MUNICIPAL ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1929, Page 1

MUNICIPAL ELECTION

WEST COASTER ELECTED. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WAIROA, September 12. At a recent meeting the local Borough Council decided to reduce the wages of three old employees with an average of 10 years’ service, from fourteen shillings per day of a forty-eight hour week to £1 a week for a thirtyfour hour week. > Recently two of the Councillors resigned, and the local Labour Representation Committee decided to contest the bye-election, Mr Vincent Fraser (formerly of Greymouth) being their, nominee. The election was held yesterday, and there were five candidates offering. Very keen interest was shown in the contest. Mr Fraser secured election to a seat on the' Council, he being the first Labour representative ever returned to any Wairoa local body.

Mr Fraser /secured one hundred votes of a majority over the next candidate, while the poll proved a record one ifor a bye-election in Wairoa, the total vote being only forty behind that in the recent local general municipal election, the votes this time recorded totalling 1143.

The Labour candidate’s success is not only pleasing to the local sympathisers of Labour, but also to the Council employees, who were, at the last meeting, threatened with’ instant dismissal if they were heard criticising any Council decisions in public. This decision met with general disapproval among the, municipal electors. The L.R.C. have instructed their successful nominee to move in the direc-

tion of securing justice for all of the Council’s employees at the next meet-