THE NEAR EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1923, Page 3

THE NEAR EAST

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. A TURKISH POLL. (Received this day at 11.45 a.in.) LONDON, June 19. The “Daily Telegraph's” Constantinople correspondent describes a comic opera ballot which is ensuring Kcinal an overwhelming victory at tho general election. I witnessed a typical election at Pern, where tho polling station was three tallies and a few chairs in the centro of the roadway. National flags were covering the tables and a portrait of Kcmnl was beside the official’s desk. On a gate nearby, hung

a list of thirty names oT t!ii-‘ Doienco of Right’s nominations. There was no opposition list, but when a voter presenter! his Turkish nationality paper, lie was handed a blank sheet of pnj cr on which he could write the names of any candidates, except those on the Defence of Right's list. As a majority of the voters were unable to read or write, naturally they did not put down , their own nominees, so they took the i_blank paper to a third table where they were given a printed list of the defence nominees which they dropped into tho ballot box. 1 watched the proceedings for an hour. No one used tho blank sheet. The same game is going mi throughout the couiitiy. 'lho opposition candidates, are almsot unheard or Alustapha’s victory may, however, lie too sweeping as the opposition acts as a safety valve.