VOTING TO-DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26093, 5 March 1946, Page 6

VOTING TO-DAY

HEAVY POLL EXPECTED Voters in the Raglan electorate will go to the polls to-day to make their choice between the National Party candidate, Mr H. Johnstone, and the Labour Party candidate, Mr A. C. Baxter, to fill the seat rendered vacant by the death of the former member for the district, Mr R. Coulter. Few by-elections in recent times have attracted the lively interest which has been shown in Raglan (says the New Zealand Herald), and, given a fine day. a heavy poll is expected. When the Labour Party opened its campaign nearly a month ago with a visit from the Acting Prime Minister, Mr W Nash, it was evident from the large attendances that there was none of the apathy which has marked other by-elections. Crowded meetings have not been confined to the larger centres such as Huntly, Ngaruawahia, and Raglan, but the audiences at many of the smaller and isolated townships have been larger than at a general election The enthusiasm can probably be attributed to the fact that it is a straight-out contest between the two main parties, to the coming general election and to the fact that so many Ministers and leading members of the House of Representatives have participated in the campaign. Both parties have treated the byelection with every seriousness probably seeing in the result a pointer to the general election. In addition to the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, the Labour Party will have called upon four Cabinet Ministers and thred members to assist its candidate, while the National candidate has been aided by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr S. G Holland, and six members. Both parties have organised with amazing zeal emphasising the urgent nee ; d for every vote to be cast. If there is not a record poll to-day, it will not be the fault of the organisers. The reason for the diligent work ot both parties is explained by the fact that Mr Coulter had a majority of only 108 votes over his National opponent at the 1943 general election. The voting then was: R. Coulter (Labour) 4817. R. J. Glasgow (National) 4709, A. Dillon (Democratic Labour) 289, S. Bur t° n (Real Democracy Movement) 221. informal 90. With a total vote of 10 126 only 780 electors refained from exercising their franchise. In 1943 a total of 780 ex-servicemens votes were recorded, 382 for Mr Coulter, 322 for Mr Glasgow, and 76 distributed between the two other candidates and informal. For the present contest the roll has closed with a total of 12,340. or 1434 more than in 1943.