VOTING AT THE ELECTION

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1931, Page 9

VOTING AT THE ELECTION

PARTY GAINS AND LOSSES. OFFICIAL FIGURES ANALYSED, An analysis of the voting at the general election, based on the figures of the > official count recently completed, shows that of the elected members Reform Party candidates were returned to Parliament stronger by '24,770 votes than at the 19'28 election.' The total of votes ■; cast for elected United Party members was 55,787 Jess than in 1928. A total of 7'21,832 valid votes was cast throughout the Dominion, the number of registered electors being 873,7'23. The percentage of valid votes cast was 8'2.6, compared with 87 per cent, at the 1928 election, when the number of electors on the rolls was 848,237, and the number of yotes cast 737,091. Allowance must be made, however, for the fact that in four electoral districts no contests were held this year, over 36,000 voters not being called upon to vote. Assuming that all these voters had ‘gone to the poll, the percentage of votes cast, would have been about J per cent, less than in . 1928. Tn the 76 electoral districts in which contests took place, Government candidates and others who had promised to support the Government polled 387,002 votes, the Labour candidates polling ' 248,255 votes, Independents 47,071, Country Party 16,710, and others 22,794. Of the total of 395,346 votes shared by candidates who were actually elected, 2’27,121 were polled on behalf of Government candidates and other supporters, 144,536 for Labour candidates, and 13,- ; 978 for Independents. The following table gives an interesting comparison between the strengths of .-the parti|ea in the new Parliament, measured according to the votes cast - for elected candidates, and those after • the 1928 general election:— ' v

A comparison between tlie total votes cast for all candidates standing in support of the various parties at the last - three general elections is appended. Con,.i sideration must be had, however, for the ' fact that whereas in 1925 and 1928 there w.ere definite three-cornered contests be--7 tween three parties, each seeking to gain control of the Government benches, this year the Reform and United parties sought ■ a mandate as a combined A party

The allocation to "others” in 1931 include* 38,135 votes cast for candidates who had declared their intention of supporting the Coalition Government.

1928 1931 Reform 116,232 141,002 United >..... .• 138,352 82,565 Labour ; .? 103,314 144,536 Others 25,422 27,243

1925 1928 1931 lieform .... 308,413 267,457 228,110 United .... *133,453 225,066 144,104 Labour ..... 181,067 198,383 245,675 Others ....; 31,922 46,185 103,943 654,855 737,091 721,832 •Nationalists.