THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 170, 24 December 1914, Page 4

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

MB, STATHAM RETURNED. ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SEAT. OVER A HUNDRED INVALID VOTES. AN INCOMPETENT BALLOT-CLERK. Ry Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. Tlie official recount of the votes polled in the Dunedin Central election was completed to-iliiv, and the result was dec'ared follows:- - Statliam ((G) 3744 Munro (L) 3732 Majority for Statham .... 12 Informal 109 The official result as given by the r&turning officer was:—■ Munro 3799 Statham (G) 3744 I Informal 78 I It is understood that 118 votes were j invalidated through the error of one ' deputy returning officer, who worked the | voti'j' numbers openly on the back of , the voting papers instead of on the I counterfoil only, thus violating the secrecy of the ballot. Mr Munro stated to-night that the fault occurred in the Caversham pollingbooth, where 110 voters were .disfranchised, practically through the incompetency of the poll clerk. He statctL that of these votes G9 were in favour of himself and 47 in favour of Mr Statham. Mr Statliam was now 12 votes"ahead, but if these, voting papers had been correctly issued he (Mr .Munro) would have had a majority of 10. A meeting is being held to-night with / a view to going into the position, and if ] they found grounds for doing bo tho j necessary steps would be taken to inI validate the election. MR STATHAM MAY RESIGN. ! Dunedin, Later. I It is understood that there is a poaj sibility that Mr Statham, in view of the I circumstances which have arisen in connection with the recount in Dunedin Cen- ' Ira], may consider the question of resigning the seat for the purpose of contesting a fresh election. , WELLINGTON EAST RECOUNT.. | Wellington, Last Night. \ The following are the final figures as _ to the result of the recount in the Wellington East election, reducing Dr. i Newman's majority by 39: — Newman 4002 MeLarin 4014 ' * Majority for Newman .... 48 j' Informal 64 |