H.—39

6

(b.) If any candidate has then, with such addition as aforesaid, received an absolute majority of votes, the Returning Officer shall declare him to be elected. (c.) If no candidate has, with such addition as aforesaid, received an absolute majority of votes, the procedure of declaring the candidate who has received the fewest votes to be a defeated candidate, of distributing his ballot-papers among the then remaining candidates according to the indication (if any) of the voters' next preference, and of adding the number so distributed to each candidate to the number then last counted to that candidate, shall be repeated until one candidate has received an absolute majority of votes, and that candidate shall then be declared duly elected. ((..) If on any count two or more candidates have an equal number of votes, and one of them has to be declared a defeated candidate, the Returning Officer shall decide by lot which is to be so declared. 22. (1.) The Returning Officer shall then seal up into separate parcels the ballot-papers counted to each candidate, and endorse on each parcel a memorandum specifying the name of the candidate and the number of ballot-papers contained in the parcel: and shall sign the endorsement. (2.) The Returning Officer shall also seal up into a separate parcel all the informal ballot-papers, and endorse the same with a note of its contents, and shall sign the endorsement. 23. (1.) The count of the votes by the Returning Officer may be adjourned from time to time as the Returning Officer deems necessary. (2.) Each adjournment and also the time and place for the continuation of the count shall be announced to the scrutineers and officers by the Returning Officer. (3.) Before any such adjournment all ballot-papers and other documents connected with the count shall be locked up by the Returning Officer in one or more ballot-boxes or other safe receptacle under seal ; and any scrutineer who may desire to do so shall be permitted by the Returning Officer to place his special seal upon the outer cover of the receptacle or receptacles in which such ballot-papers and documents are locked up. 24. As soon as conveniently may be after the Returning Officer has ascertained the total number of votes received by each candidate, he shall, if any candidate has received an absolute majority of firstpreference votes, publicly declare, in the form numbered (22) in the Second Schedule to the principal Act, that candidate to be elected, and in any other case shall publicly declare the result of the poll in the form'numbered (2) in the First Schedule hereto.

Subsequent dealings with ballot-papers.

Count may bo adjourned.

Declaration of result of [1011.

PART 111. Proportional Representation. 25. (1.) For the purposes of this Part of this Act there shall be four electoral divisions, to be known respectively as the Auckland Electoral Division, the Wellington Electoral Division, the Christchurch Electoral Division, and the Dunedin Electoral Division. (2.) The said electoral divisions shall, until altered by the Representation Commissions, as provided by this Part of this Act, be constituted as follows: — (a.) I'he Auckland Electoral Division shall comprise the Electoral Districts of Auckland West, Auckland Central, Auckland East, Grey Lynn, and Parnell:

Proportional representation in certain urban districts.

Constitution of doctoral divisions for purposes of proportional representation.