NO FINALITY IN ONE DISTRICT

Southland Times, Issue 25695, 11 June 1945, Page 4

NO FINALITY IN ONE DISTRICT

CATCHMENT BOARD ELECTIONS Mr B. C. Horrell and Mr C. J. Speight were elected to represent the Wallace and Fiord counties on the Southland Catchment Board at the elections on Saturday. The four representatives of the Southland, Lake and Clutha counties have yet to be found. The votes from three booths have yet to come to hand, and it is possible that these votes will alter the position of the candidates. The returns from these booths should be available today. It will be about a week before the official count has been completed. Five of the seven candidates for the four seats still have a chance. Mr G. A. Hamilton is at present in the lead with 1214 votes. Then follow Messrs E. W. Stevens, L. A. Niederer, John Dennis and G. W. Whittingham, with Messrs A. E. Butson and W. Grieve tailing the field. Only one vote separates Mr Niederer and Mr Dennis, and Mr Whittingham, who is in fifth place, is only 25 votes behind Mr Dennis. The three booths from which returns have yet to be received are Waimumu, Waipounamu and Kaiwera. Mr Whittingham can be expected to receive support in each of these districts and so, too, can Mr Dennis. The figures for the 88 of the 91 booths are as follows: — George Alexander Hamilton 1214 Ernest Wardlaw Stevens 1131 Louis Andrew Niederer 1087 John Dennis 1086 George William Whittingham 1061 Albert Edward Butson 462 William Grieve 277 Informal 34 WALLACE AND FIORD Details of the voting in the election for the two seat., allotted to the Wallace and Fiord counties are as follows: — Elected Bernard Claude Horrell 731 Colin John Speight 678 Not Elected Harold George Pinckney 440 There were 13 informal votes cast. The small number of votes indicated that little public interest is being taken in the setting up of the board. The roll for the district which includes the Southland county totals 7660, and the roll for the district which includes the Wallace county totals about 5000. Mr G. C. Hamilton was returned unopposed for the seat allocated to the Gore, Mataura and Winton boroughs, and the Lumsden, Otautau, Nightcaps and Wyndham town boards. No nominations were received for the two seats for Invercargill City, South Invercargill, Riverton and Bluff boroughs on the board, and the Government will appoint the required two representatives under powers given in the act. The Government will also appoint five other representatives to the board. So far no Government appointments have been announced.