CITY CROWD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23170, 17 October 1938, Page 8

CITY CROWD

[WATCHING RESULTS THE HERALD SERVICE - QUEEN STREET THRONGED DISPLAY OF ENTHUSIASM Drawn to Queen Street by a desire fo follow closely and in detail the progress of the election, and also of the licensing and local option polls, a crowd that at its maximum comprised about 4000 people assembled outside the Herald office on Saturday right. A screen, on to which results were projected as soon as they came to hand, had been erected in Queen Street,. aiid loud-speakers were installed for the-benefit of those outside easy range of the screen. Packed shoulder to shoulder in Queen Street, and extending more than halfway up Wyndham Street, the crowd remained at full strength from about 7.30 o'clock until the position of the parties was determined beyond question. One© tho result was definite, interest flagged, and with the conclusion of screening after 11 o'clock the crowd rapidly drifted away, leaving Queen and Wyndham Streets littered with newspapers, paper bags that had once contained food, fruit or sweets, cigarette packets, and general rubbish. The litter was removed from the streets yesterday morning, leaving no traces of the election crowd. Cheering Supporters It was a mixed crowd, with Labour fcupporters predominating. Early results were cheering to ardent wearers of red ribbons and emblems, and the Labour followers shouted themselves hoarse as city figures began to come in, showing a likely return of most sitting candidates. There was a prompt change of tune srhen returns from a number of country electorates showed National Party candidates 'to be leading, the vigorouscheering giving place to equally vigorous hodting, accompanied by the applause of the minority. The final return for Auckland West, showing the return of the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, by an overwhelming majority, was the signal for repeated cheering. Hats were thrown in the air, red ribbons flourished, and even a few dance steps essayed by those who had room to move. Opposition Leader Early returns from Wallace, the Hon. A. Hamilton's seat, which showed his Labour'opponent to be leading at one stage, were also bailed with delight by the bulk of the crowd, the fewer National supporters having the final cheer when Sir. Hamilton was shown to have been returned. sketches and cartoons with an appropriate political flavour >ere shown on the screen between 'the series of results!, and the crowd, which was thoroughly good-humoured, laughed and cheered impartially as the leaders of the rival parties were happily caricatured. The crowd was always orderly and the many policemen' on duty seldom lad need to take their attention from the screen. .The prohibition of vehicular traffic in Queen Street and certain other streets enabled, pedestrians to wander freely, and to 1 * block the main thoroughfare with impunity.