Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit MONDAY, MAY 19, 1911. THE LOCAL ELECTIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 184, 19 May 1941, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit MONDAY, MAY 19, 1911. THE LOCAL ELECTIONS.

The burgesses of Ashburton Borough and the ratepayers of the Cpunty have cause for satisfaction at the result of the elections on Saturday. The local bodies as reconstituted are composed of members who will carry the confidence of the people, even those who did not support them, that public affairs in Mid-Canterbury will 1 be controlled with the same degree of efficiency and of dignity as has been the happy experience of the past. That the choice of the electors, speaking generally, has been so satisfactory is not, however, due to any virtue on their part but to the fact that the calibre of the candidates was so high. Thus the unsuccessful aspirants may find comfort in the thought that their losing venture was made in good company. Of the contest for the Mayoralty it need be said only that the return of Dr. Connor is a fitting acknowledgment of appreciation of his work during his short term in the office, though Mr Shaw has the satisfaction of knowing that he polled well. Had the latter stood also as a Councillor he would almost certainly have been returned, for among the thousand electors who preferred Dr. Connor as Mayor must be many who would have supported his opponent as a member of the Council. The feature of the voting for councillors was the return of two new candidates in first and second places, the solid support given tc Messrs Todd and Kerr being attributable in great part to the opinion that it is desirable, in the best interests, of the community, that retail trade should have a direct voice in the administration of local affairs. The advent of five new members brought about the defeat 'of two former members, the ousting of the Deputy-Mayor occasioning the most remark. Mr Buchanan accepts the verdict philosophically, an attitude that will add to the sincerity of the thanks, that will be extended to him for his past services. Generally speaking, . the new Council is representative of varied sections of the public'and of well-distributed areas of the Borough, and the burgesses may anticipate with confidence efficient administration during the next three years. The unchanged joint representation of the Borough and Tinwald on the Hospital Board is a matter of no surprise. The services rendered by the sitting members deserved public recognition. 1 That Mrs Grigg scored a double honour in the County contest for representation on the Hospital Board will create equal satisfaction in the Borough and County. The return of the first woman to a local body in MidCanterbury is itself a landmark in public body history, but to head the poll is added testimony to the people’s realisation of her fitness for the position. This is the more noteworthy as it was not a women’s vote that expressed that opinion, for only ratepayers, hot their wives, exercise the franchise in the County. It may be remarked with propriety that in going overseas on active service Major Grigg rendered double service to the community, for it may reasonably be assumed that had Mrs Grigg not felt called upon to take up as much of his public duties as possible her talents would have remained unknown to all but a few. Her election must be attributed in part to the feeling, among women especially, that better maternity hospital accommodation is required, but in part also to her personal popularity. To say that the district is assured of her capable discharge of the duty Mrs Grigg has undertaken is to voice the obvious. The defeat of Mr Frampton removes from the board a member who deserved a better fate. His work has been most valuable, for he is a man who thoroughly investigates every proposal put forward and makes his decision on reasoned grounds. Another surprise is the fact that Mr Taylor’s solid work on the County Council was not rewarded by his return.