NELSON COUNCIL

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32567, 29 March 1971, Page 14

NELSON COUNCIL

By-election held {From Our Own Reporter) ; NELSON, March 28. Three of the fifteen candidates seeking election to the Nelson City Council in a byelection on Saturday had clear majorities- and will fill three vacancies on the council. They are Messrs R. A. McLennan, A W. Matthews, and K. D. Wood. The by-election was held to fill vacancies created by the expulsion of one councillor earlier this year, the resignation of a second as an act of support for the expelled councillor, and the transfer of a third to Napier last year. The returning officer (Mr H. A Levestam) reported a fairly small poll—between 30 per cent and 40 per cent of eligible voters. For the first time in New Zealand two mobile units were used as polling booths and this experiment was described by Mr Levestam as “highly successful.” About 1000 votes were cast at the six sites visited by the units. Provisional results were: R. A McLennan, 3593; A W. Matthews, 2318; K. D. Wood, 2030; E. F. Turner (Miss), 1360: M. Rodwell, 1150; G. W. Amos, 877; F. H. Shar- - land, 856; R. L. Kennedy, 794; W. G. Westley, 733; J. McMahon, 724; A. J. Baysting, 626; W. D. Pollock, 495; R. MacDonald, 426; G. H. Gibbs, 365; B. C. Henry, 131.