RAGLAN BY-ELECTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 53, 5 March 1946, Page 4

RAGLAN BY-ELECTION

RESULT WILL BE KNOWN TO-NIGHT The result of the Raglan by-elec-tion will be announced to-night. The election is being held as a result of the death of Mr. R. Coulter, who won the seat for Labour In 1943 with a margin of 108 votes in a four-cornered election. To-day It will be a straightout contest between Mr. A. C. Baxter (Labour) and Mr. Hallyburlon Johnstone (National). The effective roll strength is 12,225, as against 10,906 in 1943.

Tlie only four centres of population in the electorate are Raglan, Tuakau, Huntly, and Ngaruawahia, the two last-named being strongholds of the

Waikato miners and the Labour vote. In the last election Tuakau gave a majority to the National aspirant, and Raglan’s votes appeared to be equally divided between the Government and anti-Government candidates. Apart from the period 1931-35, Raglan has been a Labour seat since 1928, but with decreasing majorities, and at the last election Mr. Coulter had a lead of only 106 over his Nationalist opponent. The final result in the by-election is expected to be known about 9 o'clock to-night. Polling will take place to-day between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., and there are 55 polling booths. <