MAYOR OF WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 248, 19 October 1937, Page 6

MAYOR OF WANGANUI

ELECTION AFTER HOAX INCIDENT OF EARLY DAYS BOGUS PETITION PRESENTED How a former Mayor of Wanganui agreed to nomination for this office as the result of a petition presented to him by a band of practical jokers was related to members of the Wanganui Rotary Club yesterday by Mr F. I. Jones during the course of a humorous address on life in Wanganui in the early days.

At the time, said Mr Jones, practical joking was the vogue and was so bad that he himself had been presented with a petition requesting him to agree to nomination for Parliamentary honours against the late Mr John Ballance. It was decided to present such a petition to the licensee of a city hostelry, and a petition, extolling his virtues in flowery language, was drawn up. The petition was duly handed to the licensee, who read it over carefully. “Just a minute, gentlemen,” he replied. “I will see my wife about it.”

A few’ minutes later the licensee reappeared, said Mr Jones. “I have discussed the matter with my wife and she has no objections,” said the licensee. “I will accede to your request.” The practical jokers were taken by surprise, and as no one was prepared to inform the licensee that the w’hole matter was a joke, it was agreed that the nomination should be allowed to go forward.

Mr Jones said that the licensee addressed the ratepayers, which w r as not then the custom in municipal elections, and was elected to office by 12 votes. Then, said Mr Jones, there were only 300 names on the electoral roll, as only those who paid rates were eligible to vote, and a ratepayer was not permitted to exercise his franchise unless he had paid his rates.