MR H. HOLLAND RE-ELECTED MAYOR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16843, 29 April 1915, Page 8

MR H. HOLLAND RE-ELECTED MAYOR.

FOUR NEW COUNCILLORS. SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY RETAINED. • Yesterday’s municipal elections in Christchurch resulted in the return of Mr H. Holland as Mayor for a further term of office; in the re-election of twelve of tho retiring councillors, the defeat of two, Messrs H. Hunter and A. M. Loasby, and the election of four new nominees, Messrs J. 0. Jameson, E. Peek, H. F. Herbert and j>; G. Sullivan. There were minor changes on the Hospital Board and Harbour Board. The Saturday half-holiday was retained by an overwhelming majority. In tho outlying districts there were many interesting contests.

The elections in Christchurch presented so many issues to the citizen as to call for the services of an army of deputies and poll clerks. Besides the Mayoral election in the city, thera mas the election of councillors! members of ' the Hospital Board and Harbour Board, and finally the half-holiday poll. Nearly two hundred deputy returning officers and a greater number of poll clerks were required to deal with the so issues, and as the poll was fairly heavy, their work required a degree of vigilance only acquired by long experience and thorough organisation. J'hnt everything went off smoothly and that the returns came in promptly reflected credit not only on Mr G. AY. Hulme, who directed operations, but also: on. his staff. THE MAYORALTY. Apathy in municipal government is a lOng-standing reproach in Christchurch. It is justified principally in regard to loan proposals and the general work of the council, but whenever there is the prospect of a dose contest at the polls, such as was provided this vear for tlve. Mayoralty, the citizens cam he depended on to exercise their franchise in substantial numbers. It was/the Mayoral contest, in fact, that created the greatest interest in yesterday's poll, and perhaps saved it from mediocrity in the matter of numbers. Tlie new biennial term attracted three candidates, and what would hare been a humdrum contest between the retiring Mayor (Mr H. Holland) ami Councillor H. B. Sorensen was transformed into a strenuous campaign' by the entry cdce again of Mr R, M. Speirs, carrying the Labour nomination. Last year (he contest was between Messrs Holland and Speirs, and the figures were :-q Holland . . . 7140 Speirs . • . . • 3840 ’This gave a total vote of 10,080, which could not be called substantial in view of the roll number ot well Over 20.000. Last year, however, there was onjv a rather uninteresting Mayoral contest- and a by-election of councillors, and to get a-parallel with this yoar it is necessary to go back to 1 Jlo, when the five issues of yesterday were before the electors. _ On that occasion there was also a friaugulnr contest for the Mayoralty, but Mr Holland, who was then completing his first term of office, registered am absolute majority, as) the figures show- - Holland . . . YBGD Thacker .. • . . 4115 M’Bride . . . 3477 The total of nearly 10/000 votes in 1913 was not nearly sustained this year, when 12,172 valid votes were cast for Mayoral candidates out of r. rojl number of 25,-100. Hie persistently wet day must have kept many voters away from the booths, and :t has to be remembered that in 1013 the Half-holiday factions worked untirirmly ;on polling 1 day, but yesterday's total, nevertheless, was somewhat disappointing. The figures for the MayoraJty wm extremely interesting, as showing that none of the candidates polled anything near a bare majority. Mr Speirs hardly improved on his figures of ilast year, while Mr Sorenson, the nominee of the Citizens' Association, was, 300 votes behind him. 'Hie figures, with the percentages of valid rotes, secured by each candidate, are afl follow:

The contest-was not fought on any burning issue, and although the Labour nominee had an attractive municipal programme to offer tho electors Mr Holland may he eakl to have iron somewhat easilyj> EJECTION Of COUNCILLORS. Two “tickets” wore run for the sixteen seats on the council, a Labour ticket and a Citizono’ ticket, blit there was never any groat likelihood that the labour candidates would secure a majority on the council. The nominees for)St Albans and the Central Ward did not constitute a full “ticket,” and were virtually unknown to tho great body of electors. The result was their rejection at the poll. But in Linwood tho .' three Labour candidates, all of whom could claim to have done the citizens some service, were returned with substantial majorities. In Sydenham, on the other hand, Labour lost one seat) Councillor H. Hunter being dropped out in favour of Mr E. Peek, one of the candidates backed by the Citizens’ Association. This was really the surpriso of the election. Tho net result of the polling was that the Labour ticket gained one seat. Two of the old councillors, did not stand for reelcetion. The.y were Messrs A. Morten and H. B Sorensen. Two were defeated, namely, Messrs A. M. Loasby and H. Hunter, and four new councillors will appear in their places. 0# these four, Mr D. G. Sullivan lias been most in tho public eye, not only in parliamentary contests, but as ,an able worker in the Labour cause. Mr J. O. Jameson has also been before the electors previously, for he sought parlamentarV honours in Avon in 1911. Mr E. Peek has taken a lively interest in local matters at Sydenham, and owes liia election to his popularity, while Mr H. F. Herbert lias served Linwood in a quiet way for several vears, particularly in school committee matters- The now council is constituted ■ as ' follows: >. . t H. Holland (Mayor). TV-JH. Cooper. J. R. Hayward. H.'/.T. Otley. J. jO. Jameson. G.i Scott. x ■

J. IV. Bcanlnnd. A. Williams. D. G. Sullivan. J. M’Combs, M.P. H. F. Herbert. OTHER ISSUES! The half-holiday question was the only other issue that created more than casual interest. Saturday was chosen by a huge majority in 1913 after a long Thursday regime, the polling being 9326 to 5454. The advocates of Thursday forced a poll this year by requisition,, and, although it was found that many of the signatures were not correct, tho poll was proceeded with in tho hope of another definite conclusion ’for Saturday. This result was achieved yesterday, when 7632 votes were cast for Saturday to 3466 for Thursday. In no case was there a majority for Thursday at any polling booth. In the Harbour Board and Hospital Board elections there were minor changes, but very little interest was shown in the results. RECEIVING THE RESULTS. The organisation for receiving and posting the results ivas thorough. Threo telephones were installed in the Land -Board room at tlie Piovineial Council Chambers, and the work was divided between sets of officers, who took each result by telephone from every, booth. The first return came from Westminster Street, conveying a brief half-holiday message. From that, time onwards the telephones were kept incessantly at work, and the crowd at the results board outside was given the final figures with remarkable *vomptitude. The weather was discouraging, but the outdoor staff managed its work well. AN ILLEGALITY. The polling in tho morning was marked by mi illegality in the issue outside many of the polling booths of voting cards, designed to influence voters. This practice is expressly forbidden under a penalty of a line of £2O Uy section 16 of the Local Elections and Polls Act of 1913. . The offence wiv* committed chiefly by workers for the nominees of the Citizens’ Association, but as soon as it was discovered that tlie practice was illegal thd cards wore withdrawn. This was done at Sydenham at thp instance of Air R. Al. Speirs, who called the attention of tho police to the practice. By 10 a.m. the cards had ' become a curiosity, hut in several cases a, note was taken of tlio names of persons who had transgressed the section. THE MAYORALTY. Very early in the evening it was apparent that tho Mayoral contest would !>e a close one. The Provincial Council booth gave a majority for Air Sorensen, but" in the suburban booths, especially in the Linwood ward, the returns placed the Social Democratic candidate within striking distance. With six returns to come in the Mayor was only 350 votes ahead of Air Speirs but when the returns from St Michael’a Church schoolroom and tho Methodist schoolroom, Madras St roe t, arrived, it was seen that Mr Holland’s position was secure for a fourth term. Air Sorensen’s. strength lay in the; Central Ward, which gave him a majority of about 100 over Air Holland. The final return came to hand at 9 p.m., giving Mr Holland a majority of 644 over his nearest opponent. Th© figures wero ns follow: Hoi- Soron-lan-.1. sen. Speirs. Provincial Council

CENTRAL WARD. (!v,x members.) Councillor W. H. Cooper earned the distinction, not undeserved by tho oldest member of tlie council, of topping the poll for the whole of tho city seats. In fact his 2422 votes wer* more than double the number polled bv tlie lowest member of the new council. ' the central quota being obviously larger than that in the otitgr_wards.

Councillor J. R. Hayward was within three votes of Councillor Cooper, a high compliment to one of tho youngest of the City Fathers. Tho figures are as follow:

SYDENHAM WARD. (Four members.) Tho Sydenham figures were the most interesting that came to hand, and tho result was a long time in doubt. Mr W. Dobbs, who stood at the eleition in 1913, .when r.o was the fifth and last candidate, was bracketed with Mr E. Peek as a Citizens’ candidate, but one was taken and tho other left. Air H. Hunter’s rejection was the most astonishing event in the election, lut the voting was extraordinarily close. Tho figures are as follow:

ST ALBANS WARD. (Three members.) Councillor A. S. Taylor polled heavily in St Albans, where the Citizens’ ticket had a bloodless victory. Detailed results are as follow:

LINWOOD WARD. (Three members.) The complete victory of the Lnliour ticket in Linwood was regarded as a notable achievement in that ward, hut it appeared oil analysing the figures that personal rather than party considerations led to this result. At tho last election Mr G. Scott stood for Linwood, and was returned with Messrs Jv M’Conibs and A. M. Loasby. This year Mr Scott secured nomination for tho Central Ward, and Messrs A. M. Loasby, A. R. llagg and W. H. Denton carried the Citizens’ Association nomination. Air Loasby was beaten for a place by 30 votes, but his companions were a bad last. Air Sullivan was warmly congratulated upon heading the poll. The voting was as follows:

WATCHING THE RESULTS. A GOOD-HUMOURED CROWD. CANDIDATES RETURN THANKS. Owing to the rain, tive crowd outside the principal polling: booth, tho Provincial Council Chambers, waft not so large a,s usual, and during the earlier part of the evening the crowd, which probably numbered about a thousand persons, was abnoraially quiet. Applause was infrequent, and though the returns posted up on the big bulletin board erected. for the occasion were eagerly scrutinised, there was no wild enthusiasm over progress reports. There was hardly a ripple, of applause until 9 p.m., when the final results for the Mayoralty and for the Linwood Ward wero posted almost HimUltimeously. There wero cheers and a mild counter demonstration when Air Holland’s sucoesa was certain, and very hearty applause over Mr D. G. Sullivan’s achievement in topping the poll for Linwood. There wan a lengthy wait for further returns, and it was just upon the stroke of ton before Air H. Holland, the Mayor-elect, appeared upon tlie scaffolding in front of tlie board to return thanks for his election. Ho was the first candidate to speak, and in the next hoar almost all the successful candidates for municipal honours mado their appearance. The crowd, or tlie noisiest section of it, gave some of tho candidates a rather unfavourable reception, but the interjections with which tho speeches were interlarded were mostly goodhumoured. THE MAYOR’S SPEECH. Mr Holland was the subject of a sesmi-frieiully } eemi-hostile demonstration. He said he desired to convey his thanks to those who had supported him for the fourth time. He appreciated their confidence, and would endeavour to act as Mayor of- Christchurch, and not only an tho representative of those who supported him. When ho «uv the largo number of motor-ears employed against him, and the wot day. he quite expected to bo , defeated. Ho would do his best to work in Ahe interesta-of the people, and trusted,- by hard work, to merit the continuation of He moved a hearty vote of jfhanks to the igßfcurning*officpr, Mr ft vf, Hulroe, underlie deputies ' for tho prompt and efficient way in which ltb«; KWults had been made available: -'''TKirTnotioh-ariw .carried bv acclamation, jrf' | Disjjb-ftVTEp 1

the Mayoral contest, thanked his supporters for the very handsome support given him on this occasion. There was nothing to ho ashamed of in such a vote. I A Voice: All workers, too. |

Continuing, Mr Speirs said he was proud to have the workers’ support. Ho would have been pleased to find himself at tlie top of the, poll, but it was a case of “If at first you don’t succeed', try, try. try again.” He did not know whether he would offer himself for election again. If Labour were to succeed iiio man must stand in its way, and if j a better man could be found to represent Labour in tho Alayoral contest ho would cheerfully stand aside. He congratulated Mr Holland on his election, tors uho had supportetd him. He besolute majority of tho electofs this ' time. He had gone down, and his star was waning. The electors had done the speaker the honour of electing him as ono of their representatives on the Lyttelton Harbour Board'. He was pleased that four Canal-ites had been returned. He was also very pleased that his old friend, Air D. G. Sullivan, had been returned at the head of tho poll for Linwood. Mr Sullivan ' had tried' long and earnestly to gain a public position in this city, and it was i good to see him win through at last, j He wished Messrs Sullivan,, Al’Ccmbs and Herbert every success in their effort*? on behalf of the Social .Democratic Party’s municipal platform. He' regretted keenly the defeat of Air H. Hunter for Sydenham Ward, but there was consolation in tlie fact that tho gentleman who had displaced' him was a supporter of practically every plank in . the Social Democratic platform. Air' Speirs, in conclusion, expressed the hope that Air Holland, during his coming term, would do things and not | merelv profess to do things without do- ! ing them. (Applause.) j

SUCCESSFUL LINWOOD CANDIDATES. Air D. G. Sullivan, who was given an enthusiastic reception, said that at last he had* managed to get oast the post. He had often, during tho last few years, had to stand on that platform and tell the people that he was a good runner-up, but on this occasion tho good people of Linwood had reposed their confidence in him. Ho heartily thanked the very large number of elec- ■ tors who had supported him. Ho be- • lieved that any man who consoientiI ously tried to serve tlie interests of the public was sure of eventually obtaining his reward. He was pleased above every personal consideration that the people of Linwood had demonstrated their confidence in the platform with which he was identified. (Applause.) M- J. M’Combs, ALP., who was loudly cheered, thanked tho Linwood electors for returning the whole of tho Social Democratic ticket. That tho Citizens’ Association realised that there was going to lie a hot fight in Innwood was evidenced by the fact that it sent more motor-ea.rs to that ward, in proportion, than to any other. He expressed his especial pleasure at Ml' Sullivan’s position at the head of the poll, and said that the Social Democratic Party had improved its, position on the council. If it made as much advance next time it would have a majority of members on tho council. He regretted tho defeat of Mr Speirs, as lie believed that tlie electors would not have regretted it had I thev returned him. As a. member of the' old council lie felt lie was voicing I the opinion of every councillor Alien he said that he regretted that Mr Sorensen would not be a member during the coming term. Air Sorensen had often vehemently denounced councillors of the speaker’s party, hut five minutes later lie would smile at them' good naturedly. That was the way in which discussions ought to be conduct-' ed. in such an assembly, and they, would all be sorry to lose Air Sorensen. (Applause.) Afr H. F. Herbert said, that lie stood before the electofs as an untried man. but he sincerely hoped the trust placed in him would not prove to bo misplaced. He would do his best. He knew he had a hard tussle before him. but he would work hard in tho interests of the people. He returned thanks to those who had supported him. CENTRAL WARD CANDIDATES. Air J. Hayward, second in the poll for the Ceutral Ward, was given a hostile reception by a section of the crowd, and opened liis address by declaring blandly, “ I never looked upon such a handsome lot of men and women m my life.” This caused further uproar, and the speaker was “counted out.” Continuing when the turmoil had subsided. ho said ho thanked the citizens of Christchurch for returning him. A Voice: Thank the Citizens’ Association. Continuing, Afr Hayward said the citizens had recognised the work he had done for them in the last two years, ami had, evidently agreed that he had done right. He would do his best to carry out his duties in a conscientious' manner. On behalf of other candidates for tho Central Ward, who would probably not be present there that evening, 'lie returned thanks ior the support accorded them. Mr H. J. Otley had n rather mixed reception, being “booed” by a section of the crowd. He opened his address bv challenging any member or the audience to say that ho had ever given anything hut a fair deal to anyone during the whole course of his public life. He ex .pressed his regret at the defeat of Air Hiram Hunter, whom lie had found a “real white man. though opposed to him m council politics. Tlie speaker congratulated tho workers on sending Air D. Sullivan to the council to represent, them. If they always selected such men as Air Sullivan they would have nothing to growl about. ST ALBANS WARD CANDIDATES. Mr A. S. Taylor, after returning thanks for his election, congratulated Air I). G. Sullivan on his election. He could assure Mr Sullivan and tho other new members of tlie council that they would find it harder to do things on the council than to talk about doing them before they got there. . At this stage Air Taylor was subjected to some good-humoured chan about the Lake Coleridge electric supply and ho threw tho attention of the audience to the two arc lamps which illuminated tha result board, stating that these were of tho type that would bo installed in Cathedral. Square. \ voice: And on the nrex banks? Afr Taylor smilingly declined to discuss this ‘ possibility. He said ho firmly believed Christchurch to be the finest city in New Zealand, and it was tlu. duty of councillors to try and keep Mr >T. W. Bcanlnnd said that during his year of office ho had tried to do wlmt was right, and ho would still do his best. He thanked those who had supported his candidature. Mr A. Williams returned thanks for bis election. He said he had had the honour of representing St Albans' on the council for eight years and would endeavour to do Ins best during tho coming term.

SYDENHAM WARD CANDIDATES

Mr Janies M’Cullough, who was greeted bv affectionate cries of “ Jimmy,” "made rather a lengthy address, in the course of which },c protested very emphatically against liis haring been included, a,t the last motnent, on the Association ticket- Ho had not been consulted on _ the matter, aud he considered it a disgraceful thing that such an organisation; should resort to such means to damage his chances of election- He expressed regret at the defeat of Mr Hunter, -who', lie said, had done very valuable work for the workers while on the eouncil. The figures for Sydenham, TC.-iid show«.rl .ftiat l.nhAor-

until it was Labour could never liope t-o succeed. (Applause.) Messrs F. Burgoyne and W. Miller also returned thanks tor their re-eleo-tion in brief and pithy speeches. Mr Miller registering a complaint against tho manner in which several Sydenham ratepayers had been struck off tho roll. Mr fc. Pock, the now councillor for Sydenham Ward, made a ra.ther humorous speech. Ho described how he had gone out into the streets with a big boll, and thus attracted the attention of the electors. He censured Air Hunter for publishing in tho newspaper statements which tho speaker had no opportunity of replying to. As a councillor the speaker would bind himself to no party, but would act in every matter according to the merit# of the case as they appeared to him. Ho had had a strenuous week of campaigning and he had thoroughly enjoyed liimself. *He thanked the electors for returning him. Mr Hiram Hunter said that the statements he had published were correct. He got his information from the city surveyor. He did not complain at being defeated, for that had been the lot of better men than himself, Mr T. E. Taylor for one—and Jack Johnson for another. He congratulated Mr Peek on his success, and expressed his pleasure at the return of the Social Democratic ticket tor Linwood. MR ALLISON’S SPEECH.

Mr C. Allison, in returning thanks for his election as a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, referred to his own labours in the cause of the canal project, and urged the necessity of agitation to secure for Christchurch fair representation on the board. Christchurch was entitled to nine out of fourteen members instead of five, and when the city had its rights in this matter the canal project would receive rrore attention than it had been getting lately from tho board, tho public and the newspapers. He expressed his keen regret at the defeat of Air Joshua Little, and said that Air Little’s laborious researches had proved of the utmost value to himself and other procanal members of the board.

After the speeches Air Holland was carried shoulder high to his committee room, and expressed his obligations to his committee, especially mentioning the chairman, Mr A. D. Hassail. He deprecated the proposal to widen streets out of ordinary income, and would ask authority from the council "to borrow £IO,OOO at the rate of £2OOO a year for street widening and other works. No effort on his part would bo spared during the coming two years to promote the interests of the city. Air Hassa.ll congratulated the members of tho committee on their clean work, and expressed an opinion that tactics adopted by opponents had helped Air Holland.

Cheers were given for the .Mayor and Airs Holland, and Air Holland announced that a social gathering of hi* workers would be held.

' 3 PcrVotos. contatfe. Holland . 43591 37.72 Spoirs . 3<U7 32.43 Sorensen - , 3834 29.85

Chambers 37:’, 407 181 Caledonian Hal 1 . 13S„ 149 89 St John’s Schoolroom . 10.7 153 -• 70 Si Michael's Schoolroom . 303 215 349 Madras Street Worth . 91 30 60 Foresters' Hall 177 151 183 Schoolroom, Stanniore Road 39 71 107 Stanmoro Road, near ‘ V Bridge . Hibernian Hall , . 40 (5n 23 74 147 122 Canterbury Rowing CInb . 26 22 .31 Knox Church 131 87 63 Marquee, HtanmOTe Road . •>75 284 230 Holleston Struct . no 73 .300 Leyden Street . . . b.A. Barracks. iitzgerald 100 73 163 Avenue .... Worcester St. and Lin wood 105 60 178 Avenue .■ 15.7 95 132 Charles St. and Osborne St. 43 .34 74 Colombo Street North 194 139 180 S* Albans Street Westminster and Cranford 37 21 14 Street* . • - • 7G 23 r>7 Madras Street North . 530 108 133 Rugby .Street St Albans Library 983 2:14 79 44 3.3 74 Westminster Street CHsso’d St. and Merivsle 17 20 18 m JU 40 Slater Street 44 41 75 CThrystal Street . - • Inne# Boa cl and Bctt » 93 32 28 55 36 15 Sydenham Club t 309 199 room* . * • 310 BnUersa !, Street 117 68 TM Hasting* Street . . 31 50 SO Selwyn Street V>Cy 80 84 184 Waltham Road . 40 109 Tennyson and Colombo Street* . • 173 107 379 Dickens Street . . Hi 63 7.S Waltham Hall . • • m 5o .115 Lancaster Parle . • 88 28 Totals . 4501 3634 3947

”2 g oJ ■XJ o ! t a . $ >x w a ti ►“3 £ o 'o c o' K Scott. 1 £ Provincial Council Chambers 325 143 355 331 344 277 32X1 107 290 117 300 270 289 2S0 ‘290 99 Worrohier Street 229 229 222 JUG 189 2538 10-4 .SI. Jolm’s Schoolroom ■211 ■'114 193 199 213 ICO 201 92 St Michael's Schoolroom 401 359 392 374 401 343 387 ISO C. E. Otley's Yard . 97 77 95 87 92 - 75 96 04 Eorcst-ers' Ha.ll . 283 220 2M> 250 271 208 254 170 Schoolroom, S(ah more Road . 141 111 138 140 140 113 152 104 Marque*, Stannic re Road 80 42 72 79 84 GO # 75 37 Hibernian Hall 175 132 219 103 103 139 1C4 92 Canterbury Rowing Club .71 41 45 44 42 45 45 30, Knox Church . 131 54 131 123 124 • 121 120 45 Totals 2-122 1571 2419 2287 2399 1996 2338 1130

a 9 c tn «? J Tc 5! ' £ "3 u rt s •§ 5 p ra "g « P P P P ■ fij Sydenham Football Club 229 192 200 254 220 223 Sydenham Football Club 223 193 214 233 208 220 Battersea St. 17G 129 156 197 189 143 Hastings St. 121 88 92 128 120 124 ■Selwyn St. 2Gt 186 216 288 229 193 Wai than! Road . HI 102 115 144 131 124 Tennyson and Colombo St. . 200 206 155 139 172 320 Diclteua St. 115 110 107 HI 112 111 Waltham Hull . 184 119 143 153 129 133 Lancaster Park 62 ■19 51 69 03 54 Totals 1061 1371 1432 1806 1573 1G 45

c ft _ r _ i Booths. eg 2J M o © HH H £ Colombo Street 3*5 lf‘5 lit 370 Oil Droids’ Hall 45 21 14 54 •15 ■Westminster and Cranford Streets 1IX) 6r? 4.3 1GB ;g Madras Street X. 332 162 128 347 250 •Kugbv Street 436 119 82 492 454 St Albans Bibrnrr . 79 eo 49 97 55 Westminster Street . 3G 18 17 44 28 Clissold Street and Merivale Dana 175 54 46 190 Hkj Slater Street so 84 02 100 51 Chrystal Street 43 37 23 54 31 Innes* and Bretts’ Roads KG 20 1.5 S3 88 Totals 1724 848 623 1930 1340

-ai JS Booth*. 0 c -s o b£ ic a 3 jr C Ti Stapjnoie Boatl iso 156 •202 1GI 119 169 201 156 .‘211 170 1SI 158 Kolleslon St. . 122 166 127 15 i 8<> 170 Jacyden Street . lot 171 133 201 65 207 Salvation Army Bavraohs. Fitzgerald Av. 103 161 136 216 80 218 "Worcester St. s.nd I-iir.rood Avenue 173 193 149 193 111 201 Chari e« anti Osborne Stf*. 38 71 51 9G 3!) 91 Total* !)21 1079 1049 1197 711 : 1217