TWO DEAD-HEATS.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1688, 19 November 1925, Page 4

TWO DEAD-HEATS.

AN occasion unparalleled in the history of .New Zealand has occurred in connection with this month's general ■elections, for in the ease of two electorates a dead-heat has been recorded, as between the respective candidates. The seats affected were Westland and Lyttelton. In each case the contest lay between two candidates only, and the straight-out issue was so close when the figures were first announced that it was plainly evident that the ultimate decision would depend upon how the absent votes were recorded. Progress results were announced from time to time, and yesterday the decision so far as the ordinary electors were concerned occurred, for the returning officers in each electorate announced a tie. In Westland the candidates were Messrs T. E. Y. Seddon, who had held the position for six years prior to being defeated by Mr J. O'Brien three years ago, and Mr J. O'ißrien, sitting member. Mr O'Brien was the Labour representative, while Mr Seddon, who had previously stood as a Liberal, espoused the cause of that party under the new guise of Nationalism. A total of 4176 electors voted for each candidate, and, as the returning officer was called upon .to give the deciding vote, he did so —in favour of Mr Seddon. Remarkable to relate, the same thing happened in the Lyttelton electorate, where the sitting member, Mr J. MoCombs (Labour), was

opposd by Mr M. E. Lyons, who bore

the Reform standard. In this case the candidates tied with 4901 votes each, and t'h ereturning officer stated yesterday that as all the missing votes had bean dealt with he had to exericise the duty conferred upon him under the Act. Therefore he had lodged his vote in favour of Mr Lyons. There will, it is apparent, be much heartburning, especially among the disciples of the Parliamentary Labour Party, for in each case the ultimate decision was given against that party's candidate. Of course, it is reasonable to assume that a very close scrutiny of the votes and rolls will be made, perhaps going the length of magisterial and Supreme Court actions; but'if the decisions are not disturbed it will decide the question of whieh.party, the Nationalists or the labourites, will constitute the offi--cial Opposition party in the House of Representatives. Never before in the history of New Zealand politics has a double dead-heat occurred in connection with a Parliamentary election.