CASTING TOTE VERDICT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20114, 27 November 1928, Page 10

CASTING TOTE VERDICT.

BAY OF ISLANDS POSITION. A MAGISTERIAL RECOUNT. PROCEEDINGS THIS WEEK. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] KAIKOHE, Monday As tho result of an application by supporters of tho Country Party, Mr. J. 11. Lusford, S.M., will hold at Kawakav.a next Thursday a magisterial recount of tho votes polled in tho Bay of Islands electorate in tho Parliamentary election. After tho official recount last Thursday, it was announced that Mr. 11. M. Rushworth (Country Party) had been returned by a majority of one vole. Next day, however, six further uncounted papers were found and these gave Mr. Allen Bel] (Reform) three votes and Mr. Rushworth two, one papei being declared informal. These, added to the announced totals, gave Mr Bell and Mr. Rushworth an equal number of votes, whereupon the returning officer gave his casting vote in favour of Mr. Bell and declared him elected. MEMBER FOR PARNELL. " SICK OF PARTY POLITICS." TRIBUTE BY ELTHAM PEOPLE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Monday A public function, unique in the history of Eltham was held at the Town Hall this irioruing, when a civic reception was accorded to Mr. H. R. Jenkins, M.P. for Parnell, who was the first while child born in tho district, and who spent hi 3 early life in Eltham. He is a son of Mr. T. H. Jenkins, a well-known resident of Eltham, who on Saturday celebrated his 80th birthday, and who was present at the gathering which conferred honour on his son. The Mayor, Mr. I. J. Bridger, presided, and among those present v.ero Sir Walter Carncioss, Speaker of the Legislative Council, and Lady Camcross, and Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. for Eginont. The Mayor offered the congratulations of the district to Mr. Jenkins. It was Hip first occasion upon which a son of Eltham had attained the position of a member of Parliament.

Sir Walter Carncross, in extending his felicitations, candidly admitted he did not expect Mr. Jenkins to beat such a strong opponent, and he deserved very great credit. Sir Walter dwelt upon the gla inour of political life, and said although he had had to strain his conscience occasionally in voting on party lines his advice to tno new member was that ho would find party was all-powerful. In reply Mr. Jenkins said Auckland had not been represented by the right type of politician, lie was more of an Independent in politics, aud ho was heartily tick of party politics. He had pledged himself to vote out the Government, as he believed it had failed. He agreed that if he wanted to achieve things ho would have to belong to a party, but he did not, desire to do that at the expense of his better feelings and his conscience. He had been asked to stand as an Independent Reformer, but- he felt he could not go in to support the Government, and so ho had come out and fought tho election on those linc-j. In thanking the Eltham people for tlioir congratulations Mr. Jenkins announced his gift of a building for use by tho Plunket Society. MR. COATES' PARTY. CAUCUS ON WEDNESDAY. [EY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Monday. A caucus of the Reform Party will be held iu Wellington on Wednesday.