How Whangarei Followed The Contest

Northern Advocate, 27 September 1943, Page 1 (Supplement)

How Whangarei Followed The Contest

‘T have travelled all over the world, but I have never seen a more detailed and interesting result board in a provincial town anywhere in my travels,” Mr J. F. Joubert, formerly of South Africa, told an “Advocate” reporter on Saturday night when he watched the results of the Dominion polling recorded.

Stating that his father was a formei member of the South African Parliament, Mr Joubert said that he had alv/ays been interested in politics, and apart from the fact that the board was well set out and well lit, it reflected great credit on the newspaper management and staff and the town of Whangasei. Despite intermittent showers which fell throughout the night, a large crowd assembled in Water Street outside the “Northern Advocate” office at 7 p.m., remaining until after 1 a.m. When the rain became heavy, the crowd moved in a mass to the shelter of shop verandahs in the vicinity, moving back before the notice-board as soon as the rain eased. The results from individual booths of the Marsden electorate were received regularly from 7.15 onwards, details being broadcast over a loudspeaker system and also displayed on the result board. As the booth figures were received there was at first little reaction from the crowd, but when Mr Barclay took the lead with the recording of the Whangarei Town Hall votes, there was great cheering among his supporters. It was not long, however, before Mr Murdoch’s selection seemed assured, and, with the announcing of each increase in his lead, enthusiasm grew.

When the final figures for Marsden were announced and immediately posted, it was obvious that the decision met with the approval of the majority of the crowd. As the three candidates mounted the olatform in front of the notice-board, the crowd cheered, calling “Good old Fred,” “Hard luck, Jim,” and gave Mr Murdoch and his two unsuccessful oponents considerable applause at the inclusion of their brief remarks. On Tie call of Mr Murdoch, three hearty ■heers were given Mr Barclay and Mr Petty. Meanwhile progress results from all iver the Dominion were being received md as soon as the Marsden contestants ’eft the platform, they were mobbed by their own individual supporters vho offered congratulations to the sueessful candidate and condolences to Mr Barclay and Mr Petty. What Allies Thought

Labour had, at that stage, attained a lead of 10 seats to 4, each successive seat won by either the Labour or National Party being greeted with cheering by the party supporters. Attracted by the cheering and music from the loud-speaker system, a number of Allied servicemen came from the vicinity of Bank Street to see the fun. “It sure is fun, buddy,” one of them told a member of the “Advocate” staff. “I don’t know who the Labour or National johnnies are, but it sure is a swell scrap.” This remark was passed when__ the prospects of the Labour Party'&id not mpear to be too healthy, Labour hav:ng obtained 34 seats to the National °arty’s 30. The crowd also seemed to hink it a “swell scrap.” for even after midnight, over 200 people remained landing in light rain to watch the final outcome. 1 ®

For a period of over 20 minutes no ’uriher final results were received, the of any further figures, apart from progressive results, only heightening the anxietv of the onlookers. Iffien in rapid succession oame several fsnali<=ed returns, both fhe parties increasing their number of elected member* u«til tb« final figures of Labour 43, National 36 and Independent 1 were ported +o the board at 1 a.m. Ten minutes later the crowd had largely dispersed, though cars continnallv stopped before the building. yv n Fimdav email groups continually verified the" fibres they had gleaned from their radios bv studving the board, a number beino 1 putmed busily making notes of individual candidate’s totals. .