LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 24 April 1935, Page 4

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Most Interest Centred in Hawera Borough Council TWO SEATS STILL VACANT CLOSING OF NOMINATIONS

Friday next (April 26) at 12 noon have heen appointed by Statute as the date and time for the closing of nominations for the election on May 8 of mayors, city, borough and county councillors and representatives of city and borough constituent districts on harbour, hospital and power hoards. The last elections were held in 1933 and those returned have held office for two years. Amending legislation, however, provides that, after the 1935 elections, subsequent elections will be held every three years. With the intervention of Easter and Anzac Day, the early lodgement of nominations with returning officers has been delayed and there is the prospect of a last-minute rush* Borough council offices reopened to-day after the Easter vacation, but in many instances county offices will remain closed until after to-morrow (Anzac Day), which leaves little time in which to approach prospective candidates. ' HAWERA DEPUTATIONS.

As a result of the activities of several deputations of Hawera citizens during the past fortnight, the position affecting the constitution of the Hawera Borough Council has been clarified to a certain extent following the decision of the majority of the sitting members not to seek re-election. For the Mayoralty the present Mayor (Mr J. E. Campbell) is the only nominee and it is likely that he will be returned unopposed. For the council several well known Hawera business men, including members of tjie present council, have been interviewed by deputations and the nominations which have been handed to the Returning Officer (Mr H. S. Elliott) include, those of Messrs L. H. Clapham and A. Reid (sitting councillors), J. Edmonston, D. G. Smart and P. 0. Veale. Others who have consented to stand as candidates, but whose nomination papers have not been completed are Messrs. W. R. Butler (sitting member) and Rl. R. Henderson. These nominations account for seven of the nine vacancies, so that two seats yet remain to be filled.

The borough of Hawera is entitled to two representatives in the Hawera Hospital Board and in the past two years Messrs. F. Gillanders and W. G. Simpson have acted in that capacity. Mr Gillanders has declined nomination for a further term andUn his - place has nominated Mr I*.' O. Hooker. Mr Simpson has CQffJSented to‘ stand again and the papers of these two candidates have been lodged with the Returning Officer. In tins, event of no other candidate coming forward Messrs. 'Simps6h t 'and Hooker will be declared elected unopposed. The borough of Hawera also is entitled to- two representatives ,on the South Taranaki Electric Power Board. In the past two years the Mayor and Mr E. A. P’acey have acted in that capacity. So- far, the only nomination in the hands of the Returning Officer is that of Mr Campbell. Mr Paeey is still available as the borough’s second nominee and if no other nominations are received the sitting members will be declared elected unopposed.

For one seat on the Patea Harbour Board the only nominee so far is Mr S. Blake (sitting member) who has served in that capacity for a number of years past.

POSITION' IN COUNTRY. In contrast with the Hawera, Borough Council, where only thrgpi sitting members have decided to .be candidates, practically the entire personnel of the Hawera. County Council will be standing again) The present council comprises Messrs. J. B. Murdoch, (chairman), CL J. Preston, A. E. Washer, A. E. Death, A. G. Larcom, J. Lander, W. Rothery jfhd T. A. Winks. All have consented to nomination. It is belieyecl that Mr S. J. Bennett is likely to be a candidate for the Hawera riding. Mr Bennett was an unsuccessful candidate at the last election, and lie has again been approached to offer himself for election. Tlie county is entitled to three representatives on the Hawera Hospital Board and it is likely that the sitting members (Messrs. Washer, Winks and Larcom) will be re-elected unopposed. Similarly, the county is entitled to three representatives on the South Taranaki Electric Power Board and it is likely that the sitting members (Messrs. Murdoch, Washer and Rothery) also will be re-elected unopposed.

•ONE ELTHAM NOMINATION. Little interest has been manifested so far in the Eltham municipal elections for only one nomination has been received by the Returning Officer (Mr A. J. McPherson). All the sitting members are understood to have intimated their intention of standing again, namely, the Mayor (Mr Ira J. Bridge?) and Crs. A. J. Whiting, F. Gawith, R- s Lewis, W. Rficketts, T. Trask, J. F. Penhall and S. Richards. The borough is entitled to one representative on the Hawera. Hospital Board, the sitting member being Mr Bridge? who lias consented to nomination. Mr Gawith recently was approached, but so far has given no definite reply.

NO WAIMATE ELECTION In the case of the Waimate West County Council all the sitting members have been nominated for a further term, namely, Crs. E. Long, S. H. le Fleming, J. S. McKay, F. Mourie (Waimate riding), T. A. Bridge, H. H. Buxton and J. Leslie (Ivaupokonui riding). For the New Plymouth Harbour Board the sitting member (Mr W. T. P. Wells) has been nominated, and. similarly for the Hawera Hospital Board and South Taranaki Electric Power Board, the sitting members, Messrs McKay and S. J. Bennett (hospital) and Messrs Long and J. W. Snowden (power), also have been nominated. As the nominations

in all cases do* not exceed the number of vacancies, it is unlikely that an election will be held. In the case of the New Plymouth Harbour Board nominee, Mr Wells represents the combined districts of the Waimate West County and Manaia town.

PATEA BOROUGH So far as the borough of Patea is concerned only two nominations for the council, those of Messrs T. J. P. Scott (sifting member) and J. A. Manderson) have been lodged with the Returning Officer (Mr L.. W. Austin). It is understood that of the other sitting members, Mr J. Haworth is the only one who does not seek reelection. Mr F. Ramsbottom has consented to stand for a further term, as Mayor and the Councillors who are considered still to be available are Messrs A. Christensen, C. R. Honeyfield, F. C. McKenna and F. Naismith.

ONE RIDING ELECTION In the Egmont County Mr R. B. Fleming, Pungarehu, has consented to stand as a candidate for the north riding. There will thus he four candidates for the three, seats as the retiring councillors, Messrs W. C. Green, A. J. Lilley and T. Willcox, will also stand again. As far as can be gathered, the three retiring councillors, Messrs Geo. Gibson, B. G. Holmes, and Jas. Young, are likely to be returned unopposed for the central rid-, ing. It is considered unlikely there will bo an election in the south riding, where two of the retiring members, Messrs EL A. Collins and .1. S. Tosland, are seeking re-election, and it is expected that Mr W. A. Sheat will be nominated to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr S. F. Farquhar, who is not seeking re-elec-tion. It '.is; thought unlikely there will be any opposition for the two present representatives on _the Taranaki Hospital Board, Messrs A. J. Brennan and J. Young, nor for the six representatives of the Opunake Harbour Board and the five county representatives on the Opunake'Electric Power* Board.

ELTHAM COUNTY COUNCIL. There will be elections in two ridings of the Eltham county. The sitting representatives of the Kaponga riding, Messrs M. Barker and A. Y. Tait, are opposed by Mr Hooper and the sitting representatives of the Eltham riding, Messrs R. J. Knuckev and J. L. Campbell, are opposed, by Mr W. Robertson. So far the representatives of the Omona riding (Mr P. Brown), South riding (Mr A. L. Campbell) and Mangatoki riding (Messrs E. G. Gifford, W. E. Carter and C. E. McGuinness) are unopposed. For the Hawera, Hospital Board (two seats) Messrs A. L. Campbell and Gifford, the New Plymouth ilarbour Board (one seat) Mr J. L. Campbell and for the Taranaki Electric Power Board (two seats) Messrs Knuckey and McGuinness are all unopposed.