NATIONAL GOVERNMENT VICTORY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 139, 1 March 1918, Page 8

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT VICTORY

THE WELLINGTON NORTH

ELECTION MR. J. P. LUKE ELECTED SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY Hike 2,986 Holland 2,566 Brandon 816 Poison • 720 Majority for Luke 420 - All conditions for a big poll were favourable yesterday, but the total number of votes polled, 7128, cannot in the circumstances bo considered large. Both of the leading candidates' committees expected that they would be able to record more votes. The poll was certainly a big one for a byelection, but it was. agreed by common consent that this was no ordinary by-election, snd that big national issues depended upon it. . There were no special features about the manner in which the last round of the fight was fought. All tho committees displayed »?ieir colours freely, and everywhere the red ribbons of Slr> Holland's supporters were in evidence. They had made their stronghold the Sydney Street Schoolroom, and thoy concentrated their voting strength at this booth. The result was shown in tho figures—a lead there of 500 votes for Mr. Holland. As it .happened, tho last return to como in was that from the Brandon Street booth, and on this return, always a largo one, the issue of tho election depended. Beforo that return came in Mr. Holland had a small lead from Mr. Luke-, but tho business part of the. city voted sol-' idly against the Socialist. ' DETAILS OF THE VOTING. Following was tho voting at ..the different polling places:—

POLLING AT THE LAST ELECTION. Following was the voting at the 1914 General Election: A i i •a I ■§ W W H Sydney Street-' 1209 730 584 Tinakori Road 314 207 201 Koltmrn CB7 43 115' Bethune's 988 183 336. Merner Street (19 254 300 Molesworth Street ..• 276 101 121 Northland 186 83 101 Wadestown G2 21 38 Absent voters and seamen ~ 209 36 99 4,550" 1,688 1,395 Informal votes, 104.

'Brandon. Holland. Euke. Poison Sydney Street 151. 1104 617 206 Tinakori Road 43 261 198 74 , Kelburn Kiosk ,79 10*0 536 57 Bethune's Rooitis 308 3S6 789 119 Town Hall. 105 433 440 129 Molesworth Street 116 157 244 69 Northland 9 99 118 60' Wadestown 5-26 44 6 Totals 816 2566 , 2986 720 There were 40 informal votes.