Echoes of the Election.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XI, 14 March 1903, Page 759

Echoes of the Election.

WELLINGTON. March W. From the Acting-Regiatrar-General I have to acknowledge an interesting pamphlet which contains information dealing with the voting at the last general election. In our city electorates, where electors have the right of voting for three members, the number of votes exercisable is more than twenty-eight thousand in excess of those recorded, so that some of the electors evidently voted for only one or two candidates. In the two Northern cities —Auckland and Wellington—in the number of electors on the rolls and number who recorded their votes males exceeded females, while for the two city electorates in the South Island —Christchurch and Dunedin —the women voters outnumbered the men. In thirteen instances deposits by candidates were forfeited, the number of votes received in each case having been less than one-tenth of the number polled by the successful candidate. The occupations of the members elected in 1902 show an increase in the number of representatives of the farmer class as compared with 1899. A table also shows that farmers or runholders furnish more members than any other class of occupation. There were twenty-one of these (besides four given as “settlers”) returned in 1902. There were ten barristers or solicitors and five journalists. The number of members returned in 1902 was seventy-six, against seventy in 1896 and 1899. Referring to the Maori elections the Regis-trar-General says: “Of a Maori population amounting to 43,143 persons at the census of 1901. 14,271 voted at the general election held in December, 1902, an increase of 643 on the number who voted at the election of 1599. In 1893 the voters numbered 11,269, or 1739 persons fewer than in 1896, when 13,008 Maoris recorded their votes; while at the general election held in December, 1899, the number of Maoris who voted was 13,628. As the native

population increased but slightly bo> tween 1891 and 1901 it would appeal that the Maoris are taking more interest as to their representation in Parli»< ment than formerly, or perhaps there is now more convenience for attending to vote, or better knowledge of political affairs.”