THE SUBURBS

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 99, 26 April 1917, Page 3

THE SUBURBS

The contest at Petone was very keen. For the first time the Labour* unions were organised, having nominated a candidate for the Mayoralty and five candidates for the council. The results, however, proved, that no ticket received a block vote, as, though the Mayoral Labour candidate and two of the Labour candidates', for the council were among the rejected, three of the latter candidates were placed among the first four elected. Considerable interest was dißplayed in the vote on the half-holiday for the combined districts of Hutt and Petone, the result being the retention of Saturday. The voting in Petone was slightly in favour of Wednesday, but this majority was swamped by the Hutt vote for Saturday. In the Harbour Board contest the Valley gave the two local candidates an overwhelming majority, and ■• after the first few results came to hand it was easily ■ seen that Messrs. J. W. M'Ewan and M. .T. Welch had a safe lead. The polling throughout the day was | brisk. The weather, though inclined to be showery in the morning, cleared in the afternoon, and electors were enabled j to vote in comfort. Ample facilities were provided for voting, and the method adopted by Mr. W. .f. Gardner, the returning officer, oi having two pollclerks to each deputy, enabled: the latter to easily handle the four issues. .. There were 4000 odd names on the roll and 2605 persons voted. The poll at Lower Hutt was likewise ' a record one and was very keenly contested. Though Labour was not officially represented, ex-Councillor J. Ball, who unsuccessfully contested the^ Mayoralty ■ with Mr. H. Baldwin, was a el'rong Labour advocate. Two members of the late council were among the rejected. The ' new members in the council are Messrs. H. A. Ward, W. Kerr, and W. P. Cotton.