LARGE CROWD GATHERS

Chronicle (Levin), 28 November 1946, Page 4

LARGE CROWD GATHERS

j "CHRONICLE'S" NEWS SERVICE i As for previous elections, "The ^Chtonicle" provided a comprehen|sive news service for advising the ipublic of results as they came to i-hand from the various electorates. 'Soon after 7 p.m. citizens commehced to gather outside its office in Levin, and the assembly soon i became a large one. Up to 11 p.m. igrea't interest was taken in the prcceedings and then, when it appeared eertain that Labour had (been re'turned, -the crowd dwindled. '. On a large hoarding. in front pf th'e building;. ,t^e5 final. reSults from ; outside electOratOs were . posted as ' they were fkafivqd, ■ the first ti^ng 'the election oi. jifr.; C.s Mb^bwden (National, Karori) shortly before 8 p.m. From then on finals came to 'hand fairly rapidly. By means of a ipublic addresS system progress I reports and other items of interest hvere announced. j On another sectioh of the hoardjing the results from individual j booths throughout the Otaki 'electorate wpre displayed. Following 'the annouhcement of 'the result the National candidate, ;Mr. J. J. Maher, accompanied by | ihe Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, visited "The Chronicle" office and jspoke briefiy to the gathering. i "I expected that this would be a iphoto finish, but I have at least got i ihy nose in front and I hope to keep jit there," said Mr. Maher. "If I ! don't maintain the lead, I can take ja beating. I have experienced that* ! before. I was a member for the^ i Wairarapa for three hours last j election and then I went out for ! three years." Mr. Maher added that he had expected this campaign to be a | difficult one to win. He thanked all ! those who had supported him, land jalso the members of his committee, - (particularly the ladies, whom he 'said had worked hard. At the close of his brief address, he lecl the crowd in the singing of the National An'them. | The Labour candidate, Mr. James iThorn, did not take the opportunifcy j of speaking.