MR A. M’LACHLAN GAINS SEAT ON TRAMWAY BOARD

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19239, 28 November 1930, Page 11

MR A. M’LACHLAN GAINS SEAT ON TRAMWAY BOARD

Election Results In Defeat Of Mr M’Combs, M.P.; Labour Vote Small. IN SPITE of a vigorous campaign, Labour did not improve its position at the Christchurch Tramway Board election yesterday. The hoard previously in office was returned, with the exception that Mr A. A. M’Lachlan gained the verdict over Mr John Wood, the sitting member for the Riccarton-Fendal-ton sub-district.

The result of the polling was as follows : Central Sub-district. (Five members.) ~'W. Hayward (C.A.) 5594 '"E. H. Andrews (C.A.) 5562 *G. T. Booth (C.A.) 5439 *H. Pearce (C.A.) 5352 *\Y. H. Williamson (C.A.) .. 5217 The above were elected. T. M’Combs (Lab.) 41 47 G. Manning (Lab.) 3792 R. M. Macfarlane (Lab.) .. 3747 P. C. Webb (Lab.) 3476 A. H. Scales (Lab.) 317 S Spreydon-Addington Sub-district. *D. Sykes 1379 G. T. Thurston (Lab.) 1109 Majority for Sykes 270 Ricc&rton-Fendalton Sub-district. A. A. M’Lachlan. - 955 *J. Wood 909 Majority for M’Lachlan .. 46 Avon-New Brighton Sub-districW *\V. J. Walter 1388 J. X. Harle (Lab.) ... 601 Majority for Walter 787 Hill-Sumner Sub-district. •Mrs E. R. M’Combs (Lab.) 1139 M. E. Lyons 709 Majority for Mrs M’Combs 430 sitting member. Labour Vote Not Improved. Jt 4s significant that, although the Labour candidates for the central subdistrict carried out a vigorous campaign, they did not poll any better than the Labour candidates at the election held three years ago. Mr M’Combs, who secured the largest number of votes of the five Labour members, was beaten by Mr Williamson, the Citizens’ Association nominee with the smallest total, by a margin of 1070 votes. The total poll was remarkably light, notwithstanding the large amount of publicity given to the election on the trams and at the shelter in Cathedral Square. Out of a total of 35,377 electors on the roll for the central sub-dis-trict, only about 9000 took the trouble

to record their votes. In some of the suburban sub-districts the interest was keener, but in no case was there a heavy poll. The first return to be received was from the booth at the corner of Wainoni and Cuff’s Roads. It came to hand at 7.8 p.m., and from then on the returns come in steadily. Shortly after nine o’clock only four returns were outstanding. They were all in at about 9.30, when the provisional announcement of the poll was made to a crowd of between fifty and sixty people who had gathered outside the Tramway Board’s office. The crowd was made up largely of Labour supporters, and the defeat of Mr Wood and the re-elec-tion of Mrs M’Combs were the results that were received with the greatest degree of satisfaction. The returning officer (Mr Frank Thompson) had all the arrangements well in hand for the poll, and no troubles were experienced during its progress.

“ DISAPPOINTED,” SAYS MRS E. M’COMBS (LAB.) GOOD-HUMOURED CROWD LISTENS TO ADDRESSES. Though obviously not pleased with the failure of the Labour Party to improves. its position on the board, the crowd was a good-humoured one and gave all the candidates who spoke after the announcement of the final figures a friendlv reception. Mr William Hayward, who again was at the top of the poll, said he wished to thank very sincerely the people who had voted for him. A voice: The people didn’t vote; that’s the trouble. “That’s your tault, then, retorted Mr Hayward. Continuing, Mr Hayward said that so far as the central area was concerned the electors seemed to have done the sensible thing. (Dissent). He had every respect for the other candidates had put op a good fight, but at

the same time he considered that the people had done a wise thing in returning the old members. A voice: To pull down wages. Ignoring the interjection, Mr Hayward said that he regretted that his old friend Mr John Wood had lost his seat in Riccarton. That, however, came to all of them in their turn, but he was sorry that Mr Wood had gone under, as he was a particularly useful man on the board and knew the trams from A to Z. The speaker was particularly grateful to the electors for having placed him at the top of the poll. Increased Interest. Expressing his thanks for the high position in which he had been placed at the poll, Mr Andrews said that there was a slightly larger vote than was recorded three years ago, and that indicated that the public were taking a greater interest in the Tramway Board. The board controlled the most important business in the city, and he was gratified to find that the electors, had endorsed the policy of the old board. That policy was to run the trams economically and to give the best service possible. He felt sure that the new board would continue that policy and so avoid having recourse to a rate which would add to the burdens of the ratepayers. While Mr Andrews was speaking there were several interjections. Mrs M’Combs, who was the next speaker, was greeted with cheers and her remarks were punctuated with applause. She said she wished to thank those people who had again elected her to the board. During the past three 3-ears she had done her best to serve the interests of the mass of the people who were tram users, and she hoped to continue that. “A Poor Lot of Mates.” A voice: You’ve got a poor lot of mates. (Laughter). “I want to tell \*ou,” Mrs M’Combs added, “that I’m bitterly disappointed that I will not have some of my own colour with me on the board. 1 fully expected that at least one—the best of the lot—would be there to represent \ r ou on the board. (Applause). I ; consider that out of the number of people on the roll a very small proportion only has voted. If we could only wake the workers up to the importance of these elections we would secure a much bigger representation than we have got.” In three years’ time, she said, she hoped that the workers would make sure that the> r returrysd a much larger proportion of Labour representatives to the board. “I want to tell 3'ou,” Airs M’Combs concluded, “that it is fair]}- lonely on the board.” Labour Disappointment. “It has been an interesting and a strenuous fight, but we have notsecured what we expected and what we would have secured if there had been a larger poll,” said Mr J. M’Combs, who was also given a very enthusiastic reception. Air Al’Combs added that the Labour candidates were not downhearted. On their behalf he wished to congratulate the “other people” on their very hand-

some victory—a victory which he believed they had secured largely as a result of the apathy, of a large proportion of the people of Christchurch. If people would go to the poll Labour would be able to control all the public bodies in Christchurch. (Applause.) Under the circumstances, however, he could not do otherwise than congratulate the other candidates on the clean fight they had put up. They had had the advantage of the motor-cars. A voice: And the telephones. (Laughter.) Air M. E. Lj-ons received a much less friendly reception, though the crowd retained its good humour. He said that he had already tendered to Airs Al’Combs his congratulations on her excellent win. She had served the interests of the people she represented very well. He had not been able to do any campaigning and under the circumstances accepted the result quite philosophically. Apathy of the Workers. Further references to the apathy of the workers were made by Air G. T. Thurston, unsuccessful Labour candidate for the subdistrict. He said that he\vas glad to have been able to reduce the majority of his opponent, but he wished to congratulate Air Sykes on the clean fight he had put up. He quite agreed with Air AFCombs that the victory of their opponents could be traced to the apathy of the workers. The workers,

he considered, should wake up to the interests of their class. When Mr Thurston concluded there was a plaintive inquiry from the back of the crowd, “Where’s Archie?” Air Al’Lachlan, however, was not present, and there were no other candidates in attendance who wished to address the crowd. RESULT OF PREVIOUS ELECTION FOR BOARD. At the election held three years ago the only Labour nominee returned was Arrs E. R. AFCombs, who defeated the Hon John Barr, M.L.C., for Hills* Sumner sub-district. In the Central sub-district the five Labour candidates were unsuccessful, the Citizens’ Association ticket, comprising Messrs W. Hayward, E. 11. Andrews, G. T. Booth and W. H. Williamson and the late Mr J. A. Flesher, being returned. For the Spreydon-Addington sub-district, the sitting member, Mr D. Sykes, had an win against Air G. Alanning (Labour), and Air W. J. Walter, the sitting member for the Avon-New Brighton sub-district, beat Air J. Harle (Labour), who opposed him again this year, by 1268 votes to 563. Air John Wood was elected unopposed for the Riccarton-Fendalton sub-district. Since the election in 1927 there have been two changes ip the membership of the board. Air G. T. Booth resigned

on his appointment as a member of the Arbitration Court, his place being filled by the appointment of Mr H. Pearce, a former member of the board, who retired in 1927. On the death of Mr Flesher his place on the board was filled by the re-appointment of Mr Booth, who at that time hUd ceased to be a member of the Arbitration Court. Airs M’Combs was the first Labour nominee to secure election as a metfiber of the board.