ELECTION DAY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 196, 23 September 1914, Page 4

ELECTION DAY.

Writes "Douchere" in the "Australasian": — "I'll only keep you just one moment," said the lady we were taking to the polling-booth. So we waited twenty, and then she came out, prepared for any emergency. "You know," she began hurriedly, "T really didn't intend to vote at all this time,

but one or two of my-friends said they would, so I said I supposed I -might as well, and now I 'll have to ask you to tell me the names of those poor dear men. I used to be able to remember better, but somehow I do forget what I'm told nowadays; And then, you see, I've been.so fearfully upset about the war —I have always said that Russia was bound to declare war on England—oh, yes, Germany, of course. And then, you know, you never know how it will all end—l'd never be surprised to hear that France was asking for a piece of England, and .there'd be trouble over that. Not that I read the war news. My husband is in the Line, you know, and he says that you simply can't believe a tenth of what is in the papers. And then, what with having sickness in the house —well, you know what that is. Yes, indeed, I have been up night and day for nearly a I really was afraid I should lose my dear little pet! " And the poor lady heaved a sigh. "Oh, is this where we vote — ; what a funnylooking place, but I was telling you about the anxiety I had had about poor darling Ponto, and—but do tell me now who lam to vote for? You can't? Why, how absurd. What was the use of bringing me iiere if you won't tell me what to do now I'm here."

Here an official took charge of the poor bewildered voter, and led her away to her proper table, where she again asked to be told how to vote, and on it being explained to her that no information as to names could be given., she said sweetly that "She didn't think that she would bother about it to-day, thanks, and she was so much obliged for the nice motor drive she had had." She bowed politely, and we saw her r no more. .

The presiding officer was courtesy incarnate—he was also young. He blushed to the roots of his hair when-he had to ask a very youthful voter was she of an age to vote. It was suggested that if he asked the same question of ladies of more mature years he would gain friends for life, but he seemed to feel that his official dignity might be impaired by action of this kind, and! declined firmly. He felt that he was interfering between men and their wives when he told various good ladies that they must not communicate with their husbands with regard to their votes, and it spoke well for his moral courage that he was able to ask (audibly) whether certain powerful-looking voters had exercised their votes before in this election, especially having regard to the

offended manner in which the question ■was answered.

An elderly lady approached the table. <'Your name, madam?'' said the presiding officer. "Now, phwat, dear," said the lady in a rich Irish voice that just matched her face; "no.w phwat might .be the name of the gintleman ". "But your own name, madam?" said the officer in charge of the table. "But that's jist phwat I'm wanting to know, and could you tell me the name of the gintleman I 'in to vote for ? " "I can give you no information of that kind, madam,'' said the presiding a trifle severely. What is your own name?" "O'Rafferty, dear; that'<s what is is. Mi ss O'Eafferty it is." However, even with the added clue of the "Miss," the lady was not to be found on the roll, so she departed, evidently very distrustful of polling booths in general, and the poor, harassed presiding officer in particular. It was growing late, and the air in the polling booth, thick at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, was nearly opaque at 7.45. There had been a little breathing space after a rush of voters, and the scrutineers and officials at the end table were chatting amiably together, the Labour lion lending the Liberal lamb his pen knife wherewith to sharpen her scrutineering peaeil. On this peace broke in a gentleman with an alcoholic impediment in his speech and walk. "I vote Labour every time," he announced firmly; "I do." His look challenged all and sundry to disprove his words, but there was" apparently no one to take him up. He leaned nearer to the presiding officer —; "So if.vou'll just tell me which Labour on these .things" (he tapped his ballot-papers), "I'll just fix it up." After discussing the situation from all standpoints, and .being refused any assistance other t than the printed directions fixed to the walls, the voter asked the way out, aud an official told him "just to follow himself straight, ahead," to which advice he was heard to remark that "it wasn't as easy as it looked."

Three minutes more—two minutes more—at last 8 o'clock, and voters, extra scrutineers, all but those poor, devoted souls who had counting to do, were free to go-home, thanking Heaven fervently as they went that the elec\ tions were over as far as they were concerned till the next time.