POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 29, 5 February 1915, Page 8

POLITICAL.

DUNEDBN CENTRAL SEAT. INCONCLUSIVE FIGURES. The first declaration of votes in the by-election for the Dunedin Central seat on Wednesday was as follows :

('. E. Statham (Government) 3843 J. \Y. Munro Labor) ... 3825

Majority for Stntham ... 18 Besides these, however, there are 222 absent votes, and 35 seamen's votes.

The total number of names on the roll was 9415, and 76G8 valid votes wore east, as against 7399 at the genera! election in December. The absent voters are scattered all over the Dominion, and the result will be indefinite for a few days. At the election in December, the first figures published gave Mr Munro a lead, but at the magisterial recount it was discovered that 118 votes credited to him were invalidated, due to the error of one of the deputy returning officers, and .Mr Statham was declared elected, the figures being: Statham 374-1, .Munro 3732.

OFFICIAL RESULT ON MONDAY. Dunedin, December I. Information has been received by the returning officer for Dunedin Central that 230 absent voters' permits and 54 seamen's votes wore exercised yesterday. One permit is on its way from the district north of Auckland. The official count will probably be commenced to-morrow morning, and it is likely that the official result will lie known on .Monday.

ALLEGED BRIBERY AND IRREGULARITIES. The election petition lodged against Mr Vernon Reed's return for the Bay of Islands scat, the petitions being Edward Evans, storekeeper, of Waipapiikurii and Edward Alderton Parsons, mechanic, of Waipana, is understood to make the following allegations : 1. That Reed promised Wilkinson the other "Reform" candidate) that if lie would retire from the contest and assist him with his vote and influence he would procure for him a sent in the Legislative Council. ■ ' 2. That Reed or his agent offered to hand Wilkinson a blank, signed cheque, which Wilkinson might fill up for any amount required to cover his election expenses. 3. That Reed promised, in the event of Wilkinson retiring from the contest, to vacate the seat at the end of a vear, and give Wilkinson every possible assistance in winning the by-election.

I. That Reed promised an elector hat if he and hi, s family voted for him he elector would be given the posiion of a country postmaster.

5. That Reed promised certain persons that if they voted for him he tvould procure for them valuable gumland concessions.

(i. That Reed promised other persons that if they voted for him lie would pay them sums of money.

7. That at one of the pollingbooths the deputy-returning officer lirected an elector ,to vote for Reed. 8. That Reed was present at the •minting of the votes at one of tiio tooths.

Doubts have boon expressed whefcher the petition has been lodged within the specified time. The law illous 2S' days after the declaration of the poll by the returning officer, and the last day under this provision is to-day. The petition is therefore legally lodged.

The result of the polling at the gen. >ral election was as follows: Vernon Reed ("Reform") ... 2193 IV Rangihiroa (Liberal) ... 2071 lioorge Wilkisson ("Reform") 1.">I Majority for Hood ... 119

POSITION OF PARTIES. As the result of the by-election is by no means definite, it is useless as yet to dwell on the disposition of par, ties, the more so as at least four election petitions are yet to he heard. The present position, however, assum, iug that Mi' Statbain maintains bis lead, and if Mr Tan Henare is classed as a "Reformer," is : Government ■ ... ... 41 Opposition ... 39 If Mr Monro wins, the parties will be forty all. However, the election petitions in Hay of Islands, Taumaru"ui, Northern Maori, and Hawke'tf Bay have yet to he dealt with and the fate of the parties rests in the decisions arrived at.