POLLING T

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 September 1943, Page 2

POLLING T

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND LIQUOR ISSUES. POSTING OF RESULTS OUTSIDE “TIMES-AGE.” Polling will take place tomorrow for the election of Parliamentary representatives throughout New Zealand and on the issue of National Prohibition and in certain electorates, including Masterton, on the question of local nolicence or restoration. The polling hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Special arrangements are being made by the “Wairarapa Times-Age” for the prompt posting of district returns, as they come to hand, on board in front of the building. Deiails of the voting in the district Parliamentary polls will be given, together- with progress reports of these contests and of the no-licence poll. By means of a microphone, the voting at the various polling places in the district will also be announced as they come in. The candidates for the Masterton seat have been invited to speak from the “TimesAge” balcony, immediately the result of the poll is known. The election results for the Dominion as a whole will be announced on a loud speaker system connected by radio to 2YA. This will ensure the earliest possible announcements of contests in other parts of New Zealand. Special booths have been appointed at the Masterton Courthouse for absent, postal, and soldiers’ votes, cast in the town of Masterton itself in order to avoid congestion at the other booths. In former years the Town Hall has been available for polling booths but owing to earthquake damage it could ' not be used on this occasion. The use of the Methodist schoolroom has been obtained. The same number of polling booths have been appointed as was formerly the case in respect of the Town Hall. Only one ballot box will be in use at the various polling booths for the licensing issues. Any person entitled to vote who may be away from his own electorate can vote as an absent voter at any polling place on election day, and no permit is required. The procedure is that the elector applies to the deputy returning officer of the booth at which he wishes to vote and completes a simple applica- ’ tion form. A voting paper for the Parliamentary election as well as for the national licensing issue will be supplied to him, and should he be from a nolicence district he will be furnished with a third paper entitling him to vote on the local restoration issue. Under the Electoral Act, Saturday, as the day of the general election, will be a public holiday after midday. It will be unlawful to sell intoxicating liquors on any licensed premises after noon that day. In accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, occupiers of shops / must observe the usual weekly halfholiday in election week upon polling day. In districts where Saturday is the late night,‘it may be observed on the Friday. In the case of shops not required to observe a statutory closing ■.day, such as fruiterers, confectioners, dairy produce sellers, bakers, etc., assistants must be given their half-holiday on polling day. Factory occupiers are required merely to give their employees reasonable time: to record their votes but not exceeding one working hour, without deduction from their wages. Motorists are reminded that the portion of Chapel Street adjacent to “Times-Age” building will be closed to motor traffic by order of the Masterton Borough Council from 6.30 p.m. tomorrow onwards. The portion to be roped off extends from Jackson Street to Perry and Cole streets (inclusive). Motorists who have been in the habit of using the W.F.C.A. parking area will find it necessary to make other arrangements for parking their cars.