ELECTOTAL RECORD

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

ELECTOTAL RECORD

handling of returns. COMPILATION in PALMERSTON C NORTH. The compilation of vote totals at ti ; centre last evening established a roc.,: for speed of handling. Word has be. received from Wellington that i. Palmerston electoral returns were u.., first in the Dominion, with the exec, tion or" Wellington itself, to be .- ceived at the Chief Electoral Otiu final return for Palmerston was received by the returning officer her at 754 p.m. Had the telephone bci : used Wellington would have been j. prised of the result by 7.00 p.m., tv.., minutes ahead of the W ellington souc, figures, which arrived at i.-ji p.m. Even by using the ordinary ten. graph system the Palmerston electorate figures were the first comply-n for New Zealand, apart from V t . lington South, and, including that electorate, with its advantage or be.ng handy to the head office, Palmerston claims second position. Great credit is due to the poling deputies at this centre for their i;vwork, and the figures were handle! with remarkable despatch by Mr ii, B. Reid, the returning officer. Simui. taneously with the arrival of booth nsuits, progressive totals for the whoj.j electorate were maintained, not .t moment being lost. .... Complete returns indicate 11,801 votes were cast in this electorate, including 59 informal. The total recorded locally was 11,069, but to these a further 732 have to be add-d. The latter figures comprise 566 absentee, 165 postal and one seaman's vote. The analysis of these votes to ascertain which candidate they fav. our is not finished. The official recount will probably commence in two days, and should occupy a day and a-half.

MR FORBES INTERVIEWED

A PATRIOTIC RESPONSE.

(By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 3.

AVhen the election returns were coin, pleted to a point showing that the Gov. ment would enjoy a two-to-one major* itv, the Prime Alinister, Rt. Hon. G. A\b Forbes, in an interview with the “Standard’s” correspondent expres.-cd his satisfaction at the emphatic verdict of the country in favour of the Coalition principle during a time of emergency. “AVe went to the country with a policy which was entirely devoid of pro. mises or inducements,” said Air Forho. “AVe could only inform the electors that our policy would be to secure sound finance and balance the national Budget, these things being the most urgent. Ranged against that were the promises of the Labour Party of borrowing, of the restoration of all economies already effected, including the restoration of the Public Service salary cuts, and that everyone who had sutfered in any way would be relieved if the Labour Government took office; altogether a policy of an appeal to tha selfish instincts of the people. “However, the Coalition Government made its national appeal on higher grounds. AA’e asked all sections to bear any additional burdens which might ba placed on them in our efforts to achieve sound finance, and a clear endorso* ment has been given by the people. “There is evidence in the return of the Government candidates regardless of their old party allegiance that tha two parties in the Coalition have worked whole-heartedly for the common ideal. Generally speaking, there has been a loyal adoption of the Coalition spirit by the electors themselves, with the result achieved, which, is all tha more encouraging, because we knout that it has been done in the true national spirit. AA’e now feel that we can rely on the people seeing us through the difficult task which lies ahead."

“No, I cannot rest,”" replied Air Forbes, when asked about his future plans. “Just a day at home, and Cabinet work must be resumed, as a number of urgent questions await a decision. It is too early yet to discuss the date of the next session.”