GREY BY-ELECTION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1339, 29 May 1918, Page 9 (Supplement)

GREY BY-ELECTION.

POLL TAKES PLACE TO-DAY. [Special to The Sun.] GREYMOUTH, May 20. There is ideal weather for the byelection. The number of votes recorded so far (2.30 p.m.) is very small, but it is expected that the great bulk of the electors will record their votes between three and seven

o'clock. There is only a moderate display of partisan colours, and the number of motor cars engaged is noticeably less than in the election of 1914. All indications point to a close contest. At the Greymouth and Reefton centres Mr Coales is assured of a good majority, but whether it will be sufficient to counteract the block vote of the miners is hard to forecast, although it is stated that a breach in the Labour Party's ranks will result in considerably more votes for Mr Coates in the mining townships than were recorded for Mr Michel when the latter opposed Private P. C. 'Webb. The supporters of Mr Coates are confident that he will top the poll.