VOTING AT THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12618, 23 March 1903, Page 4 (Supplement)

VOTING AT THE GENERAL ELECTION.

(From Oub Owx Co'lrkspoxdext.) ■ WKr.L-rXGTON, March 3. An interostini; supplement to the Year Book has just been issued from the oflico of the Registrar-general giving particulars of the- voting at the Inst general election. The total number of Kuroneau voters on the rolls was 415.789 out of a total adult population estimated at 429.3=5. These figures give a proportion of E6.83 per cent, of adults who were registered m eleetovs ncraimt 9fi.7S- at- the previous election in 1880.-95.il in 1895, and 91.93 in 1893. The mimlwr of pi>r-ons who voted ov whn.wcnt to the poll was 318,859, or 76.69 per rent, of the number on the rolls, a sliehtlv smaller

proportion than obtained in M 9, which was 77.59 per rent. The munl]<>r ef inen 0:1 flio rolls was 229,845, or only 3757 short of tho Ail] number of adult ninle? in Iho colony as estimated for the day of the clcciion. The malts who voted id' 1902 were- 180,294, or 73.44 per cent, of those on the rolls, apainst 79.06 per cent, in 18S9. Tho Spires relating to women show that a. lesser proportion (94.97 ner cent.) of adults were. registered as electors in 1902 than in 1899-95.24 per cent. The number of women who voted (138,565) is 74.52 per cent, of the females on •tho rolls, while in 1899 there were 119.550 who voted, giving the higher proportion of 75.70 por cent., so that (assuming the figures to ho correct) there is no evidence of aireaier willingness now on tho pare of tho females to go to the poll.

P.irliculars are given for the four city electorates where the electors have the ricrht of voting for three members. The number of votes ('xercisal)lc is more than 28,000 in exe»ss of those recorded, so that some of the electors evidently voted for only one or two candidates. For the two northern cities (Auckland and Wellington) in the number of electors on the rolls and the number who recorded their votes the males exceeded the females, while for the two city electorate. 1 ! in the South Island (Chrfetohurch and Dunedin) the women voters outnumbered the men.

In 13 instances the .'deposits of candidates were forfeited, the number of votes received in each case having been less than one-tenth of the number polled by the succcseful candidate. One candidate, the Rev. F. W. Isitt, was nominated for 10 separate districts, and one, Mr D. TVhyte, for two districts.

The' occupations of members elected in 1902 show an increase in the number of the representatives of the farmer class as compared with 1099. The table also shows that farmers or runholders furnish mo/e members than any other class of occupation. There were 21 of these (bceides four given as " settlers") returned in 1902. There wers 10 barristers or solicitors, and five journalists. Tho number of members returned in 1902 was 76, against 70 in 1896 and 1699. Referring to the Maori elections, the Registrar-general says:—"Of a Maori population amounting to 43,143 persons at the cenws'of 1901 14,271 voted at the general oloction hold:in December. 1902, an increase of 643 on the number who voted at the election of 1899. In 1893 the voters numbered 11.269, or 1739 persons fewer than in 1896, when 33.000 Maoris recorded their votes, while at the general election held in December. ITO.- the mirnbor of Mnoris who voted was 13,628. As the Native, population increased but slightly between 1891 and 1901 it would apnear that Maoris are takinc more interest as to their representation in Parliament than formerly, or, perhaps, there is now more convenience for attending to voto or a better knowledge of political affairs."