CHRISTCHURCH TRAMWAYS

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1927, Page 11

CHRISTCHURCH TRAMWAYS

■n . . —— ELECTION RESULTS. CHRISTCHURCH, November 25. The triennial election of members of the Christchurch Tramways Board were held yesterday, and in the Central Sub-District resulted in all the nominated by the Citizens Association being returned. In the other sub-districts, with the exception of the Hills-Sumner Sub-District, the members of the old Board were reelected. In the case of the HillsSumner Sub-District, the Hon. Mr Barr, M.L.C., was defeated by the Labour candidate, Mrs Elizabeth R. McCombs, who thereby creates two records: the first woman to be elected to the Board, and the first representative of Labour on the Board. There was no contest in the Riccar-ton-Fendalton Sub-District, Mr John Wood being returned unopposed. The result of the voting in the Central Sub-District, shows that there was a difference of 1155 votes between the successful candidate who scored the fewest votes and the Labour candidate who scored the highest number of votes of the defeated candidates: —

(Special to "Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, November 25. “We naturally welcome the result of the election. It shows that if the city is given a proper opportunity of expressing itself, the electors will go to the poll, and sound candidates will succeed,” said Mr W. J. Sim, Chairman of the Citizen’s Association this morning, when asked if he wished to comment on yesterday’s Board election. “As the Association is truly representative of the citizens, as a whole,” Mr Sim added, “we must feel pleased also that Labour has secured some representation. We are indebted tc our many supporters who rallied round us so well. We look for continued support from the citizens during the next eighteen months.” “The result of the Tramway Board election came to me as a very pleasant surprise,” said the Mayor (Rev. J. K Archer) this morning. “For reasons which I will not disclose,” he added “I expected that on this occasion, nc Labour candidate would be returned though I hoped against hope we might secure two seats in the central area Not for one moment did I imagine we could win the Hills-Sumner sub-dis trict, even though we were represent ed by Mrs McCombs. What she thought of her prospects it would be interesting to know, but it is a sig nificant fact that for the whole ol yesterday afternoon, beginning at hall past one o’clock, and continuing until five o’clock, she was in attendance at a meeting of an important committee of the Hospital Board, instead ol standing at the door of the polling booth touting for votes. Up to that time she had not even registered hei own vote. He very warmly congratu lated her upon her success. By hei election, Labour for the first time gets its foot through the door of the Tram way Board office. Eventually its whole body will follow. Moreover, doings ol the Tramway Board will now become of real interest to the public, who will learn the truth about the inner work ings of that organisation. Mrs McCombs has now the greatest opportun ity for social service of any woman in the Dominion. As to how she will fare, personally, I will not speculate She will be a sort of Daniel in the lions’ den, but like her Biblical pro totype, she will come out alive. Ae to what will happen to the lions, time alone will prove.” When asked if he still thought the Citizen’s Association did not count Mr Archer said: "So far as the Citi zens’ Association goes, the result ol the election does not indicate it has or has nof, the confidence of the Christchurch people generally. The whole situation has another explana tion. It has been found that 12,00 C electors voted at the Tramway elec tion yesterday. This about one-fifth of the number on the roll, which totals 62,605 electors. The Christchurch ■ Tramway roll is believed to be the largest in New Zealand, and largei ’ than any other municipal roll, and larger than any single Parliamentary roll.”

W. HAYWARD Votes. 4855 E. H. ANDREWS 4828 GEO. T. BOOTH 4693 W. H. WILLIAMSON .. .. 4463 J. A. FLESHER 4379 The foregoing were/ elected. E. J. HOWARD 3224 P. W. SHARPE 2858 R. M. MACFARLANE .. .. 2826 G. T. THURSTON 2657 F. M. ROBSON 2629 Spreydon-Addington. D. SYKES . 927 G. MANNING . . 589 Majority for Sykes . 338 Avon-Brighton. W. J. WALTER 1268 J. N. HARLE 563 Majority for Walter 705 Hills-Sumner. ELIZABETH R. McCOMBS . 590 JOHN BARR 508 Majority for Mrs McCombs • 82 — REPRESENTATIVE COMMENTS.