’ ballot papers; that the whole proceedings of opening the parcels and counting the votes without giving written notice to his candidate or his scrutineer was a breach of the" Legislature Act that the scrutiny _ of rolls should, in accordance with the Legislation Act, have been a precedent to the counting of votes. Almost immediately following the announcement of election results Sir Joseph Ward received five offers from members who were prepared to resign in order that ho might rocontest their seats. To those Sir Joseph replied thanking the members for their generosity, but declining to accept any of the offers, as ho had no intention of reentering the political arena at present. Since the election (states the Post) Sir Joseph Ward has been enjoying a quiet spoil with his family and friends out of the political hurly-burly. The only reminder ho has.had of the political life have been the messages ho has received and which- had to be replied to. The' Liberal leader has received thousands of kindly communications from persons in all walks of life, and all shades of opinion. Messages have come from Liberals, Reform members and Labour candidates, and from Great Britain, Canada, America, and Australia. OFFICIAL COUNTS. The following official counts have been supplied through the Press Association: WAIRAU. R. McCollum (0.) 2452 B. J. Cooke (Lab.) 1656 J. J. Oorrv (I. Lab.) 1430 E. H. Penny (G.) 1348 HUTT. T. M. Wilford (0.) 3406 D. K. Pritchard (Lab.) ... 2595 E. P. Rishworth (G.) ... 2313 ' THE TEMUKA SEAT. (Pkb Pbbss Association.) TIMARU, Deo. 22. Additional absentee votes have reduced Mr T. D. Burnett’s majority over Mr C. J. Talbot for the Tcrmika seat from 35 to 29. The official count is in progress. MEETING OF LIBERALS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. Dec. 23. Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, replying to Mr Wilford, has agroed to tho latter’s suggestion to call a meeting of the Liberal members in January.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19191223.2.22

Bibliographic details

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1707, 23 December 1919, Page 5

Word Count
652

THE GENERAL ELECTION. Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1707, 23 December 1919, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTION. Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1707, 23 December 1919, Page 5