The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, DCEMBER 6, 1911. THE ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 96, 6 December 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, DCEMBER 6, 1911. THE ELECTIONS.

The General Elections of 1911 will take place to-morrow and throughout the Dominion every qualified elector will he entitled to record Ids or her vote in favour of some candidate for Parliamentary honours. The poll is likely to be a big one, for Government and Opposition alike have stumped the country and aroused interest to a high pitch. Forecasts from Party standpoints have been made in plenty, but after all it is the big body of silent voters, who have weighed each

side in the balance that a ill decide the matter, and forecasts may be set at naught. Sir Joseph Ward is optimistic in the extreme, and expects to continue in office with as strong a i|ollowing as over. Mr Massey, on the other hand, is confident of his Party gaining many seats, and possibly oven of defeating the Ministry, and thus emerging from the cool

shades of Opposition after over twenty years’ retirement. Jn any case, we presume tlio sun will continue to sliine and the rain to fall, and to the average man who does not take his politics too seriously whatever happens will not matter very much. In our own electorate, though occasionally an extra-ardent partisan has broken loose and perhaps transgressed the bounds of the game as it should he played, the election has been fairly fought and there has been an ab-

sence of that bitterness which unfortunately characterised the end of the campaign of three years ago. Electors have heard the views of both the candidates for the Stratford scat, and will vote according to their consciences for the man they prefer to represent them. The whole thing lies with the people, and their will must rule. At tiro election of 19U8, in twenty-three electorates, where there were more than two candidates offering their services, the candidate polling the highest number of votes failed to secure the neces-

sary absolute majority, requisite to the election of all candidates for a seat in the House of Representatives, and a second ballot was accordingly taken. In each case of a second ballot the issue is between fhe two candidates who poll highest at the first

ballot. In Stratford at last election the pitting member obtained an absolute majority, and no second ballot was necessary. Tiiis time there are !mt two candidates, so that the rcsuL will he known definitely after the first ballot, and probably before midnight. Referring to the second ballot it may not bo quite understood that the Act does not at present apply to the election of Maori members, though the Governor is empowered to, at any time by Ordor-in-Council, ’ bring the second ballot into operation with regard to the Maori race. Fifteen of the twenty-three men who topped the poll at tho first ballot in 1908 came out victorious after the second ballot, and eight were defeated. Out of 537,000 persons on the electoral rolls of the Dominion at last election, 428,628 voted, or about three per cent, less than the proportionate number voting in 1905, which year, however, saw an exceptionally heavy polling. The figures for the last five elections are as under:—

With regard to the women’s vote it does not appear to grow greater in comparison with other elections, and the Government statistician tells ns that there is no evidence of a greater willingness on the part of females to go to the poll. As we have already said, we expect to-morrow’s poll to bo a heavy one, not only in this electorate but throughout New Zealand.

THE LICENSING POLL. To-morrow tho electors of New Zealand will have an opportunity for the first time in the country’s history of voting on the straight-out issue of National Prohibition, and the result will be awaited with very deep interest, not only within the Dominion, hut also in the Commonwealth of Australia and in the Old Country. The new Act provides that every licensing poll there shall ha submitted for the determination of the electors of each licensing district the question whether National . Prohibition shall come into force throughout Now Zealand. If tho total number of the votes recorded in favour of National Prohibition is not less than threcfiths of the total number of votes recorded throughout New Zealand in respect of proposals submitted under tho section, tho determination of the electors shall be deemed to be in favour of National Prohibition; and this determination shall, when it comes into force, supersede the determination of the electors of any, licensing district. Any such determination in

favour of National Prohibition shall come into force on the expiration of four years after the day of the General Election on which the licensing polls are taken. A determination ,in favour of National Prohibition is to remain in force until superseded by a determination of the electors in favour of tho restoration of licenses. On the coming into force of any determination in favour of National Prohibition, all licenses of any • description then existing, unless' sooner forfeited or determined in duo course of law,' continue in force or the periods for which they were respectively granted, and shall then lapse. The ballot papers have been made clear and simple, and eacli elector who attends at a polling booth to record Ids or her vote to-morrow will be handed three papers—(l) tho first for the Parliamentary representation; (2) the second for the local option issue as it affects particular districts; and the third on the question for or against National Prohibition. That good old “half-way house” as it has been termed—Reduction—has been swept away altogether.

Election. On rolls. Voted. Per cent 1893 302,997 220,082 75.25 189G 339,230 250,254 76.13 1899 373,741 279,330 77.59 1902 415,789 318,859 76.69 1905 476,473 396,657 83.25 1908 537,003 428,648 79.82