GENERAL ELECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16911, 9 December 1922, Page 14

GENERAL ELECTION.

OAMARU. A partial count of absentees* votes made to-day. result:— J. AfacPherson (L.) . «. 4000 E. P. Leo (R.) . . - 4001 There arc ninety-three votes yet to cone. The latest count (with thirty-five votes to come) makes the position: AfacPherson . - - 4035 Lee .... 4030 WAIKATO. F. Lye (L.) - 2369 J. T. Johnson <R.) . . 2334 A. S. Dent .... 1526 There are 174 absent rotes to come.

FINAL RESULTS. NOT DUE FOR DAYS. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON. December S. Many results of the election are doubtful owing to small majorities and there can be no definite pronouncement on the political position until next week, as the public has received all the information it can obtain until the official count is completed. Before this can be held important -work has to be done, which will take several days. The first duty of returning officers, which they commenced to-dav, is to comply with the direct mandate of the Legislative Act by comparing all the -rolls used at the respective polling booths in order to discover if there has been duplicate voting. Only when this scrutiny is completed can the official recount take place. This, in turn, has to be completed before the absent voters’ permits and seamen’s rights areadded to the figures. It is anticipated this process will take two days. Absent voters’ permits may further delay presentation of the final official figures, as these papers must be forwarded to the returning officer of the district in which they are to be counted. Owing to the disorganisation of the mail service, particularly between the North Island and South Island, there is likely to be a somewhat longer interval than usual before these permits, which aggregate over 17,000, can be added to the figures already announced. Returning officers will, however, know promptly how many of these permits have been used for each district, as wherever they are polled, it is the local officer’s duty to telegraph the number before forwarding the papers to their proper destination for inclusion in the figures. For these reasons the chief electoral’ officer believes it will be'Tuesday evening or possibly Wednesday afternoon before an official statement of a final character can be made. NON-SPORTING CROWD. A LOSER HOOTED. (Special to the “ Stat*.”) WELLINGTON, December .8. The greatest*, surprise pf the Wellington elections was the defeat of Air G. Mitchell by Mr AUKecn in. Wellington South. The successful candidate was one of Labour’s best platform men, al though not well known. He attributes his success to Labour’s organisation by its national executive. Air Alitchell was regarded generally as one of the local cer.tainties, for the reason that he had made for himself a distinctive place as a local member, being an ex tremely active advocate of progressive schemes for the city, doing much good work in forcing the Government to pay attention to local needs. This work would be highly appreciated m the average country district, but it failed against- the more general political objections to this independent candidate. Mr Alitchell was one oi the foremost critics of Labour's war-time attitude. He aroused the bitter criticism I of Parliamentary Labourites, and this evidently extended to their supporters j in Wellington South, who hbovrea it. 1 an emphatic manner their personal pro judice when be faced a large audience on election night after the results ha i been declared. When ATr Alitchell came forward, he uas greeted with derisive 11 boohoos, ’ punctuated with screams of women. However, seizing a favourable moment he tried to speak. All he could do was to make himself audible to the reporters at his elbow. “ I have served you.” be said, “ for the past three years to the best of my ability. I have served the city and the country, arid you have thought At to put me out. Very well, there’s uo ill feeling on my part. Tf you require my services on some future occasion, 1 shall be glad to offer myself.” Mr AfitcheU cordially thanked all who had worked and voted for him He was continuously howled down, and was counted out. Very different was the reception given to his successful opponent, Air Ai’Keen. He received a splendid hearing. There was complete silence when he started to speak, and cheers punctuated bis remarks. “ This fight.'’ he said, “ has been conducted by the National Labour Party, and I will carry out wishes to tiie utmost of my ability.” Air M'Keen referred to the victories of Aleesrs Fraser and Atonteitb as evidence of the coEtfidTnce of the people in Labour. AIR ATAIORE’S VIEW. NELSON, December 8. Interviewed by an “Evening Alail ” reporter. Air H. Atmore, independent Liberal-Labour, said: “The present position is somewhat complicated, hut I believe there is nothing too complex about it hut wliat can he solxed if members of the House will consider the people’s interests instead of those of parties.” Some well-known figures had disappeared from the political arena, but from what he knew of the personnel of tile new Parliament he believed that a good working Parliament would result. Some of the Liberals had lost their seats, notably Air Seddon. through two Reform candidates standing and thus taking the seat from one who was au upholder or constitutional methods. Tt was perfectly clear that Air Alassev and bis party unaided could not carry on. even if they had forty njemhers" as they would have to appoint 3. Speaker from their party unless they adopted a recent expedient from New South Wales, where in an evenly balanced House the Speaker had been chosen from the ranks of the Opposition .