POWER BOARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23048, 27 May 1938, Page 13

POWER BOARD

THE ELECTION COUNT OFFICIAL CHECK STARTS ANALYSIS OF THE VOTING VARIATIONS OF FORTUNE Following the announcement of the provisional results at one o'clock yesterday morning, a start was made later in the. day on the official count of the votes polled in the election of members of the Auckland ElectricPower Board, which was held on Wednesday. On an extended franchise 12 candidates were elected and of these 11 seats were gained by nominees of the Citizens' Association, Labour obtaining only one success. It is estimated that over 40,000 rotes were cast and the returning officer, Mr. N. M. Speer, said yesterday he did not anticipate that the official count would be completed until perhaps the middle of next week. The annual meeting of the board, at which a chairman is elected, was to have taken place last Monday, but, owing to the fact that the election had then not been held, it was postponed until to-day. It will now again be necessary for the old board to assemble and, in accordance with statutory authority, to adjourn the meeting for a further week, when the official results of the poll will be known. Voting in the Oity An analysis of the voting shows that the 12 candidates on the Citizens' ticket polled an aggregate of 259,754 votes, which is equivalent to an average of 21,616 each. Labour nominees were supported to the extent of -223,818 votes, or, on the average, 18,651. Thus the average majority held by each of the 12 Citizens' candidates over members of the opposition ticket was 2995. The strongest voting for the Citizens' candidates was in the large city booths and, on the totalled figures, Labour was faced with a deficit of 9934 votes in the case of the booth at the Power Board's offices, 4410 at the Town Hall and 15,864 at the polling place at the Chamber of Commerce. On the other hand, Labour had a distinct advantage of 3942 at the Trades Hall and 5255 at Wellington Street. Fortunes fluctuated in the suburbs, although in the main greater success was obtained by members of the Citizens' ticket. In three Ponsonby booths Labour polled 136 more votes than their opponents and a decisive advantage was also gained in Point Chevalier, Penrose, Otahuhu and portions of Mount Albert. However, the Citizens' Association's candidates gained a sweeping victory in Remuera and further substantial successes in Mount Eden, Epsom* and several of the outlying suburbs and districts. Failure of Independents

That the issue in the electors' mind was clearly oiie between the two nominated tickets was indicated by the fact that all of the nine independent candidates fared badly. In gaining 9337 votes the Hon. T. Bloodworth, M.L.C., who was a sitting member of the board did much better than the others, hut. even so. he was 13.096 behind Mr. S. J. Harbutt. who topped the poll

Showing the ajrjrrepate of votes for the Citizens' Association's and Labour candidates, respectively at over 50 of the 111 booths, the following table illustrates the manner in which the support accorded the respective tickets varied in different localities:—

. ' - Citizens Labonr Tow Hall . 14,308 9,898 Oran?e Hall. Newton OAT 2,780 Trades Hall 628 4,570 Pom Board Buildings .. 14,510 4,576 Newmarket 4,002 4,096 Chamber of Commerce 20,547 4,683 Holy Sepulchre Hall 2,508 1,719 Park Road 2,298 . 1,297 East Street 1,470 2,301 Wellington Street 1,115 6,370 Eden Terrace 1,677 3,487 Richmond Road 1,525 3,535 Leys Institute, Ponsonb.v .. 4,009 9,701 Franklin. Road. Ponsonby . 970 3,504 fit. Luke's, Remuera 2,988 520 victoria Avenue, Remuera . 1,433 307 St. Mark's. Remnera 5,616 1,753 Pt. Chevalier Road 851 2,301 Pt. Chevalier Library 1,684 ' 4,580 St. Cuthbert's, Grey Lynn 1,382 1,690 Grey Lynn Library 1,518 2,333 Carlton Hall, Sandrintrham 1.883 2,430 Valley Road, Mt. Eden .. 4,058 2,880 Dominion Road, lit. Eden . 850 776 Mt Eden Road 2,744 458 St-. . Andrew's. Epsom 4,110 628 Royal Oak 3,706 2,027 Green Lane West . . .. 425 1,063 Tram Depot, Epsom 1,253 1,142 Penrose 377 2,008 Otahuhu No. 1 .. ,. 1,603 3.106 Mt. Albert 2,129 4,929 Ellerslie 2,437 4,252 Morningside . 1,465 2,053 Rosebank Rd., Avondale .. 1,121 722 Mission Bay . 1,559 1,276 St. Heiiers .. .. ,. 5,236 2,293 Howick 2,103 415 Manurewa No. 1 . . 1,860 1,219 Papakura .. 3,746 1,556 Manokau Booths M6) 8,556 2,257 St. .Tude's, Avondale 1,748 4,576 oandringham Rd., Mt. Albert 1,124 2,199 Mt. Roskill Rd. Bd. Office 963 653