MR A. H. ALLEN ELECTED MAYOR

Evening Star, Issue 22955, 12 May 1938, Page 11

MR A. H. ALLEN ELECTED MAYOR

Citizens’ Association Majority on Council Labour suffered a very heavy reverse in the Dunedin Municipal elections, and in the largest poll in the history of the city, Mr A. H. Allen, the Citizens’ Association candidate for mayoral honours, had a clear majority of 4,163 votes in a straight-out contest —the first since 1931—with the Labour representative, the Rev. E. T. Cox, the sitting mayor. Mr Allen polled 17,899 votes, a record in a mayoral contest. ; When 28,118 votes were polled in 1935 out of 37,228 names on the roll, that constituted a record, but on this occasion 31,866 votes were cast, the roll standing at 44,287. Labour met with a most serious set-hack in the council contest, no fewer than three of their sitting councillors — ■ Messrs M. Silverstone, P. Neilson, M.P., and Ralph Harrison —being rejected, while two other sitting councillors, Messrs William Begg and W. A. Scott, who stood as independents, did not receive the endorsement of the electors. The campaign was a victory for the Citizens’ Association “ticket,” and on this occasion the Citizens’ will have a clear majority of six on the council, similar to the position in 1933, except that on that occasion a Labour mayor was in office. The mayoral results came to hand very promptly, and were announced shortly after 8.30 p.m., but it was midnight before the results of the council returns could be made known. The poll was headed by two Citizens’ Association candidates, Mr D. *C. Cameron and Dr W. H. Borrie, in that order, and they were followed by Dr D. G. MMillan, M.P. .(Labour), Mr W. H. Shepherd, and Mr John Wilson, both nominees of the Citizens’Association. „ Mr J. W. Munro, M.P. (Labour), retained his seat, and the other Labour member to secure election to the City Council was Mr R. Walls, both polling well. Mr Walls had the unusual record of being returned as a member of the City Council, Otago Hospital Board, and Otago Harbour Board. The only members of the sitting council returned were Messrs D. C. Cameron, W. H. Shepherd, J. W. Munro, and Dr D. G. M‘Millan, M.P. The new members are Dr W. H. Borrie, Messrs John Wilson, M. G. Henderson, J. M‘Crae, R. Walls, H. L. Gibson, W. B. Taverner, and H. A. NewalL Of these, however. Dr Borrie, Messrs Wilson and Taverner have served on the City Council [ , . , f ...... ;,. . ; Representation, on the Otago Harbour Board, and on the Otago Hospital Board is on almost a similar basis. Dr • William Newlands (a Citizens’ Association nominee) headed the voting for the Hospital Board, followed closely by Mrs Ross (Citizens’Association). Mr William Begg, who had the endorsement of the Citizens’ Association for the Harbour Board, topped the poll in this case, the only new member elected being Mr R. Walls.