TOWN COUNCIL ELECTION

Southland Times, Issue 17048, 22 May 1912, Page 6

TOWN COUNCIL ELECTION

LABOUR CANDIDATE RETURNED. BV MAJORITY OK TWO HUNDRED. Tin' election yesterday of a councillor to the Invercargill Town Council to fill the vacancy crctucil by the resignation of Mr AV. B. Sc.indrett dill not attract great attention on the part of the electors. Throughout the day mailers were fairly quiet about the booths, but there was a slight pressure between 5 p.rn. and closing time, this being chiefly confine,l to the Town Ila'l booths. Although tlie roll contained the names of 722ti persons eligible to vote, only 10:5 ft exercised their franchise. Tire result of the poll was announced to a fairly large gathering in front of the Town Hall by the Returning Officer (Mr Walker), about t> p.m., and was as follows:

Mr O'Byrne was accordingly declared elected by a majority of 224 votes. Mi O’Byrne addressed the assembled electors. He wished, he said, to tlian-k them all very heartily for the honour they had done him in placing him at the top of the poll. As a young candidate lie had not expected to win the dealers' confidence so fully—especially in view of the fact that there had been a number of old hands out. He accepted the honour as a compliment to (lie Labour party as well as to himself, and he took it that the people of Invercargill wanted more progress than they had had in the past. The Labour parly had advocated a, policy by which it was hoped to do more for the people than had been done in the past. He would in future try to give effect to the platform of his party. He could not say more at that time, but lie hoped to merit the confidence that had been vested in him. Mr Hugh Mair said that this was not the first time he had been before them, and he was sorry lie was not to again represent them. He wished to thank those who had supported him. Ho hoped that he would be again before them in twelve months' time, and that lie would then do bettor Ilian ho had done on this occasion. Mr R. B. McKa? said lie supposed lie ought to congratulate his friend Mr O'Byrne on his success. Ho had been told about a hundred times that he and Mr Mair were making a present of the seat to Mr O'Eyrne. Xow that he knew tiie figures he was satisfied that this was so. Of course they were going to get cheap milk and coal; but lie could not see how they could get it except at the expense of the ratepayers. As he was a ratepayer lie did not think they would be right to make concessions at his expense. However, he wished to thank all who had voted for him. He did not know whether lie would ever be before them again; but lie hoped to serve them in other ways. Mr McCulloch thanked those who had voted for him and stated his opinion that Hie electors had selected the best man from their point of view when they had elected Mr O'Byrne. (A Voice;

“TJiey were good pickers.”) Mr McCulloch said lie did not know anything about that; but lie thought Mr O’Byrne would serve the electors well. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer concluded the proceedings. LABOUB JUBILATIONS. After the result of the poll had been declared, a large crowd gathered in the Labour Hall, and Mr H. Sharp, President of tho Butchers’ Union, was voted to the chair. Naturally, a jubilant a-ir was observable throughout, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. Speeches of congratulation were given by the chairman, and Messrs H. Fairclough, A. Glass, Peter Anderson, L. Neil, Ross, Chas. Griffiths, and M. .1. Forde, and Mesdames Ross. Lang and M. J. Forde. It was mentioned that since tho Easter Labour Conference the United Labour Party had not lost one seat that it had contested. Tho political prospects ahead in Invercargill were viewed by the various speakers in a most favourable light. Mr O’Byrno thanked those present for the work they had done to ensure his return, and paid a special tribute to the members of tho Invercargill Housewives’ Union.

The meeting was brought to a conclusion with a salvo of cheers for the Labour party.

O’Byrno.Mair McKay McCulloch. Infer. Town Hall (1) 1ST i::. l.'l 39 3 Town Hall (2) Um 122 > 32 A Clyde St. ryj 7-! 14 13 — Dowmont St... 41 13 33 34 1 Miles RJ. 72 2-1 30 20 — Sylvan Honk.. 39 29 31 10 3 North In'Kill.. 42 20 13 5 — Gladstone 13 23 '24 1 1 Avenal 43 29 2S S — Lect St. aS 33 25 7 Total 753 Zio 443 171 11