ELECTION RETURNS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4974, 14 May 1926, Page 3

ELECTION RETURNS.

OHINEMUBII COUNTY. CHANGE FOR WAIKINO RIDING. Considerable interest was taken locally in. the triennial election of councillor® for the Ohinemuri County. An election was necessary in the Paerda riding, Mr T. P. Vuglar unsuccessfully contesting against the .two sitting members. Messrs W. F. Johnstone and F. C. Hubbard. For the Kaima.nawa riding the sittii g members, Messrs A. R. Robinson and R. R. Morrison, successfully retained their seats against Mr V. Young. t The heaviest polling was at Waikino, where 107 ratepayers out of 1’55 eligible to vote exercised the privilege. After serving the riding with great success Yor a number of yearsi Mr S. H'. Morgan, oV Waitekauri, W defeated by his neighbour, Mr Colin Mason, by a majority of 23 votes. This will be Mr Maison's first . appearance in local politics, but he is a successful farmer who takes a keen interest in the welfare and progress of the district. . For the one ceat as county representative on the Thames Vajley Electric Power Board Messrs W. Marshall and.H. M. Coibett .contested the election. The poll to select this representative wasi taken over the whole bt the county, a,nd resulted in Mr Corbett, being returned with a majority of 52 votes. Mr Corbett has represented the Waitekauri riding on the County Council for a. number of years, and held' the position of chairman for some time. * . .Details of the voting are as. follows : PAEROA RIDING. W. F. Johnstone -- — 81 ■ F. C. Hubbard — — — 80 T. P. Vuglar — — — — KAIMANAWA RIDING. A. R. Robinson — — — 83 - R._ R. Morrison' -- — —. 70 •-V.'Young — — -- — 45 -WAIKINO RIDING. C. Miyscn — — -- — — 7° S. H-. Morgan — -- 47 POWER BOARD. H. M. Corbett _? — — 206. W. Marshall ' — — 154 .

haurAki plains .council. HEAVY POLLING TAKES /PLACE. Keen interest was' taken in the triennial election df Aiembers of the Ha.uraki Plains County Council on Wednesday, and heavy polling resulted. Elections were held in the Ngatea,, Pipiroa, Horahia, -and; Kerepeehi ridings, and resulted in Messrs El L. Walton, C. W. Parfitt, Hl Hl Hicks, ■and A. S. Ffeher being returned. The sitting members had’ been returned unopposed for ,the Kopuaurahi, Turua, Pat®tonga, and Waitakaruru ridings, and M'r J. A. Reid was, elected unopposed for the' Netherton riding. Details ‘of the polling are as follows :— • NGATEA RIDING. E. L. Walton — — 99 . T. McLoughlin — — — 59 A. J. Andrews - — — — 8 x ‘ PIPIROA RIDING. p. W. Parfitt -- — — — 65 j. W. Neate -2 -- — —, 22 KEREPEEHI RIDING. A. S. Fisher -- — — — 61 P. R. Henry — — —< — 29?/ HORAHIA RIDING. . ’ H. H. Hicks — — — — 83 Treadaway — — — 27 Thiti return unopposed of four members of the old 'council and the election df one of the two other members who offered their services is an indi-~ cation that the settlers of the county have confidence in and support the policy of the old council. It wag: anticipated that the polling in the Ngatea riding would have been closer, though there was never much doubt but tha,t Mr Walton would -be returned. His legal training apd in-, timate knowledge. of. .the affairs of the, council assured widespread support, while the peculiar configuration of the riding was bound to induce a parochial vote. It was thought that the entry of Mr Andrews, of Ngatea, into the contest would split the Ngatea vote, but he ionly secured seven vote® to Mr Walton’s 86 a,nd- ex-Cr. Mc-Loughlin’s 20. In Kaifiere and Torehape Mr McLoughlin secured. 32 and 7 votes to Mr Walton’s 10 and 3. Mr Andrews polled one vote at Kai? here and none at Torehape. As he did not poll one-eighth df the total votes cast he will -forfeit his deposit. The result o f the Kerepeehi poll came as a surprise, for though it was anticipated that the voting would be close, 'Mr Henry appeared to be -the popular, candidate'. His. opposition to the keeping open of the Wharepoa 'ferry lost him many township votes . for the town dwellers did not know the attitude of- the other candidate, and there is a strong feeling in the township in support of the retention of the ferry. Pekapeka Road settlers evidently supported Mr Fisher as anticipated, realising that tnere was more chance of having their road improved with a representative resident in the locality'than with one residing in another riding and transacting his business in another direction.

There was never much doubt about the result of the. Horahia riding poll, or of the Pipiroa decision. Mr Neate opposed Cr. Parfitt at the previous election and secured 15 votes. HOSPITAL BOARD. The election of three representatives of the county Hauraki Plains on the Thames Hospital Board resulted in the return of Messrs. W. E. Hale, E. L. Walton, and C. W; Parfitt. The polling for .the respective candidates was as follows :— E. L. Walton — — — — 262 C. W. Parfitt — — — 255 W. E. Hale — — — — 263 G. Death — — — — I® 2 A. J. Andrews — — — 75 J. W. Treadaway — — 46 The three candidates returned were the ticket opposed to the erection of the Paeroa hospital', and though they, may have been given many votes oh that account, their outstanding ability undoubtedly weighed more with most electors, who realised that the

Paeroa hospital-was only one of the many matters, receiving attention by .the Hospital Board. These candidates were, the only ones who gave the electors an outline o? their policy. They circularised all voters. The Paeroa hospital question evidently weighed with the Netherton electors, who strongly supported the retiring member, M'r G. Death, of Netherton, and Mr A. J. Andrews, whose connection with Paeroa assured the proposal his support.