CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 29 April 1927, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 28. AIR ARCHER’S WIN. The elections were the principal topic of conversation, in the city todav. Tho prevailing sentiment was one of astonishment at. the enormous majority .secured by Rev'.- J. K. Archer.' His victory was not altogether unexpected, bis Iriends having been extremely confident that bo would win, but neither friends nor opponents ever imagined that he would bt3 returned by isucli a sweeping majority. LABOUR IN SADDLE. Another aspect which was commonly discussed was the return of a Labour majority to the City Council. Tin's was quite unexpected, except m the most optimistic ranks of the Labour Party, and there is a great deal of curiosity being manifested regarding what will happen when the new Council assembles. “ GREAT CO-PARTNERSHIP.” “The very first official act of the Alayoress and myself,” said the Mayor, “will be to invite the whole of the' members of the staff and their wives, whether inside or outside, to a social evening, where, in addition to having a good time together, I shall place before them my idea of a City Council as a groat co-partnenship. I have always tried to regard the employees as citizens well as servants, and I am now going to test my conviction, that if they are treated with courtesv and consideration they will rise ‘o the occasion and play their part in the development of tlie city.” INFORAIAL VOTES. The percentage of informal votes at the civic elections works out at about nine. it is thought this is only very approximate. The number, about 7736, is very large,- and most of them were informal through voters not striking out enough names on the ballot papers. About 27,000 or 28,000 people voted, according to an estimate by the returning officer. STALWART'S DEATH. A very pathetic duty faced the Mayor and Alayoress this morning, following on the victory they achieved yesterday. A frail old man residing in Sydenham, who has been a supporter of the Labour Party for many years, and eagerly anticipated some sort of big Labour victory such as was ‘mined yesterday, collapsed and died in bis lied this morning immediately after reading the result, of -lie elections. The Alayor and Alayoress were informed of his. death, and as their first duty they called on the widow and expressed their condolences to her. Mr Archer will also conduct the funeral service on Saturday.