DAY OF DECISION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17524, 29 April 1925, Page 7

DAY OF DECISION.

IDEAL WEATHER j CONDITIONS. | QUIET POLLING THIS MORNING. L alike polling day two years ago ! when there was dull weather and aslight drizzl ng rain, the conditions to- J day were ideal for the municipal elections and it is anticipated that there will be heavy polling. Interest in the Mayoral contest lias been keyed up to a high pitch owing to there being four candidates and a large element ot uncertainty as to the result. In some respects, the campaign has not been -is intense as it was two years ago, but it is anticipated that the polling will be heavy. Party lines are clearly defined in all the elections and active helpers on behalf of the Citizens’ Association and the Labour Party are in attendance at all the booths distributing cards containing tho names ol -heir nominees. There are 38.152 electors on the roll, compared with 33.020 two y.. rs ago, an increase of 4532. At the last election about 18,000 valid votes were recorded or slightly more than 50 per cent of the number of voters on the roll. This morning polling was not particularly brisk, some of the deputies stating that it was slower than on the morning of the last elections. Ihe usual experience, however, is that tho polling becomes particularly brisk during the afternoon, when most of the women electors record their votes. Polling will cease at 7 p.m. and the results will be received at the City Council Offices in Manchester Street, where they will be displayed on a large board <m the south side of the portico of tho building. The first progress result of the Mayoral contest will probably bo received shortly after 7 o’clock and the final between 9 and 10 o’clock. The results of the City Council. Harbour Board and Hospital Board elcex ions will not be available as early as those of the Mayoralty, but as they to hand progress results will be poMcd. The candidate:- will address the crowd from the balcony on the portico BALLOT BOX STOLEN. VANDALISM AT SYDENHAM. When the deputies and poll clerks arrived this morning at the marquee in Sydenham Park, which is being used as a polling place, they were surprised to find that one of the large ballot boxes which had been placed there yesterday had been stolen during the night. Arrangements were at once made for another box to be sent down. Until it arrived, one box was used for two issues. [ Other instances of vandalism at marquees used for polling places have been reported to the returning officer. In several cases electric light bulbs have been stolen or smashed since they were installed yesterday. LYTTELTON. The polling at the two booths at Lyttelton was fairly slow throughout the morning, though heavier than at the last, municipal election. There is considerable interest in the election for Mayor, for which there are four candidates, a record for Lyttelton. There is not so much interest in the election of councillors. For the nine seats required there are eleven candidates. A good deal of interest is being taken in the election of the .Lyttelton representative on the Harbour Board. Mr W. Toy is opposing Mr M. .1. Miller. Several residents on arrival at the Colonists:* Hall booth this morning found that they bad no vote, through failing to get on the municipal roll. It appears that a good many votes will he lost because residen is registered on the Parliamentary roll and failed to register on the municipal roll.