NEW MAYOR OF AUCKLAND

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28129, 19 November 1956, Page 13

NEW MAYOR OF AUCKLAND

Mr T. W. M. Ashby

Elected

CITIZENS’ MAJORITY ON COUNCIL

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 18. In a three-sided contest, Mr T. W. M. Ashby, a former Town Clerk, beat the sitting Mayor, .Mr J. H. Luxford (Citizens’ and (Ratepayers’ Association) and Mr J. Stewart (Labour) for the Auckland Mayoralty. Yesterday’s poll gave Mr Ashby, who stood as an independent, a majority of 919 over Mr \Luxford in a poll of more than 32,000. More than 43 per cent, of those \on the roll voted, or 1 per cent. moTe than in 1953. \ On the City Council, the Citizens’ and Ratepayers’ Association khab gained a working majority of "11 seats, two more than in the old council. The Labour Party held its seven seats, but the United Independents suffered a reverse, and lost two seats. The United Independents will have three representatives on the new council.

The votes in the provisional count for the Mayoralty were:—T. W. M. Ashby (Independent), 11,678; J. H. Luxford (Citizens’ and Ratepayers’ Association), 10,759; J. S. Stewart (Labour), 10,002. In the 1953 election, Mr Luxford ha-d a majority of 1451 oyer his opponent, Sir John Allum. There are 825 postal votes and about 1000 declaration votes still to be counted, but they are not expected to affect the result of the Mayoral contest.

TIMARU CITY COUNCIL

(From Our Oivn Reporter) TIMARU, November 18. The sitting Mayor, Mr R. E. White, had a handsome victory over Mr W. L. Richards whom he displaced at the previous election, by 4804 votes to 2136. There are still about 460 postal and declaration votes to be counted but these cannot affect the result. For the mayoralty the first results reached the Returning Officer (Mr J. M. Jenkins), at 7.10 p.m. from the Timaru West School booth. This return gave Mr White a lead of 125 votes. Mr White headed the poll at each booth with the exception of St. Patrick’s Hall where Mr Richards polled 382 votes to Mr White’s 236. The result was known within half an hour of the closing of the polls. All four sitting members of the council were re-elected. Mrs Muriel Hilton headed the poll with 5102 votes. Former councillors, Messrs J. S. Satterthwaite and P. B. Foote, who is also a former deputy mayor, were again elected. Mr S. R. Bennett, a 24-year-old civil servant, was placed eighth in the council election of 10 members. All sitting members of the South Canterbury Hospital Board who stood were re-elected. A newcomer is Mr L. V. Farthing, secretary of the South Canterbury Returned Services’ Association and a Justice of the Peace. Mr S. H. Bird, a sitting member on the Timaru Harbour Board, was displaced by Mr E. W. D. Unwin. The chairman. Mr W. H. Hall polled 5001 votes, 1492 more than his nearest opponent. A surprising feature of the Timaru City Council election was the 1538 votes polled by Mr W. A. Petrie. Acting on the advice of his doctor, Mr Petrie announced his retirement from the poll on Thursday and asked people to refrain from voting for him. Postal and declaration votes still to be counted total 460. Voting, at 7400, was slightly heavier than at the previous Municipal elections. Details: MAYORALTY •White .. .. 4804 Richards . . . . 2136 COUNCIL •Mrs Muriel Hilton 5102 •P. W. J. Cockerill 4936 •A. A. Wakefield .. 4781' H. Morrison .. 4738 L. W. Betts .. 4565 •C. H. Shackell .. 4547 P. B. Foote .. 3856 S. R. Eennett .. 3824 w J. S. Satterthwaite 3807 C. R. Hervey .. 3753 (Elected) A. R. M. Christie 3276 Mrs M. J. Bilson .. 3116 R. Gaudin .. 2556 N. F. Richards .. 1849 R. S. Wheeler .. 1802 W. A. Petrie .. 1538