CITY BY-ELECTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 22 July 1946, Page 4

CITY BY-ELECTION

CITIZENS SECURE TWO SEATS LABOUR OBTAINS ONE Two Citizens’ candidates and one Labour were returned at the municipal by-election held in Wanganui on Saturday’. They will fill three extraordinary vacancies on the City’ Council and will hold office till the triennial elections next year. The provisional count on Saturday night disclosed that voting was close, but the margins separating the six candidates are such that the official count can hardly upset the present order in which they’ are placed. Details arc:— EARLE, DAV. (C.) 3311 PRICE, W. (L.) 3293 JACK, R. E. (C.) 3251 (The above arc elected.) SEARLE, W. (L.) 3117 BOND. N W. (L.) . 3016 DELVES, H. S. (C.l • 3011 The total number of persons who voted was under 7000, as against 15,155 names on the roll. Compared with other by-elections, however, the number of persons exercising their franchise on. Saturday was higher. The weather was line and mild in the morning, but heavy showers from mid-afternoon onward may have kept some people away from the booths. The first return was received at 6.33 p.m. from St. David's, Upper Aramoho, and the final return from the 13 polling places came to hand from the Railway Social Hall, Guyton Street, at about 7.45.

The official result on the preliminary count was announced from the steps of the City Council offices at 7:55 p.m. by the returning officer, Mr. C. R. White. In spite of the wet weather, a small crowd had assembled. Till the final return was received, however, no indication could be given as to which candidates would be elected. The voting was so close that one booth could have upset the result.

On the preliminary count, Mr. Price is 51 votes behind Mr. Earle, who topped the poll, and Mr. Jack is 42 votes behind Mr. Price. Mr. Searle, who headed the list of unsuccessful candidates, is 134 votes behind Mr. Jack.

Mr. Jack topped the Doll at four booths—Opera House (867). Gonville Town Hall (375), Durie Hill (131), and Railway Social Hall (211).

Mr. Price polled consistently well, heading the list, at no fewer than seven booths—Keith Street (421). St. Andrew’s. Gloucester Street (191), Hylton Hall, Aramoho (352), St. David’s, Upper Aramoho (92), Wanganui East Town Hall, (411), Poutini Street, Wanganui East (217), and St. Vincent’s, Castlecliff (187).

Mr. Jack topped the poll at St. St. John’s Hill, where be Dolled 255 votes, and was one ahead of Mr. Earle. Mr. Searle had 220 votes at Gonvibe Junction, where he topped the poll. The leading candidate. Mr. Earle, had a majority of 333 votes over the unsuccessful candidate who was last on the list.

The number of informal votes was cnmnarativelv small, being only 47 on the provisional count. The total number of votes cast for Citizens’ candidates was 9606. while Labour candidates secured 9426 votes, a difference of 180.

Mr. White said On Saturday night that the official count and scrutiny of thr» rolls will begin at 1.45 p.m. todav. A’l candidates had the statutory right of oppointing a scrutineer to be present.