LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 88, 15 April 1925, Page 5

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

int nMnouun DUMnu. MOST MEMBERS UNOPPOSED. Nominations dosed at noon to-day foi seats on the Auckland Harbour Board Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, chairman of the board, was returned unopposed for the district of Manukau and Franklin, which includes Otahuhu and Pukekohe Mr. T. B. Clay was returned unopposed for the district comprised by the boroughs of Mount Eden and Mount Albert. Mr. M. 11. Wynyard was returned un opposed for the district comprised by the boroughs of Newmarket and Onehunga. the Ellerslie Town District Mount Wellington. Tamaki West, One Tree Hill. Pan mure and Orakei Road Districts. Mr. George Parr '"missed the bus.' lie would have been returned for the Waikato unopposed had he not made the mistake of thinking that nominations did not close until a later date The closing of nominations is a fort night before the election in the case oi the combined borough seats, but other ' nominations do not close until a week before, Mr. Parr thought he had another week to go, with the result that he failed to nominate in time. Nc nominations were received for the seat. the appointment to which will now have to be made by the Minister of Marine. Xo doubt Mr. Parr will be appointed, as he was the last member for his district and the only person who desired to nominale. There being no other neiminations. Messrs. ('. G. Macindoe and W. F. Mcfolium have been declared returned unopposed as the representatives of payers of due on ships, and Mr. E. -I. C'arr as the representative of payers of dues other than ships. There will be only one election outside that for city members —at North Shore. Mr. A. E. lireenslade opposing the sitting member. Mr. .lohn llenderson. to represent the combined boroughs of Devonport. Birkenhead, Takapuna and Northcote. Mr. A. M. Lang and J. P. Teasdale, representing the counties, will hold their scats until next year. This also applies to Mr. E. K. Alison, the Government nominee. Nominations for the city of Auckland seats will close at noon on Monday next. The three sitting members arc Messrs. E. W. Inder, W. W. Wallace, and T. Bloodwortli. Mr. Wallace has notified that he will not contest his sent, as he wishes to devote all his time to the work of the Auckland Hospital, of the board of which he is the distinguished chairman. At this election there will be four vacancies to be filled, as the city of Auckland is now entitled to an additional seat on the Harbour Board. THE LIBRARIES. GREAT POPULAPJTY. The great popularity of the centra; library in Wellesley Street is shown by the fact that 30.000 volumes were borrowed, this being an increase of 5001 over the number borrowed in March lasl year. In the reference branch 10,00( books were consulted, as against 9001 for the same period of the previom year. The authorities are exercised a the overcrowding of the newspaper read ing room, which is below the ! street ant necessarily ill-lighted. The figures fo: ten years show that 304 books are con suited daily in the reference library The books borrowed daily average 397 as against a daily average of only 13( in 1914. The steady growth of the citj library is all the-more remarkable whei it is considered that in the past ter years several suburban branches have been established. In reviewing the position, the Mayor Sir .lames (unison, stated that some rearrangement would have to be made tc meet the growing demand of the ratepayers for library facilities. He said the council wished it to be clearly understood that the proposal to erect an art gallery at the civic centre was not solely an art gallery question, but was inseparably wrapped up in the library servic-es of the city. There was. indeed, urgent need to increase the library services. THE LOAN PROPOSALS. .MAYOR TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN. At the request of the City Council, the Mayor (Sir James Gunson) is to deliver a series of lectures in the suburbs in connection with the proposal to be submitted to the ratepayers to raise a loan of £340.000 for a civic centre and £12.000 for a branch library at Remuera. The first address will be delivered in St. Aidan's Hall on Monday evening, followed by meetings in Epsom. Grey Lynn. Point Chevalier, and Parnell. as well as an address at mid-day to business men at the Chamber of Commerce. Tbe concluding meeting will bo held in the Town Hall on the eve of the poll.