POLITICS IN CHATHAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18295, 11 January 1923, Page 8

POLITICS IN CHATHAMS.

KEEN INTEREST AROUSED. HEAVY VOTING AT POLL. , A GOVERNMENT STRONGHOLD 0t lELEOEAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.) WELLESGTOX, Wednesday. The deputy-returning officer at the 3 Chatharas has forwarded to the department here an interesting report on the { voting for the general election. This was , the first occasion on which the islanders had the privilege of voting at a Maori. , a European, and a licensing poll. They are included in the Lyttelton electorate. ' The weather was fine and this gave i electors residing at a distance a chance to . avail themselves of the new privilege. Some old people voted for the first time in their lives; others for the first time for many years; and many young people for the "first time since their coming of ! age. All seemed pleased that at last they . had in this respect been placed on an , equality with the residents of the mainland. The majority of the electors rode many miles on horseback to the polling-booths, soma as far as 30 or 40 miles over unformed roads, and one old gentleman walked 11 miles to the poll and li miles back. Most of those on the main island who were eligible to vote did so. The total number on the roll was 92 and only ten ■ did not vote. Great interest was taken' in [. the official results from the mainland electorates, which were received by. wireless messages, a privilege that was greatly , appreciated. Although this was the first occasion on which many voted it is interesting to note . that there "was not a single informal vote recorded. There was not a single invalid or doubtful vote. The result of the poll was;—R. Macartney {G.l, 64; J. Mc- ! Combs (L.), 18. ,