Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, APRIL 28th., 1927. ELECTION RESULTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1927, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, APRIL 28th., 1927. ELECTION RESULTS

No feeling having been aroused during the brief election campaign in Greymouth, there will be no feeling over the results, which were generally according to the expectations of the majority. The attempt to elect a Labour ticket on the Borough Council failed, and the rejection of these candidates will be approved by those who do not wish municipal affairs to be mixed with party politics. Still, it was not very kind of the “Argus,” nor complimentary to the rejected it had supported, to declare this morning that “Labourites have every reason for satisfaction at the results.”

Greymouth’s new Mayor, Mr. Greenslacle, is to be congratulated on his win, and there is no reason 'why his term of office' should not be a success. He could make it memorable and be sure of re-elec-tion, were he able during the next twp years to have a real start made on modern drainage and improved water supply schemes. Nor need attention be confined to “spectacular” proposals, as in little, things, there is room for improvement in municipal administration. « Mr. Greenslade has had considerable experience as Councillor, and should find no difficulty in carrying out -his new responsibilities. Mr. Parfitt’s defeat »vas probably due to the belief by many electors that two consecutive terms is long enough for the Mayoralty to be held by any one man, and must not be construed as a vote of tyant of confidence. Mr. Parfitt did excellent work as Mayor during the last four yeajjs, and he can look back on his experiences with pardonable gratification. AH the former Borough Councillors who again offered their services, were re-elected, Mr O’Brien’s personal popularity probably plac-

ing him at the top of the poll. Mr. Baty’s return to the Council is F • ,'• A . • .fi to>beWelcomed, and the high place initlie polling won by C.r. Kitchinghaim is partly public, acknowledgement of the good work he is doing to make Greymouth more beautiful. The new Councillors, Messrs S. B. White and D. M.. Robertson, should strengthen 'the business-administra-tion side of the Council’s activities, and generally, Greymouth’s progress should be advanced. The cost of tire election has been justified, and it is’to be hoped,that the conclusion of the campaign will not mean the conclusion of public interest in Borough affairs, nor should the elected forget their preelection promises. Little comment is required in connection with the remaining Borough elections. The Hospital Board representation has been changed, as expected, and the inclusion of a lady member is to be welcomed. There is scope on a Hospital Board for women’s special viewpoint to be presented, and Mrs. O’Brien will have opportunities to render her sex signal-ser-vice./rhe defeat of Mr. D. Tennent in the Power Board election is a matter for sincere regret. He sacrificed time and service for the public during the Board’s pioneering days, and deserved a more grateful reception from the electors whose interests he had striven to safeguard. This ■ will probably prove to be a critical tepn- for the Power Board, and it is to be hoped that the members will take their responsibilities seriously. In outside centres, a feature of the results was the surprisingly large for Mr. Archer at Christchurch. He was expected to win, but not even his most ardent supporter predicted such overwhelming triumph'. This was due to personal grounds, and a recognition that he did excellent work during-the previous term. His conduct during the Royal visit won general approval. Labourites polled well at Christchurch, but at Auckland and Wellington their candidates did not do so well as expected, and although a Labour man', won ’Hie Mayoralty at Wanganui against a strong opponent, results generally throughout the Dominion-demonstrate that the introduction of politics in these contests has not been encouraged.