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Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 3, 3 December 1931, Page 6

On pages four and' five appear particulars of yesterday’s general election, details being given of the voting in the various constituencies throughout the Dominion.

“This is not a ivool sale, sit down,” was the remark with which a member of the audience at a political meeting in Auckland this week silenced two men who were arguing vociferously with each other from opposite sides of the hall. One of the arrangements which greatlv assisted the polling yesterday was the presence of the Registrar of Electors (Mr Bowker) at the principal booth. Mr Bowker agreed to be at this booth with the rolls for the whole of New Zealand and also all the individual cards of electors for Palmerston. By this means all roll inquiries were dealt with apart from the deputies, enabling the latter to attend to their other work, and saving the electors a trip to the Registrar’s Office in Rangitikei Street. The recent celebrations at Dunedin in connection with the centenary of the arrival of the Weller brothers has prompted a Wanganui resident to write to the secretary of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association (Mr W. Paterson) regarding the early days on the Otago coast. Captain James Bruce, a wellknown captain in the Sydney-New Zealand trade 100 years ago, he explains, was a relative of his, and in various papers which the old mariner had left some interesting facts regarding those early years in the history of New Zealand are given. Some idea of the small regard in which human life was held in those times may be gathered from the fact that when the captain took the principal chief of Ruapuke Island across to Sydney that which impressed the Maori warrior most was witnessing the hanging of the convicts. This he regarded as providing a spectacle par excellence, and, he said to the captain, “next time you come back 1 will hang some Maoris for your entertainment.”

One of the counterfeit Bank of New South Wales £1 notes ■w hich were circulated in Auckland last Easter was detected in the northern city this week.

After having endeavoured to obtain £3500 for the Cashmere sewerage loan at 5 per cent., and having failed to do so, the Heathcote County Council applied for, and has received authority to offer oi per cent. Thirteen bankruptcies were recorded in Auckland last month, compared with 12 in November, 1930. The total for the 11 months of the present year is 121, against 131 in the corresponding period in 1930. Although polling did not close until 7 p.m. several local residents telephoned the “Standard” long before that hour and requested news of the Palmerston polling, no doubt acting on the erroneous assumption that voting papers are counted progressively during polling hours.

The maximum temperature in_ the shade recorded in Palmerston North and Auckland during November was exactly the same, 75 degrees, but, whereas there was only one day of that temperature in the northern city, there were three consectuive days in Palmerston North on which the thermometer registered that figure. Mr A. D. McLeod was carried shoulder high through the main street of Greytown by a cheering crowd when it learned of his success at the poll in the Wairarapa last night. He was also greeted with enthusiasm at Carterton and Featherston, where he thanked the electors for the confidence thev had shown in him.

It must be something of a record to have the result of the polling for all 80 electorates decided by midnight on polling day. On this occasion, however, the state of the parties was completely revealed by this hour, although, of course, absentee votes will, when counted, alter the final figures of individual candidates to some extent.

Mrs F. McCullough, of Mangapai, was engaged in making soap in a kerosene tin when it boiled over, and, in attempting to rescue the liquid, the tin capsized and Mrs McCullough slipped. She was severely scalded by the boiling liquid on both legs and fine arm. She was taken to the Whangarei District Hospital, where her condition is reported to be satisfactory. Considerable interest was shown locally in yesterday’s election results, one of the largest crowds on record gathering outside the “Standard” office to witness the fate of candidates in the 72 electorates requiring a contest. Owing to the absence of the licensing issue and the efficient work of returning officers results came to hand promptly and were passed on with the utmost despatch by display hoarding, illuminated screen, and radio.

The fact that New Zealand still permits the practice of live pigeon shooting was condemned by Mr J. Armstead, at the annual meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Auckland. “It is a blot on New Zealand,” lie said, “that we have not yet raised our voices in condemnation of this cruel practice loudly enough to be heard in Wellington. It should have been abolished here years ago, as it has been in England and on the Continent.” In connection with the proposal put forward by the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association that the Flock House scheme should be altered to include in its benefits the sons of deceased and returned soldiers, a meeting between the executive committee of the association and Mr E. Newman, chairman of the Flock House Trustees, was arranged at the week-end (says the Otago Daily Times). Mr Newman expressed himself as being in accord with the proposal, but it was pointed out that, in view of the legal and financial difficulties which stood in the way of the scheme, nothing definite could be done at present.

A • lady elector in Palmerston North yesterday made no secret of her opinion of the Coalition and Labour Parties. Ringing one of the booths she enquired whether it was compulsory for her to vote for either candidate and receiving an answer in the negative she replied : “Well, that’s all right, because I have no time for the present Government and less for Labour.” “Well, madaine,” said the elector who answered the telephone, “all that remains for you to do is to stay at home.” The reply tickled the lady’s sense of humour as she laughed softly before placing the receiver on the hook of the telephone.