LOCAL POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23499, 13 May 1938, Page 10

LOCAL POLITICS

AUCKLAND ELECTIONS SERIOUS LABOUR REVERSE CONTROL OF COUNCIL LOST “ UNMISTAKABLE SWING AWAY ” ( Special, to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, May 12. “Headed by tlie Prime Minister,” the New Zealand Herald says, " Labour insisted on a political Issue and cannot now escape the political interpretation of the result. The electors’ snub is direct, their swing away from Labour unmistakable.” The mast striking feature of the local body elections in the Auckland province was the great majority secured by the former Mayor (Sir Ernest Davis) and the loss by Labour of its majority in the City Council Sir Ernest easily defeated his Labour opponent and enters on his second term as Mayor. The position on the City Council is that the Citizens’ Party now holds 13 seats and Labour only eight. In the previous council Labour had a comfortable majority, and did as it liked. Commenting on the result of the mayoral election, the Herald said in an editorial-:—“ The electors have registered their resentment at the intrusion of factional political issues into local community affairs. That intrusion went to the unprecedented length of intervention by the Prime Minister with direct instructions to vote for all Labour candidates. Mr Savage may not be pleased at the result, but Auckland has correctly asserted its right to manager its .own local affairs.” A Popular Candidate The most notable newcomer to the City Council is Captain Judson, V.C., who polled heavily and finished seventh on the list. Captain Judson’s retirement from the Defence forces on superannuation aroused adverse comment a short time ago, as it was generally considered that he had many more useful years of service in front of him. His election to the City Council, therefore, is very popular. A familiar figure in local politics, Mr T. Bloodworth, M.L.C., had a bad day at the polls. Mr Bloodworth lost his seat on the City Ccuncil, being nearly at the bottom of the poll. He also failed to retain his seat on the Auckland Harbour Board, of which he was a former chariman. Labour’s capture of practically all ■the seats on the New Lynn Borough Council was surprising. The poll was a heavy one, 65 per cent, of the electors voting. Labour also completely captured the Onehunga Borough Council, but apart from these two successes' Labour generally had a very bad day. Prime Minister’s Message On the eve of the election the Labour Party published an advertisement in the Auckland newspapers calling on electors to “remember the Prime Minister’s message,” which read as follows: “ The municipal elections will provide another opportunity for the progressive forces to make common cause at the ballot box. My four years as a member of the Auckland City Council end 11 years as a member of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board convinced me that Labour’s policy is the only policy which can result in so ordering our local affairs ‘by co-operating nationally with Labour’s policy in Parliament, that a fuller life and a higher standard of living for the people can be ensured,” It can be anticipated that the City Council as now constituted will review a number of the undertakings contemplated by the previous council. The endeavour of the Labour Party to gain control of both the Auckland Hospital and Harbour Boards was frustrated by the determination of electors to stop this, trend, and while L-bour has a reasonable representation on each body, there is little fear of the threatened domination from that side of the table. WELLINGTON BODIES THE CITY COUNCIL VICTORY FOR CITIZENS’ TICKET (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 12. The poll for the Wellington City Council resulted in the return of nine citizens' ticket candidates and six Labour members. The citizens’ ticket representation is increased by one. the nine sitting members of the Wellington Hospital Board were returned. Of the 13 seats Labour secured seven, the same as on the old board, and the ciiteens’ ticket six. Labour and the citizens' candidates have equal strength in city representation on the Wellington Harbour Board. The'new members are Sir Charles Norwood and Mr W Appleton, both citizens’ candidates. Mr R. McKeen and Mr C H. Chapman (Labour) retained their seats. At the last election Labour won all four seats. Two citizens’ candidates. Mr G. London and Mr J W. Andrews, are the representatives of the combined suburban districts. The Labour Mayor of Petone, Mr A. Scholcfield, was defeated by the citizens’ candidate, Mr G. London, who comes from a pioneer family of the district. He is only 33 years of age. The citizens’ candidates won six of the nine seats on the Petone Borough Council. The citizens’ ticket had a victory at Lower Hutt, where the sitting Mayor, Mr J. W. Andrews, defeated his Labour opponent, Mr P. Dowse. The citizens’ ticket won six-of the nine seats on the Borough Council In Upper Hutt Mr P. Robertson (Labour) defeated the sitting Mayor Mr A. J. McCurdy. There were two other candidates. The veteran politician Mr R. A. Wright (citizens’ ticket) topped the City Council poll with 28,198 votes. Two other parliamentarians. Messrs McKeen and Chapman (both Labour) were next with 23,170 and 21,973 respectively. „ A new member, Mrs Knox Gilmer (citizens’ ticket), topped the Hospital Board poll with 23,900 Then came Mr F. Castle (C.) 22,746, Mrs R. Semple (L.) 22,011, Miss Amy Kano (C ) 21.991. Five women candidates (two Citizens and three Labour) were elected to the Hospital Board. Mr McKeen (L.) topped the Harbour Board poll with 22,550. CHRISTCHURCH BODIES COUNCIL AND HOSPITAL BOARD MAJORITY FOR LABOUR (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, May 12. • Labour yesterday doubled the number of its representatives on the Christchurch City Council, and now holds a 10 to 6 majority, which will also be strengthened by the vote of the newly-elected Labour Mayor, Mr Macfarlane. The representation of the Citizens’ Association was reduced from 11 seats, which gave it a big majority

on the last council, to six, and four sitting members lost their seats. On the Harbour Board, four city seats went to Labour, while on the Hospital Board Labour captured six of the nine seats. CHRISTCHURCH COUNCIL DETAILS OF VOTING (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH. May 12. The first past the post system of voting, as it has done on every occasion since it was first used in the 1925 council election, has again brought a marked change in the composition of the Christchurch City Council. Although the total number of votes cast in this election is 61,000 fewer than in 1935, this represents fewer than 4000 voters, and the polling under the “ first past the post ” system has again been fairly heavy. Of the total number of votes cast on Wednesday, the Labour candidates polled 52.2 per cent, and the Citizens’ Association candidates 47.1 per cent. In 1935 the Citizens' Association candidates polled almost exactly 50 per cent, and the Labour candidates 40 per cent. Detailed figures on the first count are as follows:- 1935 Labour 265,818 237,390 Citizens 240,269 282,934 Independent .. . • 3,073 25.323 Independent Labour Socialist "" Communist Total votes .. • • 509,169 570,682 The distribution of scats on the City Council in the two elections under review has been: 1935 . Labour 10 4 Citizens ...... « IN OTHER CENTRES (Per United Press Association) ASHBURTON. May 12. Mayoralty: Dr Miller 1165. W. H. Woods (sitting for sevenJ ea rUni.r J T Pratley (Labour) 259. Labour was rejected for the council and Lyttelton Harbour Board representation. A loan of £IO,OOO for tar-sealing the borough streets was carried by 914-354. OTAKI, May 12. Mayoralty: C. F. Atmore 388, D. Richards 340 i 5ARGAVIL LE. May 12. Mayoralty: Raymond Gibson 463, Francis A. Jones (sitting) 448. Mr Jones had served for 13 consecutive yearS ‘ TAUMARUNUI. May 12. Mayoralty: C. A Boles (sitting) 659. G. S. Steadman (Labour) 274, D. M. Simmons 267. HOKITIKA, May 12. Mayoralty: George Perry (sitting) 818. E. W. Heenan (Labour) 301. GISBORNE. May 12. Labour candidates met with considerable success in the Gisborne Borough elections. On the council. Labour representation was increased from one to four out of nine seats, a Labour Mayor and another independent LaDourite assuring the party of a majorlabour secured three out of the five borough seats on the Cook Hospital Board; one of five on the Power Board; but is unrepresented on the Harbour B ° ard ’ ROTORUA. May 12. Mayoralty; T. Jackson (re-elected) 1150 H. D. Dansey 796. By a majority of 125 votes Saturday was decided upon as th e haif-holiday in lieu of Wednesday, which has been the half-day for the past 15 years. WESTPORT. May 12 County loan proposals (£3BOO for new county chambers and £14,000 for tar-sealing of roads) were earned. In the borough the Saturday half -holiday was carried by a substantial majority. For the Borough Council the former members were returned, except in the case of one retirement. PAHIATUA, May 12. Mayoralty: The Deputy Mayor of the last council. S. K. Siddels was elected with 379 votes; J. W. Sturton 313. The half-holiday on Saturday was retained. TE ARO HA. May 12. Mayoralty: R. Coulter, M.P., 698. was re-elected; H. Thornton, 373. Weekly half -holiday vote: Wednesday 456, Saturday 604. HAMILTON. May 12. Mayoralty: H. D. Caro (elected) 3520. C. Croall 1915. BL g NHEIM) May 12. Politics received little prominence in the Blenheim municipal elections, but Mr C. T. Smith in the mayoralty contest defeated a prominent member of the Labour Party. Mr C. A. Garside, bv 300 votes. A third candidate, Mr McMurty, was another 500 votes behmd‘ WHANGAREI, May 12. The ratepayers of the Bay of Islands Power. Board area were emphatic yesterday in favour of a £200,000 loan proposal for electric reticulation of the far northern areas. The voting was: For, 939; against, 253. TEMUKA Mayoralty: Mr W. A. Buzan (reelected unopposed). GERALDINE Mayoralty.—Mr J. R. Lack,, who has acted as deputy Mayor of the borough for the past 11 years, defeated Mr B. R. Macdonald, who lias held the office continuously for seven years. TAIERI RIVER TRUST SNOW SUB-DIVISION Snell, Samuel 20 Moore, Andrew .... 11 LAKES SUB-DIVISION Wilson, Henry W 26 Marshall, W. J *• ’ WEST TAIERI DIVISION "Dow, James MOMONA SUB-DIVISION "Young, John LEE CREEK SUBDIVISION "Lyall, George John Sinclair. "Elected unopposed. OUTRAM TOWN BOARD The following were elected unopposed:— Doherty, John Hughes, Owen The remaining three vacancies on the board for which nominations have not yet closed, will be filled at an election to be held on May 23 LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL GREENSTONE RIDING Knowles, D, K 46 (Elected). Harris, E. L. 32 (Not elected). Informal 2 The new council is as follows; —Leo Lee, W. S, Reid, D. H. Cockburn, D. Aubury, D. K. Knowles. W. Gordon, and H. J. S Lewis. BRIDGING LOAN For 363 Against 51 Informal 1 QUEENSTOWN BOROUGH Gavin, F. J 347 Anderson, W. A 326 Mclnnes, W. McL 291 Scheib, A. A. T. .. .. .. 278 Miller, J. W. 239 Fix, J. P 194 (Elected.) Robertson, J. W. .. .. • - 172 Lovven, E. J 154 Edgar, J .. 132 Informal .. 8 (Not elected.) The Mayor (Mr W. H. Overton) was returned unopposed. The voting strength of the borough was 641, and 412 votes were cast. GORE BOROUGH The voting for the 12 councillors on the Gore Borough Council was particularly close, and with about 50 declaration votes to be counted only three

votes separate three candidates for eleventh and twelfth positions. The following is the result of the first count: — Wallace, E. G 1090 MaUon, P. T, R 1048 Green, R. S 1006 Hamilton, W, K 956 Reid, R. L 955 Robson, N 945 Sim, T 870 Ray, J. C 869 Latty, A. V 869 Hamilton, G. C 848 Baldey, J. A 803 McQuillan, H. .. 802 McLacblan, A. 800 Chiltock, C. L. 6<* Proctor, E. R OJ9 Wilkinson, C, R. B 430 Ffrcst, J. E >7l MATAURA BOROUGH McKelvie, L '57 Bell, D. A. 640 Hutton, R. 587 Ingram, J. sba McErlean, J. P 562 Bradley, A 506 Walker. M 496 Swale. J. W 476 McAlister, J The above were elected. Todd, A 404 Thorn, W. P 344 Hart, J 331 Taylor, J. L 329 Shrimpton, J. L 261 MATAURA MAYORALTY McConnell, C. D 456 Buchanan, J 427 Informal .. .. i 6 Majority for McConnell 29. SOUTHLAND ELECTIONS THE FAILURE OF LABOUR (Special to Daily Times) INVERCARGILL, May 12. The Invercargill City Council election resulted in the return of 11 of the 12 candidates nominated by the Ratepayers’ and Citizens’ Association, the association’s other nominee being the highest unsuccessful candidate. The Labour Party failed to secure the election of a single councillor. The four sitting councillors polled well to secure re-election. The only independent candidate to be elected was Mr Abraham Wachner. More than 10 per cent, of the votes for the council election were informal. There was no change in the city representation on the Southland Hospital Board, but Mr C. B. Tapley defeated Mr R. P. Meek for a seat on the Bluff Harbour Board. CITY COUNCIL The following is the order of voting in the City Council election: —

* Sitting members. The personnel of the other principal local bodies in Southland is as follows: — BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD Anderson, Sir Robert Cameron, J. *Aitken, A. H. •Wraytt, G. A. *Norman, W. M, •McGregor, W. J. A. •Ott, W. A. •Longuet, C. S. C. B. Tapley. •Doyle, T. F. •Spencer, L, W. Cockburn, D. H. SOUTHLAND HOSPITAL BOARD •Golden. T. •Norman. W. M. •Clark, W. •McKenzie, A. •Wraytt, G. A. •Trapski, F. F. •Newman, A. T. •McDougall, J. S. A. •Miller, J. W. •Miller, John. •Pottihger, J. A. *Birss, Miss 11. L. •Henderson, Mrs A. J. L. Hunt, Miss Hellen. Smith, J. H. SOUTHLAND COUNTY COUNCIL 'Golden, T. •Norman, W. M. •Dennis, J. ‘Trapski, F. F. •McNeill, J. •Whittingham, G, W. •McNaught, A. S. •Niedcrer, L. A. •Wraytt, G. A. •Re-elected. BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD LAKE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE COCKBURN, D. H 400 Overton, W. H. 376 Not Elected.

*Hanan, J. R. .. 4410 Martin, J. R. .. 3964 Pickard, J 3949 Wachner, A. • .« 2870 * Scott, A 3843 *McLauchian, E. J. 3830 Webb. F. A. .. , , • . 3803 McCarthy, A. .. 3553 Broughton, G. C. 3363 * Jones, A. W. .. 3247 Dix, A 3069 Blackmore, L. A. 2894 The above were elected. Fisher, G. E. .. 2339 Parsons, R. T. .. 2199 Edwards. A. M. 2157 Thomas. W. J. .. 2154 Grantham, M. W. 2020 ALsweiler, J. .. 1944 Winder, W. 1835 O’Byrne, W. A. 1834 Young. W. A. .. 1821 Mitchell. L. S. .. 1819 Harris, D 1728 McDougall, H. .. 1685 Irving, H. S. .. 1662 Jones, F. C. 1631 Fredric, J. A. M. 1451 Tisbury, G. 1325 Crimp, A. E. .. 794 Challis. F. R. .. 743 Informal .. .. 831