KEEN INTEREST IN ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 8, 5 October 1943, Page 4

KEEN INTEREST IN ELECTION

N.Z. Troops In New Caledonia

(N.Z.E.F. Official AVar Correspondent.) NEW CALEDONIA, September 27.

Mild bouts of election fever permealed New Zealand “occupied” territories in New Caledonia on Saturday, but by the evening "control" had been established by tlie granting of liberal leave, which permitted soldiers of the Third (New Zealand) Division to concentrate at given points where election results ns they came to hand were made known. For this purpose loudspeakers were utilized in one area and announcements were made at frequent intervals during a long outdoor picture and concert programme. The Army Education nnd Welfare Service. which was responsible for this line service, also arranged for tea to be served to a keenly interested body of troops. Soldiers encamped in an adjacent area were not quite so fortunately placed in the mutter of facilities for broadcasting, but private enterprise rose to lhe occasion in no uncertain manner. Under tlie

supervision of Captain J. E. Boult, of Lower Hutt, willing servicemen erected •i signboard measuring 24ft. by Tight and Private J. Rothnc, of Johnsonville, assumed responsibility for an arduous signwriting task whieji required two days and a'half’s work before completion. The magnitude of this assignment can be gauged from the fact that six sides of army huts were required for the board, in Avhich was shown the name of every candidate in every electorate. Servicemen’s voting, whieh had been completed some days before the election in New' Zealand, was conducted in similar fashion to tlie polls in New Zealand. On tbe production of a soldier’s paybook as proof of identification, his name AvtiS cheeked against, a special roll of servicemen and voting papers were issued. On these the voter exercised his franchise in the normal manner except in the cleetoral issue wlieu he avus required to write clearly on the voting paper the uamo of his selected candidate.