THE ELECTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3046, 17 November 1908, Page 5

THE ELECTIONS.

TO-DAY'S BATTLE. ADDRESS BY MR HUNTERMr Hunter addressed a crowded audience at the Drill Hall last evening, Mr R. Rigg occupying the -'hair. The speaker's remarks were again directed chiefly to the question of the importation of the cheap labour product of timber mills into New Zealand, in the shape of Oregon pine. A string of questions submitted to Mr Hunter was answered to tbe apparent satisfaction of the audience, some replies in particular meeting with warm aporoval. One answer which was loudly applauded was that given to a query as to whether Mr Hunter believed in increasing the poll tax on Chinese. The candidate said he would be in favour of making it £I,OOO, believing that the education test would prove a farce. A vote of thanks was accorded to the candidate at the conclusion of which was a very successful meeting.

ADDRESS BY MR HOGG. Mr Hogg gave his final address at the corner of Queen and Church streets last evening, when a large crowd assembled to hear him. The candidate covered much the same ground as that which he traversed in his various election speeches. He was accorded a good hearing, no questions being asked at the conclusion. Mr Hogg recaived a vote of thanks.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR POLLING.

Particularly complete arrangements have been made at the chief polling booth of the electorate the Drill Hall, Masterton—to accommodate what is anticipated will be a record attendance of voters. Under the supervision of Mr G. Gray, of the firm of Messrs Hoar and Permain, five compartments have been erected each with six sub-compartments from the Returning Officer's plan, so that thirty electors can vote at one time. For the convenience of electors, it may be stated that the Hall will be divided alphabetically, the divisions to be as follows:—No. 1, A to C; No. 2, Dto H; No. 3, Ito M; No. 4, N to S; No. 5, Tto Z.

In other booths also the convenience of the electors has been made the first consideration by the Returning Officer, Mr W. Gillespie. DISPLAYING pB RETURNS, The Whole 6j! the Licensing and Electoral returns for 'the Dominion Will be thrown on to a screen erected in front of the WairSrapa Age office" immediately on receipt this evening. A powerful lantern has been secured for the purpose, so as to enable the returns to pe read agood distance away. PorL-aifcs of a Jarge number of prominent politicians successful and otherwise, a3 well as * fine collection of views of New Zeafeid scenery will, also, hq shown*

FOINTS FOR T~ OAY. hours of !) a.m. arid 6 p.m. to-cJ^/the polling places will be open for recording of votes. Electors marking their ballot papers "itfifch/'a" .cross, in the same way as eletions. They should mark M c voting paper by crossin£ f V}Vt"thtf' flames of the candidates for 1 ' th"ey do not intend to vote, local option papers by striking out: the issue which they do not wid?" td v be carried. , . The law requires that nobody in any way interfere with an on his way tu the polling booth, or after he gets there, for the purpose of influencing him or advising him as to his vote, either at the electoral or licensing poll. The printing' and distribution of mock ballot papers (Parliamentary or licencing) containing directions "how to vote" is now illegal. While the poll is being taken nobody is allowed to make any public demonstration about it. There must be no dfsplay of living figures, effigies, paintings, placards or anything of the sort during polling hours.

"Bands,, torches,, flags, banners, cockades,, ribbons or other marks of distraction"' are not expressly prohibited, but anyone" who pays or contracts to pay for such' things for the purpose of promoting the election of a candidate is- liable to* a maximum fine of £IOO. The exhibiting of bills, addresses-, or notices is in the same category,, and these clauses are not to electiun day or any specified- periodi No money.must be paidby anybody for conveying-electors-to or from the p011,.' by train, steamboat or carriage.

Every person* who' "makes any wager, bet,, or ither risk- of any nature uponthereault of any election" is-liable to £2O.

Factory owners need toot cl6se or give the half-holiday,- but are required to give j up >to an hour's leave in order' that their employees- may have an opportunity to voter No intoxicating liquor may> besold on any licensed* premises be u tween 12- o'clock noon and 6"in the evening on election' day; THE GREY LYNN'CONTEST^

The past weefc has been a busy'one with candidates in Auckland; • although the- elections,- generally speaking, with the exception of Grey Lynn, have been referred to as "tame." A great ! ddal of interest is now being -manifested; • and heavy polls are anticipated >irt most of ,r the electorates: The Grey Lynn 'contest has continued to hold ; first place j in public interest, whidh has been quickened by the allegations-as- to roll-stuffing in the district which were made by the Hon. Mr 1 Fowlds at the end of the-Wfieki Both candidates have addressed several further crowded meetings, and both express themselves confident of being returned. A large number of'small' side issues of no real political importance have been introduced into the fight. Then Mr Nicholson has ! made a point of criticising- the l single tax and free trade principles' of the' Minister for Education as being inimical to the interests of < the minion, and Te Oranga Home tods not been lost sight of.-

THE HAWKE'S BAY SEAT. Not for many years has an election in Napier aroused such keen interest as that which will be decided to-day. Both sides are working strenuously, I and the supporters of each candiI diite are confident of victory. Mr Brown is playing his cards of "Napier's needs" for all they are worth, and 1 as a very large section of the electors have come to realise that under the system of the distribution of public moneys as now obtains persistency is an absolute necessity, this plank of Mr Brown's finds very general acceptance. On the other hand, Mr Fraser's undoubted advantage on the public platform is winning him some of the waverers. Coming to Hawke's Bay, Sir Wro. Russell is regarded as a certainty to top the poll at the first ballot. The difficulty is to pick the candidate who will have to fight out the second ballot with him. There are three in it —Messrs Jull, Dillon and Simson. The general opinion is that the tussle for second place will lie between Messrs Dillon and Jull, and that the former will have a slight majorityIf this prognostication is correct, Mr Dillon may probably win in the runoff with Sir William, but should Mr Jull get into the final it is quite probable that the temperance vote andi many personal supporters of Mr Dillon will go to Sir, William and give the seat to the Opposition.

At Waipawa, Mr George Hunter is fighting a good uphill battle, but it is a forlorn hope. His opponent (Mr Hall) is very popular throughout the electorate, and the fact of his being unable, through illness, to actively prosecute his campaign, will ensure him a certain number of sympathy votes.