VARIOUS NOTES.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 September 1920, Page 2

VARIOUS NOTES.

The public meeting of electors held on Monday nifcht was surprisingly well attended, about 150 being present. This is by far the largest number that has attended a meeting in Helenaville for years, and is a striking indication of the great interest that has been taken in this election. The running of rival tickets no doubt caused the interest to reach such a high pitch, and apart from that it is inevitable that the ventilation town affairs have had during the past weak will cause a more intelligent interest to be taken by electors in their town's affairs. The average elector is hopelessly ignorant of civic matters, and some surprising mis-information often emanates from " free and independent" electors who ought to know better.

On Monday evening, the candidates were given an opportunity of placing their views before electors and thirteen out of fourteen nominated did so. Some of the candidates were '' short and sweet," but two or three were a bit handicapped by the tim« limit imposed by the chairman, and had hardly got into their stride when they had to cease. The big crowd present was » good natured one, and the chairman (Mr H. Aitkenhead) kept the meeting in good order, Several unconsciously humorous remarks were made during the evening. One which "brought the house down " was th« statement by a candidate that "I hay« been in New Zealand and born in New Zealand all my life." The chairman's remark that the candidate had made a false start" further tickled th» crowd. The chairman's request to ont interrupter to " shut-up" also amused the audience, *nd at the close of the meeting he apologised for using such M unparliamentary language."

A xood many electors are not at all clear regarding the chairmanship of a Town Board. Thifi candidate who polls highest doe^ not automatically become chairman as some suppose. At the first meeting of the new Board the clerk takes the chair, and calls for nominations for the position of chairman. If more than one nomination is received, the members.present vote on the question, and the majority hat it. It is the custom to elect as chairman the candidate who has polled the largest number of votes, more often than not as a compliment to him. But it is not the rule, and on at least one occasion locally the candidate who reached seventh plaoe was elected chairman.

Electors have been inundated during the.week by propaganda distributed by rival factions, and the. formidable lists of what was to be accomplished by those who were returned were, of course, taken as gospel by the unsuspecting voters! Arguments, pets and promises have been the pnief occupation of the community for a iolid week, and i*ow

that the numbers are up, we expect the whole business will be forgotten, and the Town Board will lead an undisturbed existence for another two years. At least one lady voter had an unique experience yesterday. She was conveyed to the polling booth in a motor car, this being the very first occasion on which she has ridden in a motor car. She didn't " have the wind up," either! A supporter of Mr Souths stable forwarded the following this morning:—The "hand fed" team did good work at yesterday's content, when four outsiders pulled ofrV*^.surprise by securing places^ They will fill engagemerits;psring the next two years -^yn the "steam roller," while the favourites who ran disappointingly indulge in a spell in the "park."