Top Places In County Hospital Poll To Women

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 100, 21 November 1947, Page 5

Top Places In County Hospital Poll To Women

Two women, Mesdames R. Caverhill and D. E. Sumner at the head of the Hospital poll, and the defeat in both the Hospital and County Council elections of one of the sitting members, Mr H. C. McCready are the main points of comment in discussions following the elections in the Whakatane County Council.

With eight candidates for six seats, the Hospital Board election created greatest interest, and the fact that Mrs Caverhill topped the poll with 784 votes, closely followed by Mrs Sumner with 744, bore out the opinion one has often heard expressed that there is room, and need, for women to take an active part in hospital administration. All the County’s sitting members of the Board, with the exception of Mr H. C. McCready, were returned, the other defeated candidate being Mr H. C. Brown. Mr J. Mullins, chairman last term, was sixth in the polling. After Mesdames Caverhill and Sumner, the other candidates were placed in the following order:— Messrs A. F. McGougan 668 votes, J. A. Mitchell 600 r J. P.. Caulfield 572, J. Mullins 569, H. C. McCready 324 and H. C. Brown 278. Riding Elections For the County Council, elections were held in the Galatea, Matata, and Taneatua ridings, and chief interest attached to the last-named where Mr W. M. Clarke challenged and defeated the sitting member, Mr H. C. McCready by 248 votes to 84.

The vacancies in the other two ridings were created by the retirement of Messrs T. G. Cawte and W. A. McCracken. Mr J. Wilson won the Galatea seat convincingly from Mr E. A. Dykstra, who polled heavily in his own district of Murupara, but lacked the 5 ® country support. Final figures—B2 to 40. For the Matata seat, Mr K. L. Caverhill scored a clear-cut victory over Mr A. Kinley by 152 votes to 62. . ',/'•! Tauranga Harbour "Board The Matata riding district’s seat on the Tauranga Harbour Board was won by Mr R. Wilson, 137 votes, in a contest with Mr I. M. Withy, who had only_ 66 supporters. Figures quoted here are not those of the final count, which are advertised elsewhere, but they give a clear indication of the relative positions of the candidates. None of the placings were upset in the final check, which, if anything emphasised the voters’ decision.

With results coming in from many country booths covering one of the widest-flung county areas in New Zealand, the Returning Officer, Mr C. G. Lucas, and his staff, had two very busy days on Wednesday and yesterday.