HOKITIKA BOROUGH ELECTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 September 1906, Page 2

HOKITIKA BOROUGH ELECTION

Considerable interest prevailed at Hokitika yesterday, when the election for the vacant seat in the Borough Council was held. The result of the polling was as follows : J. J. Breeze .. -.342 T. Brown .. .. 183 ' T. Ralfe 1 Informal .. .. 28 Majority for J. J. Breeze .. 159 Mr Ralfe had previously declared his intention of retiring. In returning thanks, Mr J. Breeze said it had been said that he (Mr Breeze) was a tool of Mr Michel, bat lie could tell them that Mr Michel was not one to make a tool of any man, and he was the last man in Westland that could be made a tool of by anyone. (Hear hear and applause). Mr Ralfe said ho must thank the solitary voter who had supported him. Though he had withdrawn from the contest he had one faithful supporter. (Laughter and applause.) This election had been run on purely political party lines, and it was very regrettable that it should bo so. That was the reason for his withdrawal, as when ho found that such was the case he drew out to let the others have a fair contest. It was a pity that municipal politics should be run on political lines in a small community like ours, and if such a state of things was continued they would not get the best men to come forward for public positions. (Applause).