MR. T. C A. HISLOP ELECTED TO OFFICE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 13

MR. T. C A. HISLOP ELECTED TO OFFICE

MANY NEW COUNCILLORS

INTEREST IN HOSPITAL ISSUE

Interest in the city elections was this year a good deal more lively lhan has been iisual, and had the weather been good there is no doubt that polling would have been very heavy indeed. As it was the number of votes cast, taking the Mayoral issue as the guide, was a record, 24,846, as compared with 23,441 in 1929, and 22,764 in 1927,

' Mr. T. C. A. Hislop was elected to the office of Mayor with a majority of 1806 votes, a substantial margin, but anything but a walk-away victory. This figure, and also returns for the other issues, is almost certain to be considerably altered when the recount is made, and when declaration votes are taken into account, but Mr. Luckie cannot make up so great a difference.

There are several changes.in the City Council, as was, of course, inevitable as a result of the retirement of Councillors R. A. Wright, B. G. H. Burn, W. J. Hildrelh, C. D. Morpeth, and Messrs. Hislop and Luckie, the two Mayoral candidates. In addition. Councillor Mitchell's place appears to have been filled, so that there are seven new councillors, Messrs. W. Appleton (top of the poll), J. M'Eldowney (9th place), J. Burns (a former councillor, 11th place), W. Duncan (12th place), Captain S. Holm 13th place), J. N.Wallace (14th : place), and J. M'Donald (15th place). It does not seem likely that the 15lh and 16th places, occupied by Mr. M'Donald and Mr. Mitchell, will be changed about on the recount, nor does a change in ■the Hospital Board appear probable.

The Hospital Board issue was this year of far greater interest than in past years, as is shown by the very solid voting. Drs. R. Campbell Begg and D. M'Donald Wilson, placed in first and second places, both polled more votes than the successful Mayoral candidate. So also did Mr. H. D. Bennett for the Harbour Board. The electors placed four ladies on the board, Mesdames M'Vicar, Ffaser, Preston, and Chapman, but was not in any way gallant over placing women candidates at the council table. Two.of the present members of the Hospital Board, Messrs. Helliwell and F. Bennett, were displaced. ..., . . -

The only change in the Harbour Board; is that Mr. Troup lakes Mr. Chapman's place. Labour has, therefore, ho representative on this body, but has three representatives on the City Council and three on the Hospital Board. There is a great deal of dissatisfaction, even among candidates who receive, organised support, at the "ticket" system, but the fact Avas that no independent candidate succeeded. ' ■;- Of candidates who received both Civic League and Ratepayers' Association support nine out of nine were elected to the council, eleven out of eleven were elected to the Hospital Board, arid three out of three to the Harbour Board. Of Civic League only candidates two out of six council aspirants were returned, none out of three for the Hospital Board, and one out of one for the Harbour Board. There were six Ratepayers' ticket candidates for the council; one was successful. No one of the three Ratepayers' candidates : for the Hospital Board was successful. Of Labour's thirteen council candidates three secured seals on the council, of eleven for the Hospital Board three were returned, and of their four for the Harbour Board none succeeded. Tickets count, but double tickets plainly count a good deal more.

The recount of the votes will be a fairly.. long business, occupying at least a week, for each ballot paper is dealt with individually. ". The .installation of the new Mayor and council is supposed to take place within a week of polling day, but of recent years it has never been possible to get the recount through in "time.