COUNTY COUNCILS

Southland Times, Issue 20769, 9 May 1929, Page 8

COUNTY COUNCILS

YESTERDAY’S POLL p SOUTHLAND MEMBERS RETURNED ONE CHANGE IN WALLACE Despite unfavourable weather there was fairly heavy polling yesterday in the three ridings in the Southland County in which contests took place. In each instance the sitting member was placed at the head of the poll, although in the case of the Awarua riding the margin in favour of the present member is so slender that the declaration votes and the scrutiny may alter the position. In the Wallace County the voting was not heavy. In six ridings the sitting member was returned unopposed. In the other three ridings two sitting members were returned and one defeated. SOUTHLAND RESULTS. The results of the voting in the three ridings were as follows:— Waihopai.

*L. A. Niederer 782 W. Clark 322 A total of 1,104 votes as compared with 889 in 1923, the last occasion on which an election was held in the riding. Awarua. •JR. Baird 382 A. S. McNaught 371 C. Milne 115 A total of 868 votes as compared with 799 in 1923. Mataura. •R F. Trapski ,570 R. H. Gardync .. 230 A total of 800 as compared with 803 in 1923. •* Denotes sitting member. Should Mr Baird maintain his majority after the declaration votes are counted and the scrutiny made, the old council will have been re-elected in toto. It will consist of the following members: — Winton Riding—William M. Norman. Oreti Riding—George A. Wraytt. Waikaia Riding—-Colin Robertson. Wallacetown Riding—James McNeill. Hokonui Riding—Erskine Bowmar. Toetoes Riding—Thomas Golden. Awarua Riding—Robert Baird. Waihopai Riding—Louis Niederer. Mataura Riding—Frederick Trapski. •CANDIDATES SPEAK. The Returning Officer (Mr A. J. Service) had the polling arrangements so complete that he was able to announce the final figures shortly after 8 p.m. He made it clear that these figures were subject to scrutiny and that declaration votes had still to be counted.

After the results had been announced a number of candidates spoke briefly. Mr L. A. Niederer, the present chairman, thanked the electors of the Waihopai riding for placing him at the top of the poll. He assured them that he would continue to do his best for the riding and the county generally. Mr Niederer concluded by paying a tribute to his chivalrous opponent, Mr W. Clark.

Mr R. Baird thanked the electors of the Awarua riding for their continued support. He mentioned that he had now been their representative for 12 years. On behalf of Mr F. Trapski, who was unable to be present, Mr McNeill returned thanks to the electors of the Mataura ingMr Walter Clark congratulated Mr Niederer on his success and the electors on having chosen the better man. A number of the candidates who were returned unopposed also spoke. Mr Niederer said that he did not wish proceedings to close without, reference to the “father of the council,” Mr Colin Robertson, who had been Waikaia’s representative for 32} years, during which time he had been opposed only once. That was a wonderful record.

Mr Niederer also paid a tribute to the efficiency of the Returning Office add the county staff. WALLACE COUNTY. In the Wallace County only one sitting member, Mr Henry Garden, suffered defeat. In six ridings the sitting member was returned. The results of the voting were:— Mararoa Riding. ‘Henry F. Blatch 146 Alexander Roy 80 Pourakino Riding. ’William Baylis Hopcroft. 191 John Fraser .. 84 Orepuki Riding. John Horrell 194 ’Henry Garden 136 ’ Denotes sitting member. The new council will be:—Waimatuku Riding—Frederick James Linscott. Aparima Riding—William Thomas James. Otautau Riding—Thomas Anson Buckingham. Waiau Riding—Samuel Fowle. Wairaki Riding-William James Annan McGregor. Wairio Riding—Lawrence Cody. Orepuki Riding—John Horrell. 1 Pourakino Riding—W. B. Hopcroft. Mararoa Riding—Henry Blatch. LAKE COUNTY. The results of the elections for representatives on the Lake County Council were as follows: — Queenstown Riding. —Two Seats. — John Cockburn 76 Leo Lee .. 1 57 Janies McMullan, junr 46 Kingston and Garston returns to come. Not likely to affect the result. Arrow Riding. —Two Seats. — F. S. Boxham 82 W. S. Reid 73 W. H. Thompson 41

HOSPITAL BOARD. There was only one election yesterday for county represcntativ.es on the Southland •Hospital Board. This was in the Lake County, consequent on the resignation of Mr J. W. Miller, who has left the district. The voting was: — J. Cockburn .. .. .. .. .. .. 326 J. McMullan, junr .. .. 258 Two small returns to come. Cannot affect the result. . ' Mr Cockburn has previously been on the board. This election completes the personnel of the Hospital Board. A comparison of the old and new board is:— Old. New. Miss H. Birss Miss H. Birss John Matheson John Matheson . James Robertson Mrs Henderson Colin Robertson Colin Robertson E. Bowmar E. Bowmar W. Clark W. Clark W. M. Norman W. M. Norman H. E. Niven H. E. Niven G. Wraytt G. Wraytt T. Golden T. Golden T. Rhodes A. T. Newman J. W. Miller J. Cockburn J. S. A. McDougall J. S. A. McDougall