GENERAL ELECTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 243, 14 October 1938, Page 6

GENERAL ELECTION

POLLING DAY TO-MORROW RECORD NUMBER OF VOTES EXPECTED EFFECTIVE ORGANISATION To-morrow will be polling day and it is expected that a record number of votes will be cast. Both sides in the campaign, which has been shorter than usual, have perfected thorough organisation; both are confident of winning and it is evident from a mere superficial round of the city and district that both National and Laboui will be well supported. It might safciy be said that no seats outside those which returned candidates last year with majorities running into thousands will be easily won on this occasion. The Silent Vote Important It is a difficult matter to predict the outcome of an election at any time, because a man or a woman docs not always wear his or her polilical thought for all to see. The ballot is secret and the silent vote will probably be a bigger factor in this election than ever before. So far as Wanganui and district is concerned the round up during this week suggests that there has been a hardening against Labour in the country electorates. One man put the position fairly wisely when he said; “If Labour cannot win Wanganui then it will go hard with the Labour Government; if the Nationalists cannot win Rangitikei it will go hard with the Nationals. My own opinion is that the issue will be tar closer than either party has bargained for. Among the workers there is a strong leaning towards the socialistic trends of the Labour Government, but with anybody vyho owns anything or has the prospect qX owning anything the trend is all the other way.” It is evident in several quarters that the result of the election will be taken very seriously, no matter which way it goes. Never before has there been such interest aroused. Saturday Polling a Good Thing Polling on a Saturday has been accepted with general approval at present, and unless the actual experience brings a change it could safely be said that the innovation will be accepted as a permanent blessing. Fine weather on polling day would be welcome to both parties, more particularly so to voters in the country electorates. The slogan the returning officers would have the people adhere to is “Vote Early!" One humorous-minded individual has added to that “and vote often,” but he knows full well that the penalty lor dual voting is severe Booths will be open from nine o’clock to-morrow morning until seven o’clock to-morrow night. Immediately the booths are shut the staffs of the returning officers will begin to count the votes and the pleasing news has been issued by the chief electoral officer in Wellington (Mr. G. G. Hodgkins) that he expects to know the fate of the Government by 10.30 p.m. That may not mean the complete result for the Dominion, but sufficient of it to know what party has won. Strike-out System of Voting. The voting to-morrow will be by the .strike-out system. An elector must strike out the name of the candidate against whom it is desired to vote. A ballot paper will be informal if it leaves untouched more than one name. Two ballot papers will be handed to each elector, one for the Parliamentary issue, the other for the liquor poll and the strike out method will apply to both. To facilitate the work of the poll clerks electors should give t heir names clearly, using the surname first then the Christian names. It would be a help if the elector had his or her number on the roll. It is also important to know whether the name is on the main or the supplementary roll. There are 16 booths in Wanganui city. 74 in Rangitikei, 46 in Patea and 94 in Waimarino. As the poll will be heavy the need for voting early is important. Following are the candidates contesting the four seats of immediate interest to Wanganui:— WANGANUI •J. F. B. Cotterill Labour H. C. Veitch National 19135—J. F. B. Cotterill IL.). 4887: W. A. Veitch ID.). 3308; N. It. Bain (N.). 1754: J. T. Hosan (Lib.), 524. Informal, 61. Total, 10.534 <11.434). 1931 —w. A. Veitch (Coal.), 5096: W. JRogers (L.)» 4506. PATEA •H. G. Dickie National C. J. Duggan Labour 1935—H. G. Dickie (N.). 4349: W. C. Simpson (L.). 3709; G. J. Adams <D.), 1626. Informal. 58. Total. 9733 (10,488). 1931—H. G. Dickie (Coal.), 5976; W. G. Simpcon (L.), 2481. RANGITIKEI *G. H. O. Wilson Labour E. G. Gordon National 1935—G. H. O. Wilson (L.), 4236; A. Stuart IN.). 3329; W. J. Crawford (D.), 1679. Informal. 44. Total. 9288 (10,202). 1931—A. Stuart (Coal.), 4162 ; J. T. Hogan (I.), 4147. WAIMARINO *Hon. F. Langstone ... Labour C. A. Boles National 1935 —F. Langstone (L.), 4945; C. A. Bole* (N.). 3082 : H. W. B. Littlewood (I.), 206. Informal. 53. Total, 8286 (8870). 1931- F. Langstone (L.), 4174 ; L. A. Wackrow ( Coal.). 3583. _____