LOCAL BODIES' ELECTIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 27 April 1915, Page 4

LOCAL BODIES' ELECTIONS

TO-MORROWS POLLING. To-morrow the electors will bo called upon to exercise their franchise in selecting candidates i'or various local bodies, and also for the Mayoralty. In addition to the City Council, Harbour Board, and Charitable Aid representatives to "be elected, the new Education Act provides that urban School Committees shall also be voted for on. the eame day. Therefore, in addition to the Mayoralty, there will also be nine City Cbunciilors to be elected, three members of tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, four members of the Harbour Board, and nine members of the Town Schools Committee. The electors will have a wide range of choice in most of the contests, and several candidates are | making their figst bid for public honours. The polling booths will be open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.

THE MAYORALTY. Under new provisions in the Municipal Corporations Act, the Mayor .will now hold office for two years. Previously, he was elected every year, but in future he will go in and out with the Council. The candidates are : W. Lock. C. J. Harley.

Mr Lock is the retiring Mayor, .and Mr Harley is a member of the retiring Council.

CITY COUNCIL. For- nine vacancies on the City Council there are fourteen candidates. All the old Councillors, with the exception of Crs Harley, Bishop, and Adams are seeking re-election. Of the remaining candidates Mr Harrison has sat in a former Council. Tho names of those who are standing are : Fisher, John Vernon *Hampson, William Spencer Harrison, John Berkeley *Mercer, John Charles Moffatt, Walter John 'Oldershawy Alfred Henry Pellew, William Frederick *Piper, Jesse Pitt, Frederick Augustus *Robertson, Joseph David Shone, Alfred Watson, Robert *Webley, ! Edward ■ • ' ■ ( *Wilkens, Henry Frederick, William .' *Members of retiring Council.

HARBOUR BOARD. ■'...•'■• ■'■{.-.. >.■■.■■ Six nominations for four members, to represent the City of Nelson have been received. Mr Bishop, a member of the last Board, is not seeking re-election, but the remaining Duncan (chairman), Washbotirn, and • ■Captain Macnab, are again going to the poll. Messrs Trask and Mercer have been members of former Boards, the firstnamed as a Government nominee, and the remaining candidate, Ma* Holdaway, is seeking the position for the first time. The candidates are : ,*Duncan, Henry Richard Holdaway, Henry Oscar "*Macnab, Henry Mercer, John Charles Trask, Ernest Edward *Washbourn, Henry Philip *Member retiring Board. '

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD. Three members are to be chosen from six candidates to represent ten i combined contributory districts of the City of Nelson, and the Borough of Richmond. Previously four members were elected, but the new Act now provides for only three. Messrs Baigent (chairman), Lock*, and Mrs Watson are the retiring members seeking re-election, and the other candidates are Rev. J. H. MacKenzie, W. McConchie, and H. O. Holdaway. The list is as appended : *Baigent, Henry Holdaway, Henry Oscar *Lock, William MacKenzie, James Hutton McConchie, William *Watson, Annie *Member retiring Board.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE. . A choice of twelve candidates is offered for nine vacancies on the Town Schools ■Committee .'. All the. retiring members, with "the exception of Mr O. (Stewart, are offering themselves for i-e----election. The candidates are:— *Boyes, Ernest Edward Buchanan, Jane McLaren *Easdale, John Newton Hill, Jessie *Karsten, Albert *MacKenzie, James Huttoil *McConchie, William ♦Stringer, John Alfred Treacher, John William Twort, Richard *Wim6ett, Arthur Frederick *Winn. Samuel . *Member retiring Committee.

For the guidance of voters'at the elections to-morrow the Town Clerk- has supplied us with the following information : - .There are five distinct issue, namely: 3. Mayor. 2. 'Councillors. 3 Harbour Board. *» 4. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. ■ -5. Schools 'Committee.

Eight polling 1 booths have been provided in the City, with an additional 'booth at Richmond for the poll for members of tho Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The City polling booths a? e asj under: — . 1. Council Chamber. Selwyn Place (Principal). 2. Oddfellows' Hall, -Waimea-st.

v 3. Provincial Hall, BruJgc-street. 4. State School, Hampden-street. 5. State School, Brook-street. ■ ' 6. Sundav School, Milton-street. 7. Sunday 'School, Vanguard.-street. 8. Harbour Board Office, The Port. Tho Richmond. Polling Booth' is at the Borougli 'Council Chamber, Richmond. The polling for all the different issues will "be. conducted in the same booths and at the same time. Tho poll commences at 9 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. In order to prevent confusion as far as possible, the voting papers have been printed on different colours, viz.,

Mayor: Blue. • ■ Councillors: Red. H. and <C. A. Board : Green 'Harbour Board : White. Schools Committee: Pink. • •Separate ballot boxes specially-marked "Mayoi*," or *» the case may "be, will he provided in each booth, and voters should be careful.to see that they drop their papers into the right boxes; other; wise great confusion in counting will be th« result. . . The Roll which is being used is the same for all the issues involved, including* the Schools, namely, the Municipal Roll (not the (Parliamentary), and only pei-sons whose names appear on tno | Municipal Roll will be entitled to vote In selectins the candidate for whom electors desire to vote care should be 1 taken to see, that the names of no more than the nunvber of members required remain uncancelled, otherwise the voto will he informal. The proper way in which, to mark the voting papers is to place a cross in the space provided tor that purpose against the name of the candidate to whom it is intended the vote is to be given, but'a vote would be quite good if, ; instead of making a cross against the name of the candidate to whom it is desired the vote should be. given, the name of the candidate or eari-

didateswhom it is desired ito vofco against, is struck right through with the pencil. The matter is quito simple it is remembered that a cross against the namo will mean a vote IN FAVOUR ot the candidate, whilst a lino drawn; through the name will mean a vote against the candidate.

The results of the polling will ho provisionally- announced from the Councilbalcony by the Returning Officer as soon as possible,..after the preliminary count to-morrow evening, but as, under th© iLoeal 1 Elections and Polls Amendment Act, a scrutiny has to bo taken, the definite result will not be announced until the following day or two.