POLLING IN BERLIN.

Wairarapa Age, 22 May 1928, Page 2

POLLING IN BERLIN.

RAIN SENDS VOTERS TO BEER SHOPS ETCS WELL ORGANISED I United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, May 20. ! The Berlin correspondent of “The ’Times” states that a continuous down- ' pour during polling hours damped ! down all external manifestation of poli;!:cal excitement at to-day’s elections. I The streets were drenched and empty, ' except only for little knots of party ‘ supporters with limp placards. Tne voters mostly adjourned to the beer shops. The display of flags provided only a possible index of the trend of political feeling, a sprinkling of the old Monarchist colours in the better class districts, while the Red Flag was prominent in the poorer quarters, but the Republican flag predominate.! nearly everywhere. A visit to the Communist headquarters for the purpose .of inspecting election propaganda revealed that the strength of the party lies in organisation. The interior of the headquarters resembled a Government office in a more modern capital with labyrinthine tiled and distempered corridors, hurrying officials, numbered and ticketed doors from which discreet preoccupied individuals conduct their business. This is a powerful organisation centred, in, not confined to, Berlin. It embraces the whole industrial area Western Germany. Communists give startling evidence of the resources at their disposal. Ono can only speculate as to the source from which their monetary support is drawn. Picked “Red Front Fighters” to-day attended most of the polling stations.—(“Times” Cable).