THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 25 April 1907, Page 2

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

NELSON. AN EXCITING CONTEST. RETURN OF THE PRESENT MAYOR. REJECTION OF THE " MAJORITY." NEW BLOOD INFUSION.

The polling for the biennial election of the Mayor and nine members of the Nelson Hity Council was taken yestei day, and a good deal of interest was displayed by the municipal electors. The partisans of the various Council candidates and especially the Committees of the candidates for the Mayoralty displayed considerable activity and confidence. The day was fine till about 4.50 p.m., when heavy showers set in and continued thereafter through the night. Thus, between the hours of 5 and 7 o'clock it is probable that the voting was largely confined to labourers and mechanics on their way home from work, many other intending voters being deterred by the weather from leaving their houses. Beyond question, th« somewhat sudden change at the hour named had a marked bearing on the result of the Mayoral contest, for it was expected that out of a total on the roll of nearly 2700, at least 2200 voMs would j have been polled instead of a total under 2000. The 1936 votes polled, however, give the record for the past five or six years. The method of marking the ballot taper, though intended to sim^'ify natters, "s confusnig to many, nad doubiless led to many mistakes. The voter is told to make a cross against the nairn-i---of those for whom he intends to \ole, and to cross out if he so desires the names of those for whom he does rot wish to vote. Tie pr--vi.»i<iiis ot the Act render a ballot paper furiii.il \° it be indicated therein how an elector desires to vote no matter how iho marking is done. But the directions are too elaborate, and instead of helping they really confuse a good many who are not versed in election methods, especially women. There was much complaint, also, that numbers of names of qualified voters handed in for enrolment in due time could not be found either on the main or the supplementary rolls. This matter needs inquiry, while the Corporation authorities who have charge of the publication of the revised roll on the eve of an election should also insist on the numeration being more accurately done. A glance at the Nelson rolls issued for the election just over will show scores of mistakes in numeration due to careless or hasty proof-reading in course of printing. The result of the Mayoral election was made known from the Municipal Chambers somewhat earlier than was expected (a little before 9 o'clock). A great crowd had assembled in Trafalgarstreet in spite of the recurring showers, and a good deal of enthusiasm was shown. The small majority of 24 be-

tween the successful and the defeated candidate and the fact that less than 2000 votes from a roll of nearly 2700 had been cast despite excitement and interest in municipal questions caused surprise. The result of the polling for the election of the City Council was not known till past midnight, by which time the waiting crowd had dwindled down considerably, being driven home by the frequent and heavy showers of rain. An analysis of the voting shows that "plumping" was greatly resorted to, the whole nine required being voted £>r on comparatively few ballot papers. The choice ranged from votes for a single candidate, for three, for five, for four, for seven, up to the required number. This of course confused the issue a good deal, but the net result was that the vote cast for the Mayor was cast against the old Councillors who had constituted the "majority" in the expiring Council. Of these, Cr. Hampson alone secured re-election, Ci-s. Pettit, Atmore, Harrison, and Hounsell being defeated. Of the Mayor's minority Cr. Grace and Cr. Lightband were returned, but Cr. Turner lost his seat. The labour nominee, Mr Johnston, was also defeated by a few votes. The new Councillors elected are Messrs J. D. Robertson, W. W. Snod.grass, J. J. Franklyn, A. H. Bisley, T. H. Field, and W. MeConchie. , Apparently the Mayor has secured a majority on drainage and contract issues of one or two. On the result of the Mayoral contest being announced for the Municipal Chambers by Mr Smart, returning officer, there was great cheering. Mr Piper, who received an ovation, thanked the electors for returning him, and he said he believed that a majority of Councillors at his back to support him in the stand he had taken were also returned. Under these altered conditions the state of affairs should be improved very shortly. Having now overcome tht difficulties which had. confronted him in the past year, he hoped to show better results. An "hypnotic influence" had been exercised over Councillors which had astonished him. He had never desired to quarrel w;th any one, but he could not keep quiet while wrong was being done. He thanked the electors for the honour conferred on him. (Cheers). As the result was declared much earlier than expected, Mr C. J. Harley, the other candidate, was not present. THE POLLING. The detailed results of the polls are as follow : —

MAYORALTY. -4-3 tD -« c3 i3 O O »- O BQ o o e - £ « ■£ -S o ea - m m <S '3 -a "o •^ S— Ob-- c 2 -5-3 Si „- 1 ra w . prpER J . 189 245 I'B 80 10G 3 J 58 83 980 harley, c. j.::: :.. ... 257 m 211 101 54 a w 29 -m laformal 2 4 42 — — — lla