SMALL NUMBER OF VOTES

Southland Times, Issue 24438, 19 May 1941, Page 8

SMALL NUMBER OF VOTES

Electors Apathetic

The election excited only a moderate degree of interest and the poll was small. It is difficult to say what proportion of the electors exercised the privilege of voting. At the last municipal election in Invercargill it was easy to determine the number, about 8000, by adding together the votes recorded for each of the two candidates for the mayoralty. On this occasion, however, there was no mayoral contest, and as there was no obligation on an elector to vote for the required number of councillors it is not possible to determine from the votes cast for the 20 candidates for the council how many individuals electors voted. At the last election Mr J. R. Hanan, who topped the poll, received 4377 votes and the last successful candidate received 2879. At Saturday’s election Mr Wachner polled 3518 votes and Mr Orbell was in twelfth place with 2167. Further, at the previous election there was scope for a much wider distribution of the votes, there being 31 candidates compared with 20 at this election. These facts suggest that although the municipal roll is now much larger than it was three years ago, the number of electors who voted was a good deal ‘ess. No doubt much of this apathy can be attributed to the war and to natural pre-occupation with the international situation. The weather on Saturday was also against a substantial poll. When the booths opened at 9 a.m. heavy rain was falling and showed no sign of abatement. Towards mid-day, however, the sky cleared and there seemed to be every promise of a fine afternoon, but by 2.30 p.m. it was raining as heavilj' as ever, and with short lulls these unpleasant conditions persisted until the booths closed at 6 p.m. HOSPITAL BOARD As only the required number of nominations were received for the three Invercargill seats on the Bluff Harbour Board, the only other election held in the city on Saturday, was that for four members to represent the city and the Borough of South Invercargil’ on the • Southland Hospital Board. There were seven candidates and of those elected Dr J. A. Pottinger, Miss H. L. Birss and Mrs R. Henderson were retiring members. The fourth successful candidate was Mr T. Pryde, who was seeking election to the board for the first time. Mr O. Smith, a retiring member, was defeated.

The returns from the 30 polling booths in the city, including six at the Town Hall, were received in the City Council office, where they were dealt with expeditiously by the returning officer, Mr W. F. Sturman, and members of the council’s staff. The first council return was received at 6.20 p.m. from the booth at a garage in Catherine street, and it proved to be a remarkably accurate indication of the ultimate result as 10 of the 12 candidates who polled best there wer-- eventually elected. It was also accurate in the fact that it gave Mr Wachner a substantial lead. As further returns came in he maintained and even improved his position, and lo; g before the final result was to hand, his place a the head of the poll was assured.

The second council return came from No. 5 booth at the Town Hall, but after this, except for a number of Hospital Board returns, which did not, of course, take so long in the counting, there was a lull. By 7.30 p.m., however, the returns were pouring in and the staff at the council office was working at full pressure. Thanks to good organization the work was carried through smoothly and efficiently, and all returns were to hand, and checked by 9 p.m. The figures were then read out by Mr Sturman to a small crowd which was sheltering from the inclement weather in the vestibule of the Town Hall. Before announcing the figures Mr Sturman explained that they were not final and might be altered by the official recount, which is to begin this morning. ADDRESSES OF CANDIDATES After the declaration of the poll, a number of the successful and one of the unsuccessful candidates spoke. Place of honour was accorded to Mr Wachner, who began by wishing the Mayor (Mr J. R. Martin) a pleasant term of office. He said he was sure that Mr Martin would preside over the council fairly and impartially. He thanked the electors for the honour they had done him by returning him to the council with such a large vote, and said he would do his best to justify the confidence placed in him by faithful service. His aim throughout would be the progress not only of Invercargil'. but also of Southland as a whole. He would also place his services unreservedly at the disposal of the soldiers and their dependents. Mr Wachner concluded by saying that he was sure the new council would merit the confidence placed in it by the electors.

“I wish to thank the electors for their votes and I shall endeavour to act on the principle that to whom much is given, from him much will be required,” said Mr Jones. “I have always voted without fear or favour and for the welfare of the city as I saw it during the

eight years I have been a councillor.” Mr Jones added that he was sorry Mr Dix had not been re-elected. The incoming council would have a number of important questions to deal with, such as the water supply and transport. He congratulate' Mr Wachner or topping the poll. “We have a city of which we ought to be proud and of which I am sure we are proud,” said Cr J. Pickard, who added that as in the past he would continue to do all he could for the progress of Invercargill. He also expressed regret at the defeat of Mr Dix, who, he said, had put in a lot of useful work on the previous council. Messrs Reed, Thomas, Parsons and Dr Orbell and Mr Pearce, who was one of the unsuccessful candidates, also spoke. IN OTHER CENTRES There were no elections in either the Southland or the Wallace County Council. All the retiring members of the Southland Council and the council’s representatives on the Hospital Board and the Harbour Board were returned unopposed. The same applied in the Wallace County except that Mr Colin J. Speight was returned unopposed for the Wairaki riding in place of Mr W. J. A. McGregor, who did not seek re-election.

By constrast, at Gore all the seats, for Mayor, Borough Council, Harbour Board and Hospital Board, were contested. There was a triangular contest for the Bluff mayoralty, but only six nominations were received for the nine seats on the council. Two candidates stood for one Harbour Board seat, previously held by the Hon. T. F. Doyle, M.L.C., who did not seek re-election. There were contests for the Mataura, Queenstown and Riverton Borough Councils and also for the Otautau, Nightcaps and Lumsden Town Boards, but at Winton there were only five nominations for .the six seats on the Borough Council.