GENERAL ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16655, 21 November 1925, Page 8

GENERAL ELECTION.

THE CASTING VOTE. RETURNING OFFICER’S OPINION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The veteran Wellington returning ohirer, Mr. James Ames, who has llj'ty years’ experience, recalls several cases in which elections were decided, and says: “I would not have given my vote as did the officers at Westland and Lyttelton. It has been my rule to always give the casting vote to the sitting member. In exercising my vote I have always put personal inclinations aside, and have only considered what was the proper course to pursue.” In Local Elections. In connection with the action of the returning officers in the Lyttelton and Westland elections, wherein their casting votes were given in favour of Messrs. Lyons and Seddon, it has been ‘ pointed out that though Parliamentary precedents dictated that the votes should have been given in favour of ;; the sitting members, to “preserve Jhe existing order of things,” there is ’no such practice in the matter of local w body elections, as the exercise of “a casting vote,” as has been mistakenly ; suggested. Mr. P. F. Notley, returning officer of the city of Auckland, states that in the event of a tie in a local body election the returning officer has not the prerogative of a casting vote. If he has a vote for the election, he is presumed to have exercised that vote in the ordinary ', way, and in the event of a tie he is empowered by law to cast lots to elect one candidate or the other. This is the procedure that would be followed. 2 THE RETURNING OFFICERS. 2 EXERCISE ONLY ONE VOTE. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. ■y There has been an impression in 2 some quarters that the returning oflis cers for Westland and Lyttelton cxcr’t cised a deliberative as well as a casting f vote. Til is is incorrect, as Section 10 2 of the Act states that the returning r officer is not allowed to vote except where there is an equality of votes, 2 as in the case at these two scats. :.p It is pointed out that this removes the case from being on all-fours with the position on a local body, where the chairman often exercised two votes, • the second or casting vote being - usually to retain things as they are. DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED. ‘2 CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. It is anticipated that application for a magisterial recount will he made in * regard to the Lyttelton election, and » that a petition will be lodged by Mr. O’Brien in regard to the Westland v seat. PARTIES IN PARLIAMENT. THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLNGTON, Friday. The situation in regard to the ofllcv jal Opposition, has come about through the failure of the Labour Party to retain the Lyttelton and Westland seats. This makes their Parliamentary representation eleven, compared with the Nationalists ten, and the possibility of Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Atmore joining with Mr. Forbes’ party, to retain for the Nationalists their old position as the official Opposition. Unless these members decide favourably to Mr. Forbes, Labour must take the front Opposition line, and this claim is made by the v “N.Z. Worker,” the party’s official organ. “By every right,” declares “The 2 Worker,” “the Opposition benches in the new Parliament belong to Labour. The constitution, by which Labour’s opponents swear, will be shamelessly violated if by any trick or straining of the situation, the Nationalists arc permitted to sit upon them.” The paper asserts that neither Sir Joseph Ward nor Mr. Atmore, whom it describes as free lances with strong Reform inclinations, can be justly included in the Nationalist total, and that the position in the constituences supports Labour’s claim, as Labour polled a total of 181,000 votes and Nationalists 133,000. THE FRANKLIN SEAT, PUKEKOIIE, Friday. The final count in the Franklin Electrol was completed this afternoon . McLennan (R.) .. •• 6714 , McClyrnont (L.) .. •• 1660 , Rea (N.) 1135 |