MR ROBERTSON RETURNED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1083, 16 December 1911, Page 3

MR ROBERTSON RETURNED.

A great deal ol interest was taken throughout the electorate in Thursday’s second ballot Since the first poll both candidates had pursued a vigorous plationn campaign, addressing meetings in all the larger centres. Both candidates also had a large number of supporters, who were untiring in their efforts to further the interests of their respective favourites. By Wednesday night all arrangements for getting the electors U the poll were practically finished and that those arrangements were fairly complete is shown by the fact that although there was no licensing poll the number of electors who recorded their voles, only fell about 200 short ol lire voters at the previous week's poll. Locally, motor-cars, traps and coaches were running during the whole ot the day and the number of votes polled was within very few of those recorded the previous week. The first result to come lo hand after the closing of the poll was from Gibbs’ Mill, which was posted on the Hkkai.d hoarding at seven minutes past six. This gave the Labour candidate a lead ol 27. It was not anticipated that any results would be out as early as this, and consequently there were only a handful present when the first numbers were put up. The Rangiolu result was the second one to arrive, then Moutoa and Foxtou, This gave Mr Robertson a lead of 160. By this time a very large number of people had congregated in front of the hoarding. The outside results were now arriving at intervals of a few minutes, and after the Levin figures were received excitement ran very high, as it was recognised that it was going to be the closest fight in the history of the electorate. The large crowd was wonderfully quiet throughout the whole ot the eveuiug. Just before eight o’clock it was announced that ali Robertson had been elec tea oy a 6 votes and this announcement was greeted with

prolonged applause. These figures, however, were hardly correct and between eight and nine o’clock the official figures were given ; Robertson, 2455 ; Field, 2464 ; with 35 absentee votes to come. After the result of the Otaki poll was known, chief interest was centred in the Parnell and Dunedin West contests. The announcement that Dickson had beaten Findlay was received with loud cheering, but Millar's win over Bedford was not so well received. The crowd was very good humoured and cheered no matter what the returns were. Shortly after teu o’clock the tooting of a motor horn announced the arrival of Mr Robertson, and he returned thanks for the generous support accorded him. He said that he took it that the vote against Mr Field was not against him personally, hut was against the Ward Government, aud showed that the people desired a change. He referred to the very fair manner in which the fight had been conducted, and thanked these supporters who had doue so much ou his behalf. He assured his hearers that he would always do all iu his power to further the interests of the district, and concluded by calling for three cheers for his opponent, which were heartily given. Cheers tor Mr Robertson followed. Calls were then made for Mr P. T. Robinson, and he mounted the car and returned thanks for the support accorded the Labour candidate. Cheers were given for Mr Horublow, who, in acknowledging them, stated that lie desired to publicly thank Mr Cleraett aud the Post Office staff for the expeditious manner iu which the different results had been obtained. Ou his call three cheers were given for the Post Office staff. Mr Clemett acknowledged the public’s appreciation.

The following are the figures for the different polling booths