TOWS COUNCIL VACANCY

Southland Times, Issue 17665, 24 February 1916, Page 6

TOWS COUNCIL VACANCY

MR SHEEHAN AGAIN RETURNED. The contest for the vacancy on the Town Council created by the compulsory retirement of Mr Edward Sheehan took place yesterday, and occasioned no excitement whatsoever. Although the polling was slightly heavier titan on the previous occasion when Air Sheehan was returned, yet the total number of votes recorded out of about a possible 10,000 was very small indeed. Mr Sheehan's total number of votes was live less than he received at the previous election. A feature of the contest was the comparatively poor showing of the two Labour candidates. Messrs Alswciler and Winder, the official Labour vote falling short of what was recorded at the previous byelection. It will be noticed that North Invercargill plumped solidly for Mr Sheehan, the feeling in that part of the borough being that North Invercargill should have direct representation on the Town Council. Following are the details of the voting:—

There were very few electors present ■When Mr T. W. Walker, the Returning Officer, declared the result, just before 7.30 p.’m.. all the necessary arrangements having been very complete. Mr Walker extended the customary invitations to candidates to speak. Mr E. Sheehan thanked those who had voted for him very heartily for having returned him for the second time. He was not going to make a speech, but he defied any man to §ay that he had decried the actions of any of the other candidates. He would be proud to do his best for one and all, labour included. (Applause). , Mr J. Winders said that it was the third occasion that he had come forward as a Labour candidate for Municipal honours, and it was the third occasion that he had been defeated. He did not envy Mr Sheehan, who had fought a good fight and had won. It, however, had been a Labour seat, and it would have been retained by Labour but for the opposition of a section of Labour. However, they now knew where they stood, and they would know what to do with these people in future. If the Labour party wished it he would again come forward, and only as a Labour candidate. Mr Jacob Aisweller said that, although he had not been successful, he would abide by the will of the majority, and he did not think that his candidature made any difference to the result. On some future occasion he would again offer his services, and he hoped that he would be then successful. Mr T. Harrington said that he was not disappointed with the result, which was not surprising when there were taken into consideration the forces and the elements that had been brought to bear, and which ought not to have been. He hoped that the time was coming when the people would not be led by any federation or ticket. They should not be led by cliques like dumb cattle. He believed in the old saying. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.” The customary vote to the Returning Officer brought the proceedings to a Close.

£ C O y; GJ = 2 - o ■s < £ m 'J2 £ Polling Booth. — Town Hall 17 35 117 lot 72 Marist Bros.’ School 15 7 20 23 20 Knox Schoolroom 15 7 20 23 20 Elies Road 10 3 IS 17 24 Georgetown 11 0 37 90 24 Ythan Street 10 9 2S 90 17 East Invercargill G 6 •It 4S 36 Isorth Invercargill s 2 204 5 20 Gladstone 0 2 20 15 5 Avenal 3 6 20 2 V 25 ss 76 540 3G0 316