ELECTORAL COUNT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1943, Page 3

ELECTORAL COUNT

EFFORT TO EXPEDITE COMPLETION INSTRUCTIONS TO SPECIAL RETURNING OFFICERS. CONCENTRATION ON SEATS IN DOUBT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. With a view to clarifying the situation as soon as possible in those electorates where the issue is doubtful and generally expediting the completion of the official count of the votes polled at the general election, the special returning officers for the armed forces overseas have been instructed by the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr L. Irwin, to concentrate on electorates in progressive order according to the size of majorities. . Oamaru, with the smallest majority (4) is to be taken first, then New Plymouth with the next smallest (38), then Raglan ,where there is a margin of 51 votes between the two leading candidates, and so on. Official counts of the civilian returns, including the absent, postal, seamen’s and declaration votes, have already been completed for several electorates. These figures will be subject to amendment as a result of the addition of the official returns of the votes of the armed forces. It cannot be said at present when these will be available, but it is unlikely to be before well into next week, as scrutineers appointed by the various parties have to go to the Pacific to be present at the official count of forces’ votes in that area. The writs are returnable by next Monday, but in view of the arrangements that have been made for scrutineers to go to the Pacific it will be impossible for returning officers to have the official count of the Pacific votes by that day. Presumably writs will be returned based on the official return of the civilian votes and the preliminary count of the armed forces’ votes, for there is authority for them to be amended should that be necessary.