PARNELL BY-ELECTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 959, 30 April 1930, Page 8

PARNELL BY-ELECTION

SUMMARY OF PAST POLLING WOMEN S VOTE IMPORTANT As considerable importance is being attached to the forthcoming Parnell by-election, a summary of the polling in that electorate since 1919. with a few comments thereon, will doubtless be of interest, writes “T.L.” in the Wellington “Post.” Commencing with the general . leetion of 1919, electors on the roll totalled 11.9 S5 —5.315 men and 6.670 women. The candidates were; Dickson (Reform), Bloodworth (Labour), and Mrs. Baunie, the votes recorded being as under: — Dickson * 5.706 Bloodworth .. .. .. 2.257 Baume 1.026 Informal 110 Total .. .. .. 9,129 Of this number, the men contributed 4,200, and the women 4,929 votes—--2,856 electors refrained from voting, or, say, 24 per cent, did not exercise the franchise. Approximately, Reform, Labour, and Liberal candidates polled respectively 48, 19, and 9 per cent, of the total on the roll. (It may be noted that the Reform candidate had a substantial majority at the Remuera booths.) In 1922 the roll closed with 12.146 electors —-an increase fo 161 compared with the preceding general election. Of these, men numbered 5.355, and women 6,791. Four candidates contested the seat, viz.. Dickson. Wren, Mcßrine, and Noton, the result being; Dickson .. .. .. .. 4.789 Wren 2.465 Mcßrine .. .. .. .. 2.252 Noton 1,250 Informal 72 Total 10,858 Of this total 4,868 were men, and 5,990 were women voters. It will thus be seen that 1.288 electors did not vote. The Reform candidate (Dickson) polled 39 per cent, of tis total on the roll, while the other three candidates, combined, captured 49 per cent., about 12 per cent, not voting. (Again the Reform candidate had a substantial majority at the Remuera polling booths.) The 1925 General Election disclosed a total roll of 13.939 names—6,2oo men and 7,739 women. It was a dual contest between Reform (Dicks., and Labour (Way), and resulted in the Reform candidate receiving 8,497 and the Labour candidate 3.610 votes, the informal votes being 303, representing about 2 per cent, of the number on the roll, Dickson polling 61 per cent, and Way 26 per cent, of the votes on the roll, 11 per cent, not troubling to record their vote. Of the 12,410 votes recorded, 5,613 were men and 6.797 women. It may be noted that there were 21 polling booths in the electorate, at only four of which the Labour candidate had a majority (363) over his opponent. At the other 17 booths Dickson secured 7,796, as against Way’s 2.546 votes. At the last General Election— November, 192 S—the roll contained 14.073 names, an increase of 134 over 1925, made up as follows: Men, 6,277; women, 7,796. (It is interesting to note how closely related the latter figures are to those connected with the General Election of 1925.) The candidates were: Dickson (Reform), Jenkins (United), aDd Yaraall (Labour). The result was as follows: Jenkins .. .. 5,642 Dickson 4.793* Yarnall .. .. 1.661 Informal S 3 Total 12,179 *4 in excess of 1922. Of the number on the roll, United polled 40 per cent., Reform 34 per cent, and Labour 12 per cent, approximately 14 per cent did not vote. The 12,179 votes represented 5,493 men and 6,686 women. There were 25 polling-booths in the electorate, at 19 of which Mr. Jenkins had a majority over Mr. Dickson, and at on© .booth he polled an equal number of 'votes. Whereas on former occasions the same Reform candidate had solid majorities at the Remuera booths, it to significant that of the 6.500 votes polled in that portion over the electorate—over half the total votes—Mr. Jenkins (United! received 3.192, as against Mr. Dickson (Reform), 2,608 votes, the balance—7oo—going to the Labour candidate. The roll for the by-election has closed with 14.086 names—an increase of only 13 compared with the General Election. Allowing for the usual shrinkage of votes polled at by-elec-tions, and recalling the fact that at the Hutt by-election in December last 26 per cent, of electors did not exercise their vote, it is safe to assume that the total votes recorded on May 7—polling day—will be consideraly less than in November, 1928. It is no secret that many electors had become somewhat dissatisfied with their Parliamentary representative. and on that ground, largely, it is alleged, their vote was more personal than against the Reform Party. However, in a few days hence the result will be known, and opportunity will then be afforded of making a closer analysis. Meantime, “the key to the position” appears to be held by the candidate who secures a good lead at the Remuera booths, reinforced with the women's vote, which in the past has been an important factor in the Parnell electorate.