EXPRESSING THEIR THANKS

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

EXPRESSING THEIR THANKS

SPEECHES AFTER THE POLL LABOUR DISAPPOINTED BUT NOT DISMAYED THE PRESS STILL BLAMED MR SILVERSTONE FAILS TO APPEAR There were still a few hundred people waiting outside the Town HaJ for the final announcement of _ the City Council poll, which was made just after midnight by the returning officer (Mr It. A. Johnston). It was a quiet crowd, too, and even when the candidates addressed the gathering there was no marked demonstration. The people did not fail, however, to notice the absence of Mr Mark Silverstone when that candidate did not appear with the others. Cries of “ AVe want Mark ” and “Where’s Silverstone?’’ went up unavailingly. There was something of an outburst when Mr J. W. Munro, M.P., referred to “ our old friends the newspapers,” but comment was mostly of a good-humoured type. One or two candidates had already addressed the gathering when the returning officer gave out the final result. Mr D. 0. Cameron, who topped the poll, then_ came forward and briefly expressed his thanks. He would, do his best, he said, to serve the interests of the citizens. Dr D. G. M'Millan, M.P., thanked his supporters and offered his congratulations to the elected candidates. He wished the new council success, adding that he hoped the change in the personnel would not militate against the welfare of the less fortunate members of the community, “ There are three of us left,” he said, “ and we will carry the Labour banner to the best of our ability.” Mr J. W. Munro, M.P., also, remarked that the three Labour representatives remaining on the council would carry on and do what they had done in the past. If they had stumbled they would rise again. Certainly wo will give the new council a fair spin,” Mr Munro added, “ and you must just wait and see how it gets on. I personally will do whatever I can to help it. “ There is one thing to which I would like to refer,” said Mr Munro in conclusion. ■ “ That is to our old friends the newspapers.”- (Cries of “ Oh, cut it outj” “ We’ve had enough of that.” and similar comment.) “They ought to be glad about this. (“ So are we.”) Well, we will give them three years and then we will come again.” Mr M. Connelly said that the Labour Party was fighting for those who were downtrodden, but it could take defeat as well as it could take victory, and would be on the mat ready_ to fight it out again in three years’ time. “As one who has missed the bus 1 thank all those who have supported me,” said Mr D. Copland, and Mrs A. M. Herbert, who appeared next, said that the time was rapidly approaching when women would come to realise that they should have their own representatives on local bodies. Mrs M'Millan, she added, would make a very useful member of the Hospital'Board. Mr J. E. MacManus was well received when he appeared. Labour, though beaten in Dunedin, had, he said, had a win in Christchurch. The people there had found that the worst Labour council was better than the best Tory council. “ I am sure you will be voting Labour again in three years from now,” he concluded. “It is evident that the peopl# of Dunedin wanted a change,” said Mr P. Neilson, M.P. “ Well, they have got it, and at the end of the term we will see whether or not they are satisfied with it.” Mr Bryan O’Donnell assured his hearers that defeat only made Labour the more determined to fight back. Mr P. G. Connolly expressed his disappointment at the result, but was, he said, not downhearted. “ I had thought,” he added, “that the powers of the Press were on the wane, but apparently there are still thousands of people in the city who are prepared to allow the editors of the newspapers to do their thinking for them.” (Cries of “ Can’t you take it? ” and hooting.) Labour’s policy, added Mr Connolly, was the only useful one for the city. He called for cheers for the successful candidates, and the call was heartily responded to. Mr R. Harrison and Mrs Gertrude Brooks also appeared and expressed their thanks to those who had voted for them, but despite consistent inouiries from the crowd, Mr Silverstone did not appear. The gathering then dispersed.