SOME CLOSE POLLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 14

SOME CLOSE POLLING.

BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT.

MARGIN OF ONE VOTE.

TIE FOR SOUTHERN * MAORI. PARTY STRENGTHS UNCHANGED. Tho Country Party candidate in the Buy of Islands, Mr. H. M. Ruslnvorth, is leading tho retiring Government member, Mr. Allen Bell, by ono vote. The result was announced last evening on tho completion of tho official count, and the returning officer, Mr. 11. C. Blundell, of Kawakawa, lias declared the leading candidate elected. The figures are.: — BAY OP ISLANDS. H. M. Ruslnvorth (C.) .. 3837 Allen Bell (G.) .. .. 3836 R, E. Hornblow (Lib.-Lab.) 351 Majority for Rushworth 1 On tho night of tho election Mr, Rushworth had a' majority of 66 votes over Mr. Bell. The counting of tho absentee and postal votes has reduced his majority to one. It is practically certain a recount will lie demanded. Provision Tor Recount. Provision is madi for a recount of votes in tho Electoral Act, 1927, section 151 of which states that where any candidato has reason to believe that the public declaration by tho returning officer of the number of vptes received by such candidate is incorrect and that on a recount lie~ might be found to be elected, tho candidate may within three, days after the declaration of the poll apply to a magistrate for a recount. Tho application must be accompanied by a deposit of £2O. Tho recount is to tako place a3 goon possible, but the magistrate is required to give at least two days' notice. ,Tho recount must be taken in tho presence of the magistrate or of an officer appointed by him. If the original count is found to be incorrect tho magistrate is required to declare elected tho candidate who receives the highest number of votes on the recount. He may also make an order as to costs, and, subject to the order, shall direct the candidate's deposit to bo returned. Production ol Ballot Papers.

Tho returning officer is required to produce all the used ballot-papers with a certificate stating the total number used at the election. If the magistrate finds that any of tho used ballot-papers have been lost, stolen or in any way interfered with during the interval' between tho official count and the recount, tlitv official count by the returning officer shall b-3 deemed correct and tho result of the election declared accordingly. On at least three previous occasions members of the New Zealand Parliament have been elected by a majority.of only one vote. In 1890 tho late Mr. R. H. J. Reeves was re-elected for Inangahua, ; a constituency,* since absorbed, by one vote, receiving; HO3 votes against 1102 recorded in favbuiv of his opponent, Mr. John Drake/ In 1899 the late Mr. John Bollard defeated the late Mr. Malcolm Niccol for Eden by the same narrow margin and at the same election the Hon. G. W. Russell defeated the Hon. W. • Rolleston for Iliccarton by ono vote.

It is probable that the Bay of'lslands recount, if it takes place, will be conducted before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., at Kawakawa.

There was an interesting development in tho pontest for the Southern Maori seat, the official count disclosing a tie between the United and Ratana Party candidates. Tho returning officer gave his casting vote in favour of the former candidate, who, on the day of the elee tion, was declared to have a lead of ono yoto. Mr. Donald's Majority. By a margin of 37 votes Mr. J. B. Donald has won tho Auckland East sent for the United Party against tho retiring Labour 'member, Mr. J. A. Lee. The official count was completed yesterday, showing that Mr. Donald's majority had been reduced by 199 votes since the night of * tho election. The final result is as follows: _, AUCKLAND EAST. Ji B. Donald (U.) ~. 4254 J: A. Leo (L.) .. .. 4217 Mrs. C. E. Maguirs (G.) ~ 2274 Majority for Donald . 37 Tho preponderance of absent votes and feameiVs rights went in favour of Mr. Lee. The'votes were distributed as follows:—Absentee: Mr. Donald, 134; Mr. Lee, 253.; Mrs. Maguire, 135. Postal: Mr. Donald, 38; Mr. Lee, 30;. Mrs. Maguire, 42. Seamen: Mr. Donald, 14; Mr. Lee, 63; Mrs. .Maguire, 4. Declarations: Mr. Donald, 5; Mr. Lee, 17. A total of 10,965 valid votes were cast, or 81.16 of the possible. Informal votes numbered 220. In Hauraki Mr. A. W. Hall, the Government candidate, has improved his lead by 34 votes since the initial count on election night. The result is : HAURAKI. A, W. Hall (G.) .. ~ 3826 - E. Allan (U.) .. . 2935 C. R. Petrio (L.) " / .. 2411 ) Majority for Hall *. 891 The official count gives the following Additional votes:—Absentee: Mr. Hall, 169; Mr. Allan, 157; Mr. Pctrie, 166. Postal: Mr. Hall. 39; Mr. Allan,' 21; Mr. Petrie, 22. Seamen: Mr. Petrio, 4. Declarations: Mr. Hall, 5; Mr. Allan, 1; Mr. Petrie, 2. There were 54 informal .votes. The Rotorua Electorate. The official count in the Rotorua ele;tnrate shows that Mr. Clinkard, tho United candidate, has a majority of 200 over Mr. Hockly, the Government candidate, who previously held tho seat. The returns on the, night of tho election gave Mr. Clinkard a lead of 184 with 450 votes outstanding. The final figures arc:—

ItOTORUA. 0. H. Clinkard (U.) . . 3617 F. F. Ilockly (0.) . . .. 3417 A. (jr. Christopher ( L ) fir-q S. H. Judd (C.) .. . , 624 Majorily for Clinkard , 2CO i Messrs. Christopher and .Turld . forfeit thoir deposits. The Wallace sent, in Southland has been retained by Mr. Adam . Hamilton, Government candidate, by a margin of °"ly 19 votes. The count on the night of the election gnvo liini a lead of 133 over (ho Unjted Party candidate, Mr. W. E. Taylor. Tho final figures are:— WALLACE. A. Hamilton (0.) 4359 W. E. Taylor (U.) . , 4340 U. Pulley (Lib.) .. .. 139 Majority for Hamilton . . 19 The strength of the parties in the House is unchanged by yesterday's final counts. position of parties. Tliq position of the parties r,f ||, e Houso, including the few doubtful seats, v(hicli are provisionally credited to the loading caudidatcs, is now:— Reform. .. .. . 28 United 27 r ,Labour .. .. ..19 Country Independent tt 5 Tolal 1. g g ». 80