THE OFFICIAL COUNT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19168, 6 November 1925, Page 12

THE OFFICIAL COUNT.

SCRUTINY OF THE ROLLS.

VERY MANY ABSENT VOTES.

WORK AHEAD OF OFFICIALS.

A good deal of interest attaches to t' e official count of the votes recorded at t!u> election on Wednesday. Although there ar.e only a few seats which have been won by small margins, yet some difference to the totals is always made on the official count. It includes all absentee votes and seamen's permits. The results will, probably be available at the beginning of next week. Before the official count takes place, a scrutiny of the rolls has to be carried out, and in most electorates this work was commenced yesterday, when officials had a long and tiring task. The object of the search is to discover any instances of duplicate voting. It may bo of interest to any misguided person who recorded his vote at two or more polling places to know that not even one of his voting papers will bo allowed, but all will be treated as informal. After the work of scrutiny has been completed, the official count will be commencedi Absentee voting papers are being posted to their correct electorates and will bo included in the counting. There are a large number of such votes. In Auckland East, for example, the returning officer has been advised by telegram that 600 absent votes for Auckland East were exercised in various parts of tho district. Similarly, there are over 400 in Auckland West and 300 in Auckland Central. Seamen's permits have also to bo token into consideration. The election writs are returnable in Wellington by Thursday, so that all the work of scrutiny and of counting will have to be completed by Wednesday lo allow tho writs to be received in W T ellIpgton bv the closing day. The official count in the licensing referendum will be dealt with after the election figures have been disposed of. Representatives of the parties concerned will bo present as scrutineers ABSENTEE VOTERS. THE PRIVILEGE ABUSED. ELECTORS SAVE TRAM RIDES. Electoral returning officers predict that a change will be made in the law governing Voting by absentees. Formerly permits had to be obtained prior to the election from the returning officer of the specific district, and in practice only a small percentage of absentees did record their votes. " The recent amendment allowing absentees to vote at any booth in any part of New Zealand has increased the " absent " vote considerably,, but in the city, rights wero claimed under it in a Very unreasonable fashion. Hundreds of voters, to savo themselves a short walk or a twopenny ride in a tram, demanded their right at the nearest booth. Objections were sometimes raised by returning officers on the ground of pressure of work, but they had no power to refuse to issue ballot papers to any so-called absent voter who complied with the formalities. In each case an urgent telegram had to be sent to the chief returning officer of the electorate in question, and at a very late hour on. Wednesday such advices were still, arriving at certain offices. It certainly is a ridiculous use of the law for a voter of Parneli to Claim an absentee vote in Auckland East, or an elector of Auckland West to make such a demand in Newton. Such things occurred, however, and in view of tho volume of work that has thereby been piled up for the Electoral Department, it will not be surprising if the law is again amended to prevent a very important law being abused in such a manner. SAIPARA , ELECTORS. PRIME MINISTER'S THANKS. Tby telegraph.—own correspondent. ] DARGAVILLE. Thursday. When the final results were made known last evening Mr. C. J. Carrington, chairman of the Hon. J. G. Coates' executive, read the following message from the Prime Minister to the electors of Kaipara: "I tender my sincere thanks for the very handsome majority with which you have returned me. I realise how much my success is due to the work you have done in my interests. To my splendid committees, I am especially grateful, but for all concerned I have nono but the heartiest thanks. Good wishes to you all. To my opponent, Mr. Barnard, 1 offer my congratulations on the sporting spirit in which he has fought the election." UNDISTURBED BALANCE. OPPORTUNITY TO GOVERN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Thursday. In a brief statement Mr. J. A. Young said the verdict of the country was particularly satisfactory. The greatest need of New Zealand to-day was a Government firm in resolution to do those things it believed to be in the best interests of the people, and at the same time was sufficiently well supported in Parliament to enable it ,to give effect to its policy and administer the affairs of the State without fear or favour of any political group that might aim to control tho balance of power. Mr. Coates had now, as it were, a carte blanche from the people to reorganise his executive affairs and legislate in the direction of giving expression to his views as sot out in his manifesto.