CITIZENS CLEARLY PREFERRED TO PARTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 126, 29 May 1944, Page 3

CITIZENS CLEARLY PREFERRED TO PARTY

MR. ROGERS EASILY RETAINS WANGANUI MAYORALTY ANTI-LABOUR CITY COUNCIL LOCAL BODY CONTROL UNALTERED Preliminary counts in municipal and local body elections in New Zealand on Saturday, in the main, showed a set.W.v t.<s Labour as a party in local body administration and a preference for Citizens. In some cases Labour candidates polled high personal votes, notable among them being Hou. W. J. Rogers, Wanganui, who retained the Mayoralty with a majority of 937 votes, against the Citizens’ Association candidate, Dr. G. J. Adams, and, in addition, topped the poll for Harbour, Hospital and Power Board elections. Dr. I). G. McMillan, another Labour stalwart, although he gained a high personal vote, was unable to win the Dunedin Mayoralty against a Citizens’ candidate,! In Wellington, Mr. James Roberts, president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, was beaten by Mr. Will Appleton (Citizens) by more than 9000 votes.

In both Auckland and Christ bers of Parliament were unsucces T. Anderton in Auckland and Mr. LABOUR REJECTED Wellington again rejected Labour. No Labour candidates were elected to the City Council, the poll for which was topped by Mrs. Knox Gilmer (Citizens) with a phenomenal total of 30,000 odd. Citizens dominate other Wellington local bodies. All the -seats on the Auckland City Council were won by Citizens, who won all the Auckland city seats on Harbour and Hospital Boards. The most sweeping victory Citizens have gained since Labour first became a force in local-body polities, is recorded in Christchurch. Citizens won nil city elections for other local bodies. Dunedin has shown a greater trend than any of the metropolitan centres toward Labour. There are six Citizens and six Labour councillors elected, and Labour has made gains on Hospital and Harbour Board. WANGANUI COUNCIL CHANGE Control of the City Council in Wanganui has passed from Labour to Citizens, the representation, on the preliminary count, which is unlikely to be upset, being eight seats to four. The Mayor’s vote reduces the Citizens’ majority by one, making the voting eight to five. If, on any occasion the voting is even, the Mayor has a casting vote. Other local bodies in the city, all of which include country representation, will be controlled by anti-Labour majorities. One of the surprising features of the City Council election was the defeat of the Deputy-Mayor, Cr. J. J. Scott, who, next to Mr. Rogers and Mr. J. B. Cotterill. M.P., can be regarded as the most prominent Labour stalwart in the city. PROVISIONAL RETURNS. Provisional returns were made available to public and Press by the chief returning officer in Wanganui City (Mr. C. R. White), and by the returning officers for the respective counties, boroughs and town boards in the Wanganui district, on Saturday night. All such returns will be subject to recount, and the exact figures polled will be published by way of advertisement when the recounts are completed. Mr. Rogers polled 5647 votes for the Mayoralty, and his opponent, Dr. Adams, 4710. Informal votes were 72, bringing the total number of votes cast to 10,429. At the 1941 elections, Mr. Rogers had a majority of 1383. gaining 4858 votes in a poll of 8333. His opponent i was Mr. E. B, Tustin. Dr. Adams had a majority at three I of the 16 polling places. These were I Armstrong's Garage, Victoria Avenue. I where he polled 203 votes more than I Mr. Rogers, St. John’s Hill and Portal | Street. Durie Hill. At the former | booth Mr. Rogers polled 91, compared with Dr. Adams’ 297. At Durie Hill ' Dr. Adams had a majority of 171. I At the Gonville Town Hall the voting was very close, the provisional count showing that only one vote separated the two candidates. Mr. Rogers polled 516 and Dr. Adams 515. Informal votes totalled 21. At the Drill Hall, principal booth in the city, Mr. Rogers had a majority of 97, obtaining 1489 votes compared with 1392 for Dr. Adams. One of Mr. Rogers’ best supports was at the Methodist Schoolroom, Keith Street, where lie polled 609, as against the 344 votes recorded for Dr. Adams. Mr. Rogers was also well supported at the Hylton Hall, Aramoho, Wanganui East, and Castlecliff. MAYORALTY. '-‘Hon. W. J. Rogers (L.), M.L.C. 5647 Dr. G. J. Adams (C.) 4710 Informal * f ... 72 Total 10,429

tchurch, prominent Labour nieintful in Mayoral contests—Mr. W. . R. M. Macfarlane, Christchurch. SIX CITIZENS IN THE LEAD