HECTIC ELECTIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1077, 15 September 1930, Page 9

HECTIC ELECTIONS

BLOODSHED AT POLLING IN GERMANY 8,000 CANDIDATES Reed. 10.40 a.m. BERLIN, Saturday. Polling for the General Election In Germany commenced today, and will be continued tomorrow. There are 8,000 candidates, representing 24 parties, seeking the votes of 35,000,000 electors. The issue virtually is whether the constitutional parties are strong enough to form a workable Government and avoid either a Fascist or Socialist dictatorship. Close polling was marked by serious riots outside the Communist headquarters in Bulow Square. Shots were exchanged and one was killed and 20 injured. More than 200 arrests were made. The crowds hurled bottles of hydrochloric acid at the Fascists. The election campaign was the stormiest on record, but it is believed that there will be little change of strength in the chief parties. The result of the polling may not be known for several days.

At the last general election in Germany, which was held on May 20. 1925. 31 parties put forward candidates. About 75.5 per cent, of the electors went to the poll, the number of votes cast being 30,738.000. Social Democrats secured 153 seats, the German National People’s Party 78 seats, the Centre Party 61 seats, the Communists 54 seats, the German People’s Party 45 seats, the Democrats, 25 seats, the Business Party 23 seats, and tho remaining parties 52 seats. The new Reichstag, on that occasion consisted of 491 deputies, against 493 in 1924. As compared with the previous Reichstag, the Social Democrats gained 22 seats, the Communists 24, and the Business Party two. The German Nationals lost 29 seats, the Centre Party six, the German People’s Party five, the Democrats seven, and the Volkische and the Bavarian People's Party two each.