VETERAN OFFICER TELLS OF CLOSE ELECTION IN PAST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17699, 20 November 1925, Page 7

VETERAN OFFICER TELLS OF CLOSE ELECTION IN PAST.

GAVE HIS CASTING VOTE FOR SITTING MAN ALWAYS. (Special to the “Star. ) WELLINGTON, November 20 The Veteran Wellington Returning Officer, Mr James Ames, with fiftyyears’ experience, recalls that half a century ago he hs»rl t ing vote in a Parliamentary election for a constituency stretching from Palmerston to Wellington. The candidates were Messrs Wilson, Izard, Newman and Butler. “They tell me,” said Mr Ames, “that a tie occurred on that occasion, and I gave my casting vote in favour of Mr Wilson, now Sir James Wilson. Anyhow I know that Mr Wilson was returned. and if a tie occurred I must have voted for him. Perhaps I did. It is a long time ago. and I don’t remember the actual details. I never kept a record of those elections. I recollect a very close contest for the Wellington Mayoralty in 1870, in which Mr Dransfield beat Mr Hutchinson by one vote. We have had many close contests in which condidates got home by three or four votes, but we never took much notice of these. They were all in the game, and our duty was to tot up the votes and announce the totals for each candidate. “I can say. however.'’ said Mr Arne*, “that I would not. have given my vote as did the officers at Westland and i.Lyttelton. It has been my rule always to give the casting vote to the sitting member. In exercising my vote I have always put personal inclinations aside and have only considered what was the proper course to pursue.” *