THE ELECTIONS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4900, 6 November 1925, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS.

SUBSTANTIAL GOVERNMENT GAINS. SAMUEL DEFEATS POLAND. Many Changes and Surprises. National Continuance Supported. Details of Local Election. Wednesday was a memorable day in the history of the Ohinemuri electorate. So far as Paeroa was concerned considerable interest was taken in the election, and as the day wore on the excitement increased. The sky was overcast during the day, but fortunately the weather kept fine, and there were no accidents of any kind reported to mar the day’s proceedings. Locally there was only a small increase in the number of votes recorded, 1052 persons voting at the Gaiety Theatre booth as against 1010 at the 1922 election. The majority for Mr Samuel, so far as the figures are available, is 167, but there are still 425 absent votes to be taken into consideration. In the election 18 votes were polled, including 27 informal votes, as against 6777 votes in 1922. In 1922 election Mr Poland received 5782 votesand Mr S. S. Allen 2859, Mr Poland gaining a majority of 925 votes. The polling arrangements made by the registrar, Mr P. H. Wylde, worked admirably, and at no time was there any undue congestion in the booth. Credit is also due to the deputy returning officer, Mr G. A. Bush, who was in charge of the booth, and he and his staff are to be congratulated on the prompt manner in which they handled their work, the Parliamentary returns being available within nineteen minutes of the closing of the poll. This time constitutes a record over previous elections, and probably a record for any principal booth in the Dominion.

As soon as it was dark enough the results were screened at the “ Gazette ” Office, where an exceptionally large crowd had assembled. The arrival of Mr Poland from Waihi was the signal for an outburst of cheering from his supporters, and it was some time before he could make himself heard. Speaking from a car, Mr Poland, after thanking the people who had supported him not only that day but during the twenty years that he had represented Ohinemuri, said that the electors had decided on a change, and he, the speaker, had nothing to complain about. He had always done his utmost for his constituents, and the welfare of the electorate, and he trusted that the ■new member would “ fill the bill ” to the satisfaction of the electors. Mr Poland said he wished to pay special tribute to the loyal and unswerving support that he had always received from the residents of Karangahake. (Cheers.) After congratulating Mr Samuel on his victory and wishing him good luck Mr Poland called for three cheers for the new member, which were heartily given. The Speaker was then boine away on the shoulders of some of his supporters to the accompaniment of “ For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and prolonged cheers. Mr A. M. Samuel, after returning thanks before a large gathering at Waihi, reached Paeroa by car shortly after midnight. From a position opposite the “Gazette ” Office Mr Samuel, who received a rousing welcome, thanked the electors for returning him at the head of the poll. He said that he could hardly realise that he had actually displaced a man like Mr Poland, and he wished to thank Mr Poland for the manner in which he had taken his defeat, and also the-sports-manlike way the election had been fought. The speaker said that he had tried to fight the contest fairly, and he was grateful to the electors for the confidence they had placed in him. He regarded the position as a very high honour to himself and a loyal tribute to the Prime Minister and the Reform Party. Mr Samuel said that it would be his constant endeavour to further the interests and welfare of the electorate, and he trusted that the people would not find him lacking in any way. Any promises he had made he would fulfil if it were humanly possible to do so. At the call of the speaker three hearty cheers were given for Mr Poland, followed by an-enthusiastic outburst of cheering for Mr Samuel. At this juncture the only outward demonstration of bad feeling occurred, a small section of Liberal supporters boohooing Mr Samuel as he left the car. Fortunately, the particular section causing the disturbance were in the minority, and their voices were drowned in the enthusiastic cheering that followed. A decided increase in favour of local restoration was shown, 3994 votes being recorded, as against 3470 last election. A total of 6483 votes were recorded on the national licensing issues compared to 6694 in 1922. The licensing figures for 1922 were 3470' in favour of restoration of licenses and 2937 in favour of no license. National Continuance drew 2955 votes, State Control, 448, and National Prohibition 3184.

Paeroa Poland 563 Local Samuel Res. Local No-L. 357 Nat. Com 441 State Control 127 Nat. Pro. 428 480 686 Waihi Miners’ Hall 759 608 855 493 685 146 5°9 Waihi East School 242 95 236 93 173 54 100 Waihi Beach 19 9 27 1 23 3 2 Waihi Plains 21 28 18 3i 14 2 32 Waihi South 65 80 69 72 48 . 13 79 Tenfoot Road, Taupiri 17 53 4i 3i 33 9 30 Waiorongomai 24 21 32 13 30 1 12 Mangaiti 50 57 69 37 41 6 55 Hikutaia, Walters’ House 26 3i 39 17 39 2 13 Hikutaia West 23 22 40 6 34 . 2 9 Waihou 50 83 79 50 60 14 57 Elstow 35 105 64 72 50" ’ 2 87 Karangahake 127 15 104 35 85 18 36 Athenree 21 47 37 20 30 7 21 Eureka 16 9 18 7 16 1 6 Springdale 43 92 59 72 5° 5 79 Waikino i98 124 212 103 172 35 I IQ Komakorau 5i 42 58 32 5i 7 35 Waitekauri 19 22 16 23 12 3 25 Gordonton 44 72 56 59 48 9 60 Tahuna Road 39 98 49 85 4i 3 95 Tahuna School 3i 52 28 5i 15 4 63 Hoe-o-Tainui 9 24 18 12 11 4 18 Tauhei 28 56 43 37 43. 2 36 Patetonga 56 69 73 47 49 15 59 Tatuanui ■48 123 69 90 49 8 109 Komata Reefs 9 6 9 6 8 1 6 Komata North 5 19 10 14 ’ 8 3 i3 Te Puninga 23 39 30 30 19 6 35 Netherton 75 135 144 67 112 22 70 Tirohia 16 25 29 12 18 2 20 Kerepeehi 100 67 US 49 78 26 63 Mangateparu 59 63 7i 45 57 12 50 Kaihere 15 7 16 4 15 1 6 Waitoa 118 149 120 146 88 8 171 Waitawheta School 27 16 24 19 21 1 21 Piako 13 38 15 34 8 5 36 Shaftesbury IO U 21 4 12 2 10 Orini 28 64 50 42 39 2 52 Maratoto 20 2 19 3 16 1 4 Whitikahu 2 13 4 12 2 0 14 Motumaoho 34 79 63 39 49 13 47 Katikati 19 101 69 44 5i 19 45 Upper Waitawheta 15 16 . 27 2 • 28 0 3 3212 3379 3931 2518 2Q72 X 626 2831