MAYOROL ELECTION

Wellington's Verdict Decisive Victory for Mr. Luke Results in other Centres

Even Mr. Luke's most sanguine supporters did not anticipate that he would have such an easy win as he did yesterday for the Mayural honours,. As evidenced by the heavy voting— 2o,s77 valid votes were cast out of a total of 40,787 names on the roll — the contest was a decidedly keen one, but tho day passed quietly and practically devoid of untoward incident. The Town Hall was the chief centre of interest, being the main polling booth, and all day long little groups of people waited about outside and discussed the prospects of the various candidates. There wa* a marked absence of excitement, due no doubt to the new statutory restrictions applying to political and municipal elections. Formerly at guch elections voters were besieged by supporters of the various candidates, and had different cards thrust into their hands instructing them how to vote. Such methods now being illegal, there was an entire absence oi them yesterday, and the electors came and went in peace. There were twentyeight polling booths altogether, arrangements for enabling tne members of the public to vote with a minimum of inconvenience to themselves, leaving nothing to be desired. The most comprehensive arrangements had been made for the returns to be sent in to headquarters at the Town Hall, and in this connection Mr. J. Ames, the Returning Officer, deserves every praise. It was only twelve minutes after the poll had closed that the first results — from the Masonic Hall, Brooklyn and the Aro-street Schoolroom—were telephoned in, and at 8 o'clock the whdle of the figures from the many polling-places Jiad come to -hand. This probably constitutes something of a record in connection with a municipal Mayoral election in New Zealand. A fair number of the public waited outside the Towu Hall to hear the verdict, bub outside the Evening Post Office, where the results were shown on the window a few minutes after 8 o'clock, tho cro\vd was so dense that tram traffic in Willis-street had to be temporarily stopped. Ab the numbers went up there was a little cheering, but this was counterbalanced by a good deal of boohooing. At the Town Hall the candidates were accorded an excellent hearing, but when they endeavoured to address the vast assemblage from the Evening Post balcony there was such a din of cheering and groaning that their remarks could not be heard. The final returns were :—: — J. P. Luke 11,501 D. M'Laren 4,539 J. Glover 4,337

candidly, he must admit he expected it would be a larger one. He considered that the result of the poll was largely due to a certain industrial trouble in the city. One question like that had so agitated the public mind that the work ho had engaged in in the past had been lost sight of. He made no complaint, however, for he believed that his fellow citizens would recognise he could fight cleanly and _ with equanimity. (Applause.) While being excluded from public office, he was prepared to say, as he had said last year, that he desired to forward the interests of the city. "Throughout the contest," he further remarked, "I have endeavoured to fight it in a clean way, and I have recognised throughout that the recent unfortunate strike was going to be an important factor in the present election. I believe it is the factor that has swayed the whole position, and that the decision has not been in respect to my municipal work in the past, but a decision that the community has resolved against the strike methods and approved of the policy of constitutional action. As one who believes in the constitutional line of action, lam pleased to find that policy endorsed. Throughout there has not been, as far as I am concerned, any personal bias as far as Mr. Luke, the elected Mayor, or my other opponent, Mr. Glover, is concerned. Nothing of a personal nature has been entered into, and throughout there has been an avoidance of much of an undesirable character that is at times attached to a public election. I thank you for your vote. Perhaps on some other occasion I may be asked to serve ill a public capacity, and if so my services will be at your disposal." (Applause.) The speaker then called for three cheers for "the gentlemen who have been my opponents in the past," and the in* vitation was accepted with enthusiasm. On his invitation, cheers were also given for Mrs. Luke, and, in concluding, he heartily thanked those ladies and gentlemen who had worked in support of his candidature.