The Waikato Independent TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1931. TO-MORROW’S ELECTIONS.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2782, 1 December 1931, Page 4

The Waikato Independent TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1931. TO-MORROW’S ELECTIONS.

To-morrow (Wednesday) the people of New Zealand will be called upon to elect seventy-six members, and to day four Maofi members to constitute the twenty-fourth Parliament of New Zealand—one of the highest privileges that they can enjoy as citizens in a democratic country. As the result of the Government’s rather sudden decision to go to the country, the election campaign has been a very short one—about three weeks. However, during that period candidates have been exceptionally busy, ventilating their views, and with the narrowing down of party interests, electors should be in a position to cast their votes intelligently. New Zealanders take the keenest interest m their privileges as electors, just a little more grim perhaps than other parts of our Empire. This is manifested by the interest displayed throughout the electoral campaigns and by the high percentage of people exercising their votes. At the last Parliamentary election for instance, the total votes cast in the 70 electorates totalled 735,391 as against 678,877 at the previous election, or 90 per cent, there being no contest in the Bay of Plenty in 1925. This percentage has shown a steady improvement over a number of years, the ratio being only SO per cent, for the 1919 election. It is possible that the number of votes to bo recorded this time may not be so large. There is not the licensing influence and then again there may be some laxity on the part of electors who imagine that the Coalition will not be pressed in certain electorates. The feature of the present election is, of course, the amalgamation of United and Reform, Labour being the official opposition. It is the general opinion that the parties forming the Coalition

. 1-avo been guided by the wise example of Britain and that this will be recognised by the big majority of electors to-morrow. However, there are many who hold that there will be nothing in the shape of a Labour landslide, though the party may loose a few seats. With only two candidates, Mr F. Lye the sitting member, representing the Coalition, and Mr ,S- N. Ziman, for the Country Party, nevertheless keen interest has been shown in the campaign ■ for the Waikato Scat. In 1928, in a triangular contest, the present member Mr Lye, under the United Party banner, was elected by a majority of 87 from the then sitting member, Mr D. ! Stewart Reid (Reform). The third member of that contest was Mr P. I Keegan, Country Party representative, who w r as 992 votes below Mr R-'id. In 1925, Mr Reid'defeated Mr Lye by a margin of 918 and on that occasion, Mr F. C. S. Lawson, Country Party, only polled 139 votes. As we have said, the p esent campaign has been keenly coni tested and Mr Ziman will probably poll heavier than any previous Countr Party representative, though with only turn candidates in the field, he has a big task in front of him. This will be appreciated when it is remembered that at the last election Messrs Lye and Reid polled 5459 between them against 1809 for the Country Party representative. Of the candidates, Mr Lye has resided in the Cambridge district for twelve years. He served the electorate in Parliament during. 192225, vdien he proved himself a most cncigctic, painstaking and conscientious worker and the same can be said for his services during the period of the last Parliament. He is also a wellknown and successful dairy farmer and

has done good service in the district as a prominent member of various important public bodies. Mr S. N. Ziman M.Sc., M.A., is also a district farmer though a comparatively late resident. As a Rhodes scholar ho distinguished himself and then wont on to act in the capacity of secretary for the Government of Bombay, India. Both candidates are held in the highest esteem by the people of this district, at least. The electors have had the opportunity of hearing their views and should now be in a position to make their choice. We do not seek to influence the voters in the interests of any of the parties represented and so we will leave it to the electors to exercise their judgement to-morrow. The duty and privilege of voting to-morrow is a most important one that we should value very highly and use discreetly and so wo would Urge every elector to exercise his or her vote, and after weighing carefully the matter before them, to cast it for the man and policy that in their opinion are the best for the Dominion and its Parliament.