In The Political Arena.

Southland Times, Issue 12768, 29 November 1893, Page 2

In The Political Arena.

[By Telegraph.] Wellington, Nov. 28. The Trades and Labour Council and the Labour Liberal Convention are very angry at Ministers for speaking at Mr McDonald’s meeting last night and not at theirs. They say it is a slap at them and forbear to criticise the Premier’s conduct. The elections were very orderly, and there was no drunkenness. Women canvassers were numerous and zealous, and outstripped their male competitors’ efforts to capture votes. Most of them maintained a position in front of the booths all day long. In one instance the zeal of the touts was rather too aggressive, and the police removed them, men and women both, from the door of the booth, which they had choked up, and forced them to carry on their operations in the street. There was a tremendous rush early in the morning at Clyde Quay school, where the poll clerks were quite unable to cope with the demands on them, but the pressure eased off gradually. At the booth in Cuba street one excited partisan mounted the roof and began a harangue, which was checked by the appearance of two men who tried to pull him down. He clung to the flag pole and defied their efforts for some time, but eventually the pole snapped and all three tumbled ignominiously behind the parapet. The women voted freely, especially at the Skating Rink, which, with one or two other booths, was tacitly set aside for them, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy their first appearance in the political arena.

Auckland, Nov. 28. The greatest interest was shown in the contest, the women polling well, and the greatest good humour prevailed- No vestige .of rowdyism or a man the worse of liquor was seen on the streets. The women received every courtesy at the approaches to • the polling booths, and their presence seemed to have an excellent effect. There were women’s electoral committees at every polling booth, and it was the best conducted and most orderly general election we have had. Christchurch, Nov. 28. The polling in this electorate was conducted quietly, but with great earnestness. The Prohibitionists polled strongly immediately the booths were opened and thereafter there was a constant throng at every booth. The female voters were very slow in exercising their new duties and early in the afternoon some apprehensions were felt that ail would not be able to poll. The pressure slacked towards the closing hour and nobody was disappointed. The women polled well and the men apparently more fully than at any previous election. The prohibitionist women were extremely emphatic in insisting on the claims of their candidates at the entrances to the booths, but with this exception the proceedings differed nothing , from c’ections conducted under the old Act, the presence of women exciting not the slightest remark. In the suburban electorates the women also polled strongly. Dunedin, Nov. 28. The elections iu the city and suburbs were conducted in a very orderly manner. The polling was steady from the hour of opening, but in the city all parties seemed to have exhausted their voting strength before the hour of closing, the last half hour being exceptionally quiet.