The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1908. THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

As was .expected, the contest for the Mayoral • chair in Blenheim was very close, but it was notwithstanding marked .by-a, most regrettable apathy upon the part of the electors. Out of some 1300 ratepayers on the roll, only 705 took the trouble to record their votes./ Of these nine were informal, the simple process of correctly marking a ballot paper still appearing to present insurmountable difficulties to some who are entrusted with the franchise. The effective votes .recorded were thus reduced to 696, of which 360 were polled for Mr McCallum, and 336 for Mr Penny, giving the present Mayor a majority of 24. Had the candidates or their supporters worked with anything like vigor a very much larger number of voters would have gone to the poll. Last year Mr McCallum polled 335, so that he has gained 25 votes, while Mr Penny, who polled 248 then, has increased his following by 88. But the issue last year was complicated by the presence of a tJurd candidate, who split with Mr ™ei^i the votes rworded against Mr McCallum, which amounted to 437. Had it been a straight out contest between the two, -the result might have been entirely different. Exactly 80 less votes were recorded this, year than last, thus showing that very great indifference ,was felt as to the result, there being nq burning questions to arouse popular feeling. The "split vote" was in evidence at the Picton contest. The successful candidate beat the second on the poll b y but 14 votes, while the third candidate only obtained 19 votes in all. It SCfu ly^ Safe Predict ™v V ft iter stood ' his 19 ™>tes gentleman who now heads the poll. Mad they been, the runner-up wouldhave changed positions with hun. But the greatest matter for wonderment in this contest is why a gentleman who could only secure a following of 2?£ TX*™?- 6 of yoters should have entered the lists at all. Very great oca interest was-taken in the' WelSf^K and the severe thrashing Mr Hislop has given his opponent may be taken not only ai indicative of Mr Hislop's popularity but as also evidencing the S3' emnwi 6-^^, °^erhan gdmetnods defeat '" P6 °f securin S hU Several of those who have publicly actions, (or his inactions) during the Zitlhi ha7 G. f?rme4arindictment SSf administration sufficient to provide amp c ground, for strong or£ was not t hlS r^elect^- That tt£ was not done was probably due to his SHKI T p • t/'^ also *<> fee - ?JL 5 he m, lght do better during a second year of office. It is this ffelpioved himself to be a capable ad ministrator, that he has to thank for 1 "X?/« fvUth- °f OUr remark tha* means excuses his^ a il ur rtomake y him ! self, acriamted with the details^ those finances At a recent meeting of ratepayers he manifested a lament able want of knowledge of the gj business. Instead offing abl/to tell the ratepayers accurately what n£ profitJ6r-the year 'he SSa ™k? T*°V^ hls 7 .^ nOTarice upon the fcL y dr r? ditinff its <«Sence! Then again his frequent absence from ness^f Tn mT tingS' °ften hen h"£ ness ot importance was in progress of thet^ 6' fr^*^ to the Vate of the Borough treasury. Very much1 Mayor dim™ > s se n on d year of oftce. A>H and complete krowled^e 2' eiT deUll of the Council's f^ Cv may ho. T^ed for from him, and a painstaking a+.^ntK>n to the duties and responsibilities ot the position is also *n imperative •reqiurement. In a word Mr" McCallum cannot hope for a renewal r>f confidence at the end of his second term it he does not display a marked j™. r.rovemerf, m every re«^t nTv> n his nrst year's occupancy of the office. 1