MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4047, 13 May 1938, Page 5

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

TE AWAMUTU CONTESTSTHREE OLD COUNCILLORS AGAIN RETURNED. There was keen interest throughout the day in the prospects of the several candidates figuring in the municipal contests in Te Awamutu. and though it cannot be said that there was a heavy poll a total of about 800 voting papers were issued. The returning officer, Mr D. Bockett, and his staff were well equipped to meet any rush of electors, ard voting proceeded smoothly from 9 o’clock in the morning until the closing hour of 7 p.m. At times there were far more electors assembled ready to vote than at other times; in fact, on occasions there were more or less short intervals when not a voter was in sight of the booth. The various candidates themselves refrained from an organised effort to induce people to go to the pollingbooth—this in contrast to happenings at some earlier elections—and their supporters took matters very philosophically. There was the usual lastminute rush just before 7 p.m., and then people repaired homeward to have a belated tea, to assemble again towards 8 o’clock in expectation of hearing the figures announced by the returning officer. It tvas at about 8.20 p.m. that the figures were announced, and the assembled voters—there was not a big crowd, for the night was cold—listened to, and applauded, the speeches of the candidates, and then were soon busily congregated in little groups discussing “ surprises,” prospects for the future, and even “ cabinet-mak-ing ” —the personnel of the various committees of the Council. RESULT OF THE POLL. Mr Bockett’s official announcement of the poll was as follows: Elected. J. STERRITT 597 C. J. SPIERS 592 A. ROWAN . 587 W. J. NORTH 560 J. A. MAXWELL 559 H. M. ANDREW 537 J. C. MONTEFIORE 518 A. C. BROOKES 411 Unsuccessful. A. G- LALOLI 264 T. ADAMS 241 SPEECHES OF THANKS. The Mayor (Mr George Spinley), addressing a crowd of about fifty electors who had assembled outside the Town Hall to hear the declaration of the poll, said that the people that day had elected a very fine Council, and he heartily congratulated his old friend “ Jack ’ Sterritt in topping the poll. With his help and that of the other elected councillors, he (the Mayor) would feel safe in his position. He was glad the three old councillors had been re-elected, as he interpreted that fact as an expression of confidence. As to himself, he desired to thank sincerely the electors for again returning him as Mayor, this time unopposed. Mr Sterritt, stating that he was much surprised at being elected top of the poll, returned his sincere thanks for the confidence reposed in him, and hoped that the ensuing three years would show that he had used common sense in helping to administer the affairs of the borough and that the people’s confidence in him had not been misplaced. Mr Spiers, like the previous speaker, was surprised and pleased at the result, especially as. he was comparatively unknown in Te Awamutu except for his association with sport. He hoped that their confidence would not be misplaced, and that at the end of three years they would be able to say that he, together with the Mayor and other councillors, had none good work. Mr Andrew said that to receive over 500 votes was a surprise to him, but he was very gratified for the support accorded him, not only for himself but for his father, who, in the evening of his life, would regard it as an honour with which to cheer his remaining days. (Hear, hear.) He thanked all for the proud position in which they had placed him, and, by being broad-minded and imbued with regard for the interests of all sections of the community, would support each and every movement for the advancement and general good of Te Awamutu. Mr Rowan, who responded to calls of “ Come on, Cheval de Volee I ” said he was proud to have that day been elected a member of Te Awamutu Borough Council. He would endeavour to serve the interests of the borough as a whole, and, in the words of the Prime Minister, lie did not think the elected councillors would “ let them down.” Mr Maxwell, after six years’ service as a councillor, had again to thank the ratepayers for re-electing him. He would do the saTne as in the past support everything for the good of the town. Mr Montefiore: Including Sunday tennis ? Mr Maxwell: We will see about that when the time arrivesMr Montefiore said he knew' that he w’ould be a long way down on the list. It was only through speaking his mind that he was in such a position. Any man w’ho spoke his mind as he had done was bound to get the “ raps,” as he had that day. However, he was pleased to have been rejected. Te Awamutu had a wonderiul Mayor, worthy to be heartily supported. He (the speaker) hoped the new’ Council w’ould cany out its duties as successfully as the old Council had ' ™hey had a big task in front of them, and would have a hard row to hoe, and he hoped the Council would be able to complete the task in a good, proper, and reasonable way. Whatever they did right he would support. He would bear no contradiction if he thought himself right, and w’ould not “ go behind the scenes.” He w’ould do his duty in the best interests of all classes. The other successful candidates were not present. At this stage the Mayor, introducing the two defeated candidates, commended their action in coming for-

ward, and stated that they deserved thanks for so doing, not being like a lot of critics in the street who were not game to face the poll. (Hear, hear.) Mr Laloli thanked all electors who had voted for him and all the candidates for the clean and friendly manner in which they had fought the contest. He cordially congratulated Mr Sterritt on topping the poll, and wished the new Council a successful term of office. Mr Adams also returned thanks for the support accorded him. He had been in Te Awamutu only a few months, but felt that Labour should be represented on the Council, and that w’as why he had stood. This concluded proceedings. IN NEAR-BY BOROUGHS. CONTESTS IN OTHER TOWNS. Mayoral contests took place in a number of the adjoining boroughs with the following results: HAMILTON. H. D. Caro (Citizens) 3625 C. Croall (Labour) 1915 Caro’s majority 1710 TE AROHA. R. Coulter, M.P., 698 H. L. Thornton 373 Majority 326 Mr Coulter has been re-elected for a further term, after having already been Mayor for 16 years. CAMBRIDGE. Edgar James 467 C. W. Boyce 269 T. Richards 204 Majority 198 Mr Janies was deputy-mayor and Mr Richards a former mayor. NGARUAWAHIA. R. Eyre 323 R. F. Knight’ 247 Majority 76 Mr Eyre was the sitting Mayor. TE KUITI. H. T. Morton 512 K. W. Low 422 E. M. Mackersey 235 Majority 99 Mr T. Carroll, the retiring Mayor did not seek re-election. TE KUITI BOROUGH COUNCIL. The election for councillors resulted as follows: —*T. M. Hetet, 662; *W. Rundle, 620; E. G. Ware, 619; *A. Dobson, 609; H. D. Higgins, 585; E. M. Innes-Jones, 577; *G. B. Johnston, 561; A. D McLennan, 505; C. C. Harris, 643,. Unsuccessful: .C. M. Wright, 445; G. Cameron, 406; C. JMullins, 403; F. J. Patten, 381; A. B. Cotter, 380; W. McNaught, 323; J. Thompson, 263; J. F. Lever, 168; C. O’Connell, 159. Waitomo Power Board representatives: *W. F. Cato, 659; C. S. Brook, 517. Unsuccessful; H. Hine, 493; C. J. Mullins, 359.