MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14047, 29 April 1909, Page 6

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

YESTERDAY'S VOTING.

THE NEW CITY COUNCIL.

PROGRESSIVE MEASURES

ENDORSED.

Although not a great deal of public interest was taken in the municipal elections in Auckland city and suburbs, held yesterday, still there was a healthy sign in the number of candidates offering for seats on the various councils. As far as the city was concerned, the absence of any contest for the Mayoralty divested the elections of a considerable degree of interest, Mr. C. D. Grey, the sitting Mayor, having been returned unopposed. There was a big field to choose from, however, in respect to the City Council, no fewer than 23 candidates offering for the 15 seats.

In the suburbs the following Mayors were re-elected unopposed:—-Mr. George Savers (Grey Lynn), Mr. Oliver Nicholson (Mount Eden). Mr. A. Keyes (Birkenhead), and Mr. H. Cadncss (Northeote). This left contests in Parnell (Messrs. R. S. Briggs and C. S. Tapper), in Newmarket (Messrs. E. Davis and F. G. Clayton), and Devonport (Messrs. W. Handler and T. W. Cranch). For the councils, there, were 21 candidates' for the nine Grey Lynn seats, 11 for the nine Newmarket seats, 15 for the 12 Mount Eden seats, 14 for the nine Birkenhead seats, and 21 for the nine Devonport scats. Probably the keenest interest of all was taken in Devonport, where the polling was heavy.

" Tickets" were run in several instances, and while this necessarily led to considerable "party" feeling, still there was no bitterness displayed, and all tho elections were conducted in the best spirit, and excellent arrangements were made by the various returning officers.

The polling was not heavy on the whole. There had been such a lack of interest generally that it was not expected a big vote would be cast, but, on the other hand, the large "fields" of candidates should have resulted in more voters going to the polls. At the various booths, in the city at all events, there was but little to indicate that an election was proceeding during the day, although there was a good rush between six and seven p.m.

The voting commenced at nine a.m.. but the energies of the officials were not at all exerted during the forenoon. Matters brightened up after two p.m., and there was a steady stream of voters to and from the booths until five o'clock. Then the evening rush set in, and operations were at a high pressure up till the closing of the poll, at seven p.m. The pressure was particularly heavy at about six p.m. at the Federal Hall and St. James' Hail. Ponsonby electors kept their end up creditably, and voting was satisfactory at the New Zealand Express Company's sample room, Court Lane. There was moderate voting at St. David's schoolroom, Khyber Pass Road; the Choral Hall, Lower Symonds-street ; Queen's Hall. Pagetstreet; and the Orange Hall, Karangahape Road. A feature of the election was the large •number of women voters who discharged their civic obligations. THE CITY. In the case of the city there was no Mayoral contest, Mr. C. D. Grey having been returned unopposed, and this left the sole question at issue as between the rival candidates, of whom 23 offered for 15 seats, as against 33 candidates last election. At the previous elections the members of the former Council were re-elected in a body, with the addition of three new members, the Council having, that year, increased its membership from 12 to 15. The retiring Council, on this occasion, did not go to the polls in a body, Messrs. A. E. Glover, M.P., W. E. Hutchison, J. Court, W. C. Somers, and R. Farrell standing down. The retiring members seeking re-election were thus: Messrs. L. J. Bagnall, M. Casey, A. J. Entrican, G. Knight, P. M. Mackay, C. J. Parr, J. Patterson, H. M. Smeeton, and R. Tudehope. With the exception of two Messrs. Knight and Casey—the retiring members seeking reelection were included on the Citizens' League " ticket," which also included Messrs. F. E. N. Gaudin, M. M. McQillum, J. M. Mennie, P. J. Nerheny, J. F. Pullen, H. Shaw, W. A. Thompson, and G. Tutt. The Labour party supported the candidature of Messrs. T. Long and G. Davis, and the other candidates worked individually.

There was a total of 19,664 voters on the roll, but of these probably less than half voted. The returning officer (Mr. T. Ussher) was unable last night to state the total number of voters who exercised the franchise. This calculation is rendered simple where there is a Mayoral contest, but in the case of a Council contest it requires much detail work. The vote, as it stands, is an endorsement of the progressive policy pursued by the retiring Council, and it seems to be generally conceded in the city that the retiring Council was a good working team, with up-to-date ideas. The councillors elected take also the position of the city's representatives on the Auckland City and Suburban Drainage Board.

The returns from St. David's Hall were the first received, followed closely by Queen's Hall ; and then the Choral Hall and Express Company's Rooms returns arrived, all by 10 o'clock. The Ponsonby Hall return was through by 11.30, the Federal Hall shortly after midnight, St. James' Hall at 12.30 a.m., and Orange Hall a little after one a.m. By 1.45 a.m. the returning officer was able to declare the result.

Of the Citizens' League ticket three failed to secure —Messrs. Gaudin, Pullen, and Shaw—Messrs. Knight, Casey, and Read, who were not on the ticket, being returned. All the retiring councillors standing were returned with substantial majorities.

The voting was as follows: — ELECTED. A. J. Entrican ... ... 3245 L. J. Bagnall 32f2 C. J. Parr ... ... 3206 J. M. Mennie ... ... 3156 P. M. Mackay ... ... 3140 R. Tuckhope ... ... 3088 ' M. Casey 3059 G. Knight ... ... 2989 G. Tutt ... ... ... 2642 P. J. Nerheny ... ... 2609 H. M. Smceton ... ... 2597 G. E. Read ... ... 2570 J. Patterson ... .... 2538 W. A. Thompson ... 2210 M. M. McCallum 2185 NOT ELECTED. H. Shaw • ... ... 2101 F. E. N. Gaudin ... ... 2173 R. T. Michaels ... ... 1862 J. F. Pullen ... ... 1611 G. Davis ... ... 1440 T. Long ... ... ... 1028 D. Finnane ... ... 816 W. P. Black 743 There was a total of 126 informal votes. PARNELL. There were 14 candidates for the vacant seats in the Parnell Council, and two candidates for the Mayoralty. The retiring Mayor was nob seeking re-election. At

eight o'clock last evening a few enthusiasts gathered outside" the Council office, and the number gradually grew until about. 10.30, when the result of the poll was announced. There, was then a very considerable crowd. The returning officer, Mr. B. Gilmer, and his staff of assistants at the two polling booths of the borough, Messrs. P. Eraser, R. Cooper, J. Winks, W. Perry, H. Cuthbertson, and W. Hodgson, got the results out as quickly as possible, and as soon as they were known the two candidates for the Mayoralty, and most of the successful candidates for the Council, addressed the people assembled and thanked them for the support accorded. Out of 1662 voters on the roll 767 v.otes (including informal) were cast. FOR THE MAYORALTY. Mr. R. S. Briggs, with 431 votes, was elected. Mr. C. R. Tapper securing 318. There were 15 informal votes. THE COUNCIL. Following is the result of the polling for the Council :— ELECTED. W. F. Bines 466 Frank Fitt 440 William Thomas 415 William Johns 414 J. A. McConnell 412 George Foster 408 Charles E. Palmer 379 C. Wood 368 J. R. Lundon 312 NOT ELECTED. Charles Kay 298 John Rountree ... ... 277 G. Scarborough 250 Robert E. Isaacs ... ... 248 John C. Griffin 226 Informal, 29. All the members of the old Council seeking re-election were returned. They are :—Messrs. Foster, Fitt, Johns, Wood, and Lundon. GREY LYNN. Considerable interest was taken in the election of councillors at Grey Lynn, where there were 21 candidates for the nine seats. There was no Mayoral contest, Mr. Georgo Sayers, the present Mayor, being returned unopposed. Of the sitting councillors, those seeking re-election were Messrs. G. J. Garland, H. Schofield, W. J. Holdsworth, W. H. Murray, and J. H. Muldoon, and these, together with Messrs. G. Baildon, H. T. Buckley, E. Rewcastle, and J. A. Warnock (new candidates)," formed a "ticket." The other new candidates were Messrs. C. Norgrove, J. T. Mantel),, S. G. Newdick, R. J. Entrican, T. E. Short, P. J. McDermott, W S. Donald, M. J. Bennett, C. H Sexton, B. Squire, T. L. Thompson, and C. Morley. The Grey Lynn Citizens' League ran the following ticket; —Messrs. Bennett, Entrican, J. T. Mantell, Morley, Newdick, and Sexton. Messrs. Baildon, Holdsworth. and Schofield had also been chosen -t« members of the league's ticket, but they stated that this had been done without, their authority. Mr. R. H. Irwin acted as returning officer, and the poll was carried out satisfactorily, the polling places being at the Council Chamber, Primitive Meth >list Church (Great North Road): Methodist Church (Northeote-street), Ricnmond Fire Brigade station and Primitive Methodist Church (Richmond Road). The following are the results :— ELECTED. Holdsworth ... ... 992 Warnock ... ... ... 933 Baildon 932 S-hofield 902 Donald 727 Murray ... ... ... 721 Garland ... ... ... 698 Buckley 667 Norgrove ... ... 650 NOT ELECTED. Muldoon 577 Entrican ... ... ... 545 Sexton ... ... ... 535 Morley ... ... ... 534 Rewcastle ... .... 486 Bennett * 483 Thompson ... ... 405 McDermott ... ... 395 Short 367 Newdick ... ... ... 339 Mantell 232 Squire ... ... ... 149 After the results had been announced, the candidates briefly returned thanks at the various polling booths.

MOUNT EDEN. The election passed off very quietly in Mount Eden, and was conducted in a very good spirit. The only contested wards were Isios. 1 and 3. whilst Mr. 0. Nicholson, was re-elected Mayor unopposed. Nine members of last year's Council went to the poll, and all were returned. They are : Messrs. John Davis, J. P. Hooton, E. H. Potter, S. G. Burns, C. Hudson, C. J. Tunks, E. R. Ross, W. Woolley, and E. Yates. New members elected are : Messrs. B. Grayson, D. Meikle, and H. H. Seabrcok. Defeated candidates are : Messrs. J. J. Kinnear, P. E. A. Salmon, and Halt Skelton. The following are the results :— NO. 1 WARD. Four candidates, Messrs. J. Davis, J. P. Hooton, B. Grayson, and J. J. Kinnear went to the poll, and the first three were elected, the following being the polling :— J. Davis 305 . J. P. Hooton ... 262 B. Grayson 246 J. J. Kinnear 190 Informal, 1. 422 votes were polled out of a total of 1028 on the roll. NO. 2 WARD. In this ward Messrs. S. G. Burns, C. Hudson and C. J. Tunks were the only candidates, and being the required number were declared duly elected. NO. 3 WARD. In this ward, where some excitement had been raised, a "ticket" composed of Messrs. H. H. Seabrook, E. H. Potter, and D. Meikle was returned, Messrs. Hall Skelton and P. E. A. Salmon being the other candidates. The following are the figures :— H. H. Seabrook 424' E. IT. Potter 371 D. Meikle 360 Hall Skelton 259 P. E. A. Salmon 201 Informal, 2. 599 votes were polled out of a total of 1163 on the roll. NO. 4 WARD. Messrs. R. R. Ross, W. Woolley and E. Yates were the only candidates in this ward, and making the required number, were declared elected. Mr. Albert/ Robins was returning officer. When the results were made known, the majority of the candidates, both successful and defeated, returned thanks to the. hundred or so persons assembled in . front of the polling booths. An address was also given by the Mayor outside the Roskill,Hall. NEWMARKET. A good deal of interest was taken in the Newmarket, poll, and well over 50 persons assembled to hear the results. For the Mayoralty Mr. E. Davis was returned by a majority of 100, the figures being 240 and 140, with five informal votes. Only five of the old Council were standing Messrs. W. Edgerley, H. Kinder, Jas. McColl, A. Seccombe, D. Teed —and all these were returned. The additional successful candidates were Messrs. W. J. Jaffrey, J. B. ♦King, A. Whittome, and W. Whvman. Out of 542 vote*, on the roll 383 voted. There were three informal votes. The following are the detailed results: — ELECTED. David Teed 325 Jas. McColl 269 H. Kinder 261 J. B. King ■ ... 253 W. J. Jaffrey 252 A. E. Whittome 251 A. R. Seccombe ... ... 245 W. Edgerley 233 W. W. Why man 181 NOT ELECTED. R. H. Abbott 174 Max Hirsch 115 Mr. Davis, in returning thanks, premised to do his best to make Newmarket the

■ most progressive borough in the Auckland district. Mr. Teed regretted that out of- 1000 eligible voters only about 500 were on the roll. Various other candidates returned thanks, DEVONPORT. The election at Devonport created a good deal of local interest. The polling appeared to proceed casually enough during the greater part of the day, but busy times occurred at lunch hour and in the early evening, when the residents, mostly business men, were returning home. More interest was taken in the elections than has been the case for many years, the prime awakening factor being the Ratepayers' Association, which had nominated a ticket for both Mayor and Council. There were a number of other tickets, but the supporters of the parties were not keen enough to make matters particularly exciting, and the day therefore passed without incident. The events of the evening were of a livelier turn, a crowd gather-" ing in front of the Foresters' Hall until the result was announced by the returning officer (Mr. J. C. Webster), shortly after 10 p.m., in the presence of about 500 poisons. The result of the, voting for the Mayoralty was as follows :—W. Handlev, 759; T. W. Cranch, 612. The voting for tho Council was as follows :— ELECTED. W. G. Guinness 903 Geo. McKenzie ... ... 833 R. H. Froudc 770; Jno. Taylor ... ... 737 H. Wilding 721 W. U. Timewell 712 G. W. Ravenhill 615 J as. Mays 607 T. Considine ... ... 577 NOT ELECTED. W. B. Evre 554 D. W. McLean 521 J. C. Haddow 519 P. W. McCallum 493 R. T. Graham ... , ... 448 P. G. Andrew 440 J. W. Jenkins 318 E. R. Jones 279 E. H. Peel 202 D. Markham 197 Geo. Scarborough ... ... 151 The successful candidates, on returning thanks, wero received with cheers. The result of the election was a decided victory for the retiring members' ticket—Messrs. Handley (Mayor), Froude, McKenzie, Timewell, and Wilding. Dr. Guinness and Mr. Ravenhill were also included on the ticket. The only successful members of the Ratepayers' Association's ticket were Messrs. Taylor and Mays. Messrs. McCallum and McLean, who were nominated by the Ratepayers' Association, were the only retiring councillors to suffer defeat. OK TH COTEAt Northcote there was no Mayoral contest, Mr. Herbert Cadness having been re-elected unopposed. There were 14 candidates for the nine seats on the Borough Council, via. : — C. Boyd, J. Broady, G. Carter, G- Eraser, D. A. Gray, A. E. Greenskde, H. H. Hunt, J. Mackay, W. R. Rushbrook, J. Stewart, A. W. Tver, J. R. Tonar, B. Van Veen, A. Waterworth- The result of the polling was as follows :— ELECTED. Fraser ... ... ... 354 Van Veen ... ... 294 Greenslade ... ... 288 Waterworth ... ... 285 Tver 270 Stewart ... ... ... 255 Broady ... ... ... 255 Tonar ... ... ... 213 Hunt ... ... ... 212 NOT ELECTED. Carter ... ... ... 201 Rushbrook ... ... 191 McKay ... 157 I Boyd ... ... ... 128 Gray ... ... ... 84 Informal, 5. Messrs. Eraser, Van. Veen, Grecnslade, Watenvorth, Tyer, Stewart, Broady, Tonar, and Hunt were declared duly elected.

BIRKENHEAD. Mr. A. Keyes having been returned unopposed, there was no contest for the Mayoralty. As at Northcote, there were 14 candidates for the niie seats on the Birkenhead Borough Council. The candidates were :—Messrs. C. E. Campbell, T. Church, C. E. Dunk, H. Frith, J. Gilbert, J. Hadfield, T. Hadfield, J. O. Kay J J. R. McPail, F. A. Pitt, J. S. Russell,' E. G. Skeates, H. P. Taylor, and W. Wallace. The voting was :—

ELECTED. Kay 232 Pitt 232 Hadfield, T., 223 Wallace 218 Church 205 Hadfield, J. ... 201 Skeates 190 Gilbert 189 Campbell .184 NOT ELECTED. Russell 168 Taylor ... „ .'. 155 Frith 144 Dunk 142 . ONEHUXGA. The noil in connection with the return of the Mayor and nine councillors for the borough of Onehunga was held at the Foresters' Hall, when Mr. F. J. Brookfleld officiated as returning officer. A fair amount of interest was .manifested in the election, a little over half the roll total number of votes being recorded, or 992 out of 1724. The result, as generally anticipated, proved that the old party held the key of the position, the sitting Mayor and his ticket being returned by an overwhelming majority. The returning officer announced the result shortly before one a.rn. For the Mayoralty the voting was as follows: John Rowe, 724; J. B. Morton, 256. There were 12 informal votes. The poll for the election of councillors resulted as follows: — ELECTED. J. Lomas 676 S. R. Skinner ... 671 C. R. Davis 653 J. Stoupe 643 W. Colledge » ... 634 A. S. Holmes 627 H. 'J'. Horn 609 C. A. Osborne 581 H. M. Johnston 570 NOT ELECTED. J. B. Morton 375 D. Hastie 363 F. A. Moore 333 W. J. Brewin 309 W. R. Tole - ... 284 Informal, 43. Of the elected members Messrs. Colledge, Holmes, Skinner, and Stoupe were members of the last Council. OTHER RETURNS. MAYORAL ELECTIONS. Press Association messages announce the election of the following Mayors: — Thames: Messrs. F. A. Claxton, 363; H. Lowe. 360. Gisbome: Messrs. W. D. Lyman (reelected), 1230; W. Miller, 934. Mr. Miller has been absent in Sydney during tho campaign. Waiiganui : Messrs. Mackay (re-elected), 1486; Muir, 276; Battle, 197. Marton: Mr. R. E. Beckett defeated Mr. John McEldowney (the late Mayor) by 17 votes, after the keenest election on record. Feilding: Mr. W. J. B. Trcwin was elected for a fourth term, defeating Mr. W. S. Fitzherbert. Dannevirke: Pastor H. M. Ries was reelected. Hastings: Mr. J. A. Miller. Masterton: Mr. P. A. Hollings defeated Mr. J. Hunter by 264 votes. Wellington : Dr. A. K. Newman, 4522; T. M. Wilford, M.P., 4236; F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., 3208; Hon. J. Rigg, M.L.C. (Labour candidate), 824; F. G. Bolton, 616.

Lower Hutt : Messrs. E. P- Bunny, 664; W. H. Russell, 358; J. T. Hawthorn, 287. Onslow: Messrs. J. G. Harknees, 308; Charles Main/waring, 129. Eastbourne : Messrs. John Barr, 182; H. W. Sb.ortt, 172. Karori: Messrs. J. Dasent, 199; W. A. Kollow, 184. Nelson : Mr. Jesse Piper was re-elected for a. fifth term by a majority of 317 over his opponent, Mr. W. S. Hampson. Blenheim : Mr. Archibald McCallum was re-elected by a, majority of 140 over his opponent, Mr. John Connolly. Westport : Mr. J. 11. Greenwood was re-elected for a third term, his opponent, Mr. Hans Lamm, being defeated by 313 votes.

Greymouth : Mr. Eldon Coatee was reelected, he defeating Mr. Alfred Russell by 111 votes. Christohurch: Messrs. C. Allison (sitting Mayor), 5424; H. H. Loughnan, 3318. Sydenham: Mr. Charles Taylor. Dunedin: Messrs. J. McDonald (retiring Mayor), 3303; Walker, 3343. At the last election McDonald defeated Mr. Walker by 1200 votes.

Mornington: Mr. A. H. Bridger (reelected).

Port Chalmers: Mr. D. A. Demaus (reelected).

Invercargill: The election resulted in the defeat of Mr. Scandrett, who has held office for si.v consecutive years, by C. S. Longuet, who was Mayor some years ago. ELECTION OF COUNCILS.

Press Association messages announce that the following Councils have been elected: — Thames: Messrs. W. Scott, 589; J. Rowe. 517; E. Deeble, 510; W. H. Lucas, 455; W. Taylor, 455; G. Warae, 446; J. Thomson, 413; G. Comer, 398; E. Turnbull, 395.

Wanganui: Messrs. Poynter, 1332; Carson, 1328; Liffiton, 1312*; Burgess, 1154; Spriggins, 1055; Williams, 1049; Calver, 908; Young, 889 ; Holloway, 885. Wanganui East: Messrs. McCaul, Holloway, O'Leary, Willis, Allen, Neilson. Palmerston North: Messrs. Mowlem, H. Haydon, N. Clausen, Armstrong. T. W. Stubbs, H. Palmer, W. Mckenzie, M. O'Reilly, and Captain Hewitt. Waimate: Messrs. F. S. Jones, R. Inkster, A. J. Manchester, G. Collett, E. Saunders, W. Miller, A. Cox, J. Hunt, R. Hunt, and H. J. Moore. WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY. In connection with tho municipal elections a poll was taken in some places to decide the half-holiday questions. Press Association messages announce the following results: — Wednesday : Feilding, Nelson, Dunedin. Thursday: Wanganui and Christchurch.