ELECTION AT THE CHATHAMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18758, 11 January 1923, Page 5

ELECTION AT THE CHATHAMS

/ KEEN ISLANDERS. LONG> JOURNEY TO VOTE. X (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 10. The deputy rotinning officer at the Chathams has forwaialed to the department her© an interesting report on the voting for the general election. This was the first occasion on which the islanders had the privilege of voting at a Maori or European and a licensing poll. The weather was fine and this gave the electors residing at a distance a chance to avail themselves of the new privilege. Some old people voted for the first lime in their lb es, others for the first time for many years, and many young people for the first time since their coming 6f age. AH seemed pleased that at last they had in this respect been placed on equality with the residents on the mainland. The majority of the electors rode many miles on horseback to the polling booths, some as far as 30 to 40 miles over unformed roads. One. .old gentleman walked 11 miles to the poll Jind ll miles back. Most of those on the main island who were eligible to vote did so. The total number on the roll was 92 and only 10 did not vot^. Great, interest was taken in the official results from the mainland electorates which were received by wireless messages—a. privilege that was greatly appreciated. Although this was the first occasion on which many voted it is interesting to not© that there was not a single informal vole recorded, and there was not a single invalid or doubtful vote. Tho result of the poll wns— MTMrt.ney, R.. (Reform) 64 M‘Combs. J. (Labour) 18