ELECTION FIGURES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23648, 4 November 1938, Page 10

ELECTION FIGURES

The information that the percentage of votes polled at the general election last month was the largest ever recorded in New Zealand will cause no surprise. The fine weather that was experienced throughout the Dominion and the completeness of the organisation on the part of both the Government and the Opposition were factors that combined to secure that the result of the election should express in unusual measure the political judgment of the people. The Labour Party is fully entitled to claim a clear-cut and impressive victory at the polls. The number of votes that was recorded in favour of its candidates was largely in excess of the number polled in support

of any party in the past. Nevertheless, the election of 53 members of its party in a House of 80 members is flattering to it. for it provides it with a parliamentary strength that is disproportionate to the number of votes that were, cast in its favour. If we omit the polling in the. Native electorates from consideration, a complete return of the polling in the 76 European constituencies shows that 917,851 valid votes were recorded. Of these 513,732 votes were given to candidates on behalf of the Government, 379,687 to Nationalist candidates, and 24,432 to Independent candidates and candidates who were not officially labelled as supporters of either the Labour or the National Party. An analysis indicates that each, of the 50 mem-

bers of the Labour Party in Parliament, who have been elected for European constituencies, represents 10.254 voters, that each of the 24 members of the National Party, similarly elected, represents 15,820 voters, and each of the Independent members represents 12,216 voters. If representation was strictly proportionate to the voting, the number of seats which the Labour Party would hold would be 43, while the National Party would hold 31, and the Independents two, or, when the Native members are added, the parliamentary strength of the Labour Party would be 46, and that of the National Party 32, leaving two seats to the Independents. Actually the House consists of 53 Labour members, 25 National members, and two Independents. It would be idle to argue that the Government has hot received a plain vote of confidence from the country, but the fact that nearly 380,000 votes were recorded in direct opposition to it is one which it cannot reasonably ignore, and is certainly entitled to a good deal of weight.

City Police Court There were no cases for hearing in the City Police Court yesterday. Waterside Workers’ Dispute The hearing of evidence from the Dunedin, Bluff, and Port Chalmers representatives in connection with the New Zealand, waterside workers' dispute was concluded at a sitting of the Conciliation Council yesterday. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr R. E Price) will leave to-day for Christchurch, where the hearing of further evidence will be commenced on Monday morning. Publicity for Tourist Resorts An up-to-date “ movie ” projector, complete with sound unit, has arrived at the Dunedin Tourist Bureau to assist with publicity work in Otago. Tht machine is a portable, compact one, and, complete with Up-to-date films, it should assist the department in advertising the scenic attractions of the Dominion. The projector and films will be available for any organisation wishing to show films or for any entertainment. South Island Main Trunk The first twelve miles of the South Island Main Trunk, from Parnassus to Hundalee, should be. ready for use by the New Year. .The temporary terminal is now under construction at Hundalee, and although six miles of line are completed beyond this point, it cannot be used until the big Amur! bluff tunnel is pierced. On the twelve miles northwards from Parnassus to Hundalee, the work already completed, apart from the many cuttings, includes the 350,000 cubic yard . Hawkeswood cutting, two bridges, each 724 ft long, of steel girders on concrete piers over the Leader and Conway Rivers; and four reinforced Concrete bridges over smaller streams. It is , anticipated that it will be about the end of 1941 before the rails are finally laid and ballasted to link up with the northern section at the Kahautara River, five miles south of Kaikoura. Kawarau Gorge Road The secretary of the Automobile Association (Otago), Mr P, F. Harre, advises that, although the reconstruction work on the Kawarau Gorge road will not be completed for some months, the road will remain open for motor traffic. During the winter months sections of it became badly cut up after rain, and some difficulty was experienced from time to time by motorists. There has been a considerable improvement in the condition of the road during the past two months, however, and while care is still necessary if weather conditions are bad, the section is easily negotiable under normal weather conditions Tha Claverly Mystery The police are still attacking the slip at Claverly in continuation of their search for Mrs Harriet Jane Patience With the assistance of public works employees they have now’been working on this slip since Monday of last week. Mrs Patience, wife of Mr Arthur John Patience, was living at the Claverly camp, where Mr Patience was employed on South Island Main Trunk construction work, and she was reported missing on October 4. Since then nothing has been heard of her. and the intensive police search was instituted at the beginning of last week. Petrol from Potatoes A useful way of disposing of the big surplus'of potatoes grown in Eire has been discovered —they are made into petrol. Motorists in Eire are, according to Mr D. H. McLean, of Caroline, Southland, who has returned from a visit to Europe, compelled to take 25 per cent, of potato petrol when buying motor spirit.

Radio Receiving Licence# Official figures made available on Wednesday show that the total number' of radio receiving licences at September 30 was 305,190, an increase of 6767 for the month, or more than 33,000 more than on the corresponding date last year. These figures show that approximately 81 per cent, of the households in the Dominion are equipped with radio receivers. Cheaper Flying The opinion,that it would be a good move if ultra-light aeroplanes were imported into New Zealand to enable men and women to learn to fly at a cheaper rate than they can at present, was expressed by Mr J. G„ Mercer managing director of Air Travel (New Zealand). Ltd., in an interview in Wellington. Although a person would not become an expert pilot on an ultralight machine, he would develop the sense of balance which was essential to anyone flying an aeroplane. Mr Mercer said. Once - this sense was gained one of the greatest obstacles which a person learning to fly had to face would be overcome. He estimated that where dual instruction was cost ing £3 10s, it’ could be reduced to at least £3 on an ultra-light aeroplane. Similarly, the cost of hiring a machine for solo flying could be reduced from £2 10s to 30s. Another factor which had to be considered with the smaller machine was that in the event of a serious accident to it the loss suffered would be less than with a more expensive aeroplane.

A Limited Divorce “This kind of divorce is a peculiar divorce,” said Mr Justice Gallon when granting the divorce petition of * wife in the Supreme Court at Auckland on Wednesday, “but it is the best that can be given to you." . The case was one of those in which, owing to the domicile of the respondent not being legally in New Zealand, the divorce decree has only a restricted application. “You will,be divorced so far as New Zealand is concerned,” his Honor said. “ I think that in other parts of the world you will remain his wife.” Veteran of Three War*

N6t content with having served in three wars, one Wellington returned soldier has applied for a , position m the Civil Reserve of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and his application has been accepted. A man of 64 years, his first experience in the firing line was with the United States infantry during the Spanish-American War of 1898. At the outbreak of the, South African War in 1899 he was a sailor in the British Mercantile Navy. Deserting his ship in Capetown, he joined uo with the Natal Field Artillery in Durban and served with them till, peaca was declared in 1902, when he was transferred to a New Zealand regiment, with which he returned to. the Dominion. On August 9, 1914, the first day volunteers were called up.on the outbreak of the Great War, he enlisted and later went with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to Samoa, and was at the landing at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. He served at Gallipoli until he was severely wounded in 1916—a bomb landing among a party of 12 and he was the only survivor.

Band Contest at Invercargill What promises to be one of the most Impressive parades of brass and highland pipe bands will be held at Rugby Park, Invercargill, to-morrow afternoon, when the Otago and Southland interprovincial B Grade contest, will be held. It is expected that, in all, 15 bands will take part. The brass bands will comprise the Waverley Boys, under the conductorship ot Mr D. Whelan, the Oamaru Mounted Rifles, conducted by Mr. G: Whale, the Gore Municipal (Mr C. E. Miller) and the Invercargill (Mr A. McMasters). The pipe bands which will be seen on parade will include Palmerston, Dunedin, Taieri, Mataura, Gore, Caledonian (Invercargill), and Western Districts. An additional attraction will be the half-hour military display to be given by the Southland Regiment and bugle bands from the Southland Boys' High School and the Southland Technical College. The army transport- of the Southern Military District will also be open for inspection in the park, Selection and hymn tests will be held In the Civic Theatre in the evening. Cancer Conference; i, Delegates from Australia and-New Zealand will hold the first AustraliaNew Zealand Cancer Conference in Wellington between February 15 and 18 next year. ' For the last nine years ah annual conference of those .interested in the conquest of cancer has been held in one of the principal cities of Australia, under the auspices of the Commonwealth Government, which suggested that, 1 New Zealand should take a, part in the organising of them. The proposal found willing acceptance in the Dominion, which has always been represented at the Australian gatherings, and the coming conference will be conducted by the- New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, under the auspices and with the co-operation of the New Zealand Government Sir James Elliott president of the Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, will preside, and one of, the most prominent delegates will be Dr P. A. Maguire; a leading Sydney surgeon, who, is especially interested, 'ln caiicer, ", X

Armistice Day Observance A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that a notice respecting the observance of Armistice Day appeared in, .the Gazette . last night. Citizens and traffic-control authorities are earnestly requested to observe the practice adopted-in New Zealand on former similar occasions of two minutes’ silence at 11 a.m. and the suspension of all vehicular traffic during that period. Where, a service is held it is suggested that it be, at the local cenotaph dr war memorial as the case may be. ■ , ■

Expenditure of Tourist* Information concerning the expenditure of a tourist party from. Honolulu, which visited' the South Island last winter, is given by Mr J. J. Pollard, director of the South Islands Travel Association,, in a report to be presented to the annual conference of the association in Christchurch to-day. “The total expenditure Of the party in the South Island,” Mr Pollard states, “was over £2OOO, and.of this sum more than' £6OO was spent in shops, One member of the party took back a side of bacon, another took a whole cheese. They bought woollen rugs in the South Island, and. invested a considerable sum in books, and souvenirs. Owing to the quantity of their purchases some of-them bought,additional suitcases before leaving New Zealand. It is known, too,, that in one country store they spent over £6 in a very little while. , ; i These facts give some indication of the manner in which the expenditure is distributed by a party touring through the island.”