CLOSE DECISION

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22153, 27 September 1943, Page 6

CLOSE DECISION

LABOUR RETAINS SEAT

MR COULTER FOR RAGLAN

An overwhelming vote from the mining centres enabled Mr R. Coulter, Labour candidate for Raglan, to obtain an early lead as returns came in and was instrumental in his eventually gaining the seat, although only by the narrow margin of 53 votes from the National aspirant, Mr R. J. Glasgow. At one stage Mr Coulter had a lead of 700 to 800, but as the evening progressed the National candidate began to overhaul him, and with the figures from Te Kohanga the only one outstanding, there was 38 between them. With the addition of the Te Kohanga figures the decision was still in the air, for Mr Coulter’s lead had been reduced to seven and the soldiers’ votes remained to be added. They placed the issue beyond doubt, the final figures being:— R. Coulter (Labour) .. 4427 R. J. Glasgow (National) 4374 A. J. Dillon (D. Labour) . 257 S. Burton (R. Democracy) 205 Leeway to Make Up

Beyond a small group of bystanders in front of the Ngaruawahia Town Hall there was not a great deal of apparent interest as returns came in, although enthusiasm was evident among the crowd in the picture theatre when progress and final results from all over the Dominion were flashed on the screen. The doubt which existed as to the final result owing to the soldiers’ votes not being available was not removed until an announcement after the majority of the public had returned home, and there were no speeches by the candidates.

An indication of the support given Mr Coulter at the mining centres and the leeway which Mr Glasgow was therefore forced to make up with solid support from members of the farming community is given by the fact that the aggregates from Glen Afton, Glen Massey, Huntly, Huntly West, Pukemiro, Pukemiro Junction and Rotowaro gave Mr Coulter an advantage of 1866, the totals being 2243 (Coulter) and 377 (Glasgow). Details of the polling at the various centres are:—

Churchill 1 Burton ui Coulter | Dillon | 3 16 | Informal Glen Afton . 215 2 Glen Massey 167 Glen Murray 2 Gordonton . 6 Horotiu 2 125 l 94 Horsham Dov /ns 3 17 l 118 Huntly 6 1201 27 251 Huntly W. . 1 142 2 12 Karakariki 4 14 20 Karamu 6 44 Komakorau 16 2 55 Koromatua . 4 13 2 103 2 Moerangi 1 2 2 10 2 Naike 2 4 Ngahinapouri 3 34 10 152 1 Ngaruawahia 14 531 40 377 Onewhero 1 35 10 159 Opuatia lurongia W. 4 23 1 15 9 Port Waikatc 9 8 13 Pukekawa . 4 33 1 180 Pukemiro 1 203 3 27 1 Pukemiro J. 104 2 1 Puketaha 3 13 6 43 Raglan 14 139 19 144 3 Rangiriri W. 11 50 Rotokauri 2 11 53 Rotongaro 36 3 129 3 Rototuna 9 2 69 1 Rotowaro 211 5 29 1 Ruakiwi 5 4 16 Ruapuke 1 5 3 32 Taupiri 14 124 6 204 7 Te Akau 2 14 37 1 Te Akau S 2 1 25 Te Hutewai 5 6 1 27 Te Kohanga 3 12 3 41 Te Kowhai . 40 19 5 142 Te Mata 1 12 5 100 3 Tenfoot Rd. 19 1 43 Te Pahu 3 44 8 110 Te Rapa 4 58 144 3 Te Uku 2 25 79 1 Tuakau 11 173 23 319 2 Waikaretu 8 14 Waikokowai 132 34 1 Waimai 2 25 Waingaro 10 32 Wairamarama 10 1 Waitetuna 1 1 41 Whangarata 4 16 3 36 Whatawhata 19 53 3 Woodleigh 27 27 Forces' Votes 24 311 35 267 — Totals .. 205 4427 Majority for Coulter, 53. 257 4374 68