GENERAL ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1925, Page 3

GENERAL ELECTIONS

[BY TVSI.EtJ It A PH—l’Ell CHESS ASSOCIATION. WILD THERE BE A RECOUNT ! LABOUR EXECUTIVE TO DISCUSS POSITION. WELLINGTON, Nov. 19. The position of the Labour caudi- ' dates in the Lyttelton and Westland seats will lie considered at a meeting of the national executive of the Labour Party to-morrow morning, when, in all probability, it will he decided to demand' a magisterial recount in both eases.

DECIDING A TIE. AUCKLAND. Nov. 19. While lie had no recollection of there having previously occurred in a Parliamentary election, Sir Frederick Lang, quoted a rule in the House when voting was even. In that case the Speaker gave his vote to maintain the existing order.' In other words ho voted that things should remain as they were, y That there should lie no change in the case of Lyttelton and Westland if this /- precedent were applied, the Returning Officer’s vote would be cast so that there be no change. Thus his vote would go in favour of the retiring members. Mr McCombs in Lyttelton and Mr O’Brien in Westland. Of course in the case of Westland, Mr Seddon was an ex-member who had represented the > constituency far longer than Mr O’Brien, and that might have influenced the Returning Officer, but in the case of Lyttelton, Parliamentary procedure was clearly in favour of the casting vote going to Mr McCombs. When iv tie occurred m local body eketions it was a well estabished custom for the Returning Officer to give the casting vote in favour of a retiring member. It was assumed that where one of those concerned was a retiring member, the electorate had not voted for the change.