HEAVIEST POLLING YET RECORDED IN CITY ELECTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20609, 9 May 1935, Page 18

HEAVIEST POLLING YET RECORDED IN CITY ELECTIONS.

MR SULLIVAN MAYOR. Secures Majority of 578 Votes Over Sir Hugh Acland. LARGE CROWD WAITS IN TENSE SILENCE. Citizens’ Association Gains Sweeping Victory on City Council. FOR THE THIRD TIME Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P. (Labour) has successfully contested the Christchurch Mayoralty. At the municipal elections yesterday he secured a majority of 578 votes over his opponent, Sir Hugh Acland, who was nominated by the Citizens’ Association. This was a record poll, with a total of 39,018 valid votes cast. The final figures were: — SULLIVAN 19,798 ACLAND 19,220 The 1933 poll was exceeded yesterday by 10,284 votes. When Mr Sullivan defeated the Hon W. Hayward in 1931 there was a record poll of 32,100, but this was passed by 6918 votes at yesterday’s election. At 7.12 p.m. the first return was received, and the suspense began. It was not until 9.30 p.m., when there was only one more return to be received, that candidates and their supporters knew the result beyond all doubt. There was seldom more than 200 votes between the candidates for that critical hour and a half. The tension among the large crowd, who had waited in almost tense silence, was eased when the third last result came from the Spreydon Public Library, and Labour supporters were almost certain that Mr Sullivan had retained the Mayoralty of Christchurch for a further term. On the Christchurch City Council the Citizens’ Association secured a majority of seven.

A SILENT CROWD.

Great Interest Displayed in Returns. THE MAYORAL BATTLE The crowd that awaited the election returns was the largest, probably, that has ever turned out for a municipal election in Christchurch. Manchester Street was packed well past Worcester Street, the fringe of the gathering being so far away that it is doubtful if the people there were able to see the result board clearl}'. Interest was confined almost wholly to the great battle for the Mayoralty, and until Mr Sullivan’s victory was announced there were no defections. Once, however, the Mayoral count was completed and the candidates had made their addresses, the crowd melted and only a very small fraction, comprised of the most enthusiastic, settled down to the long wait that ensued before any indication could be gained of the manner in which the council election was going. The night was unique for the dramatic interest which it held for the crowd. The lead established by Sir Hugh Acland after the first few returns had been received, a lead often to be re-established as the fortunes of the pair alternated during the count, provided an atmosphere of uncertainty that kept the partisans from any outward expression of sentiment, and there was presented the unusual spectacle of a huge crowd too keyed up to do other than eagerly scan the figures as they were presented. There were generous ovations for both the candidates at the conclusion, a recognition of the great fighting qualities of both more than any acclamation for either by opposing factions. The people were amazed by the size of the poll, and the}* felt the dramatic force of the fact that here was presented the outcome of a battle in which all the resources of the parties had been drawn on to the utmost. Few who were present will readily forget thn night.

Following* are the detailed results of the polling- for the Mayoralty:— Polling- Place. Ac land. Sullivan. Oddfellows’ Sail, Wool'n HO 195 G-lade Avenue 83 88 Princes Street 34 133 Bealey Street 116 65 St Andrew’s Terrace . . . 203 49 Antigua Street 80 121 Bllgh’s Xoad 90 lOO Seaton Street 192 30 Strickland Street 134 407 SCerivale Lane 317 63 Sydenham Library 156 426 St Chad’s Schoolroom 112 192 Sill’s Road 124 103 St Matthew’s Schoolroom 303 243 Wilson’s Bo ad 46 123 Milton Street 68 168 Lawson Street 183 423 Belleston Street 187 169 Colombo St. Bapt. School 390 406 Solly Bead 102 32 St Martins Library 178 173 Old Art Gallery 566 224 Waltham Library 114 346 Addington Library 66 3 49 Cranford Street 811 207 Randall Street 197 140 Barbadoes Street 207 273 Aid win’s Road 46 104 Rugby Street 848 278 Waltham Sail 90 323 St Michael’s Schoolroom. .385 255 Thames Street lOl 92 Battersea Street 78 277 Tramway Bepot 50 175 St Bavid’s S’room, Col. St. 101 194 Canon Street Sail 216 170 Oddf’s’ Sail, St Asaph St 146 204 Brougham Street 75 161 Ropklns Street 35 173 Stanmore Rd. Schoolroom 224 369 Leyden Street HO 265 Madras Street Worth .... 212 171 Cr. Tnam ft Antigua Sts. 409 295 Lincoln Rd. Bapt. Church 115 131 Barrington Street South 98 127 Papanui Memorial Sail . 337 262 Retreat Road 112 113 Selwyn Street 175 276 Woodham Road 112 81 Burlington Street 65 237 Somerfleld Street 110 153 Railway Social Rail ... 49 181 Tnam street, Linwood . . 116 334 Brown’s Road 262 104 Addington Library 125 290 Warden Street 150 104 Ch. of Christ, M’house Av. Ill 269 KAOx schoolroom 709 325 Madras Street, City .... 135 191 Gloucester St. Extension 161 205 Poresters’ Sail. Oxford T. 416 527 Meth. S’room, Harman St. 139 323 Coleridge Street 23 94 Slb’n Sail, Barbadoes St. 256 501 Bealey Avenue 588 361 Gloucester St.. Linwood . 167 229 Taramea St., Spreydon . . 102 186 St John’s S’xn.. Madras St. 219 130 St Andrew’s College .... 508 115 Lin. Ave. ft Buckley’s Rd. 193 310 Charles ft Grafton Sts. . . 124 352 Martin Ave. Schoolroom 112 236 Schoolroom, Oxford Ter. 193 119 S. Crescent Rd., Sel’n St. 175 276 Papanui Road 225 83 g*t John’s 266 137 Worcester Street. City . . 1418 410 Wesley Church, East Belt 219 228 Bealey Avenue 588 367 Linwood Library 443 571 Monica Park 96 223 Municipal Offices 1444 820 Fitzgerald Avenue Sail . 139 407 Spreydon Library 180 222 Lyttelton 39 182 Simeon Street . . 69 147 St Martin’s, Opawa 261 174 Cant. Row. Club’s Shed 158 135

Tennyson Street 73 136 Radley Street 93 . 196 McDonald Kail, Aid win's »oad 129 313 Orange Kail, City 331 160 St A. School, Antigua St. 409 295 Westminster Street 220 134 Warringrton Street 296 209 Totals 19,220 19,798