MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2573, 28 April 1923, Page 2

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

MR CHRYSTALL ELECTED MAYOR. FIVE EX-COUNCILLORS ELECTED AND THREE DEFEATED.

The bi-ennial election of Mayor and Councillors for the borough of Foxton took place on Thursday. Interest was aroused in the election by a contest for the Mayoralty when the sitting Mayor (Mr Chrystall) was opposed by Mr P. L. Hollings. Mr Chrystall had been elected unopposed for the previous terms prior 10 which lie was defeated by Mr Alf Fraser. On this occasion he was successful in gaining a victory and is to be congratulated upon the result. Air Hollings put up a remarkably good fight and it is due to him that interest was aroused in (he recent contest. Ilis task, however, was an almost impossible one for the reasons (hat he was personally unknown, was not a ratepayer and had the misfortune to suffer a severe indisposition at the critical time and when his personal activities were most needed. Against (his (he Mayor had a long period of service and the hacking and active support of several of his Council colleagues. Thai Air Hollings should come within 50 votes of obtaining half the valid votes recorded was, in the circumstances, an exceptional performance. The result of the contest is a clear indication to the Alayor that lie must adopt a more progressive nnd less parsimonious policy in the future. The Council election resulted in I lie defeat of three Councillors who stood for re-election. To these Hie thanks of the community are due for past services during a very important period of flic Council’s adminis--11 at ion.

To Cr. Alex. Ross wo ex lon <1 hearty congratulations upon receiving tlio highest number of votes recorded ;it either polls. This is nil the more creditable in view of the foot that this candidate's support was unsolieited by personal effort. As senior Couneillor and therefore deputv-Mayor Cr. Ross occupies a position which he is eminently fitted to fill. Cr. Coley still holds the proud position of “father of the Council,” and this term will bring him within three years of a quarter of a century’s unbroken service on the Council —a. record of which any public man should feel proud. Wo trust that his health and enthusiasm will not fail him for many years to eonie.

To the other Councillors we extend our congratulations and wish I hem a successful and useful term of office. On the whole the team is one which should fully satisfy the community.

The jocular element was well in evidence among the crowd assembled in front of the Town Hall on Thursday evening to listen to the successful candidates return thanks. The soubriquets of various candidates were uppermost in the minds of the crowd as they called for speeches. “Whakapni! Where is Whakapni V' “Sausages! Give us some sausages!” “Come on Bill, good old Bill!” were some of the ejaculations floating on the air, as the crowd demanded “Speech!” and some one said “Say it George!” and George said “I can’t say much!” When a certain well-known poultry farmer stepped forward cries of “The White Leghorn! Get him a box; he can’t crow down there!” were heard, and another “Go on; you’re doing all right.” To be addressed by one’s Christian name is some evidence of aflcction, but to be bailed by one’s soubriquet is, if nothing else, a mark of popularity.

A large number of citizens gathered in front of the Town Hall in the evening to await the results of the poll for the Mayoralty, which were announced at about 8 o’clock. Upon the figures being posted Mr Chrystall, accompanied by Mr Rollings. mounted the steps of the Town Hall entrance, and returned thanks to tlmse who had supported him at the poll. In doing so, he said he fell proud of the fact that he had been returned by such a handsome majority. Tn his opponent, Mr Rolling's, he realised ho had a man with a very creditable record as Mayor of Mastert'on. and also as a magistrate, which factors wore likely to weigh considerably with the electors. However, lie congratulated Mr Rollings on polling so well, as after all he was a comparative stranger to us. Mr Ohrystall thanked his committee for the work they had done on his behalf and said that during the next two years of office he would do all in his power to push the borough ahead. He called for three cheers for his opponent, which were heartily given. Mr Rollings in thanking his supporters said he regretted that sudden illness had overtaken him at this time, which deprived him of the opportunity to press his campaign. He had that evening ventured out with considerable risk to himself to return thanks to his supporters. Now that Mr Ohrystall had been again elected Mayor, he hoped Mr Ohrystall would carry out the election policy which he. (Mr Ohrystall) had appropriated from him. Mr Rollings called for three cheers for the successful candidate, and also for the Returning Officer.

Despite the fact that the Town Hall was well Allied with the public, a fair number of interested persons remained outside the Town Hall after 8 o’clock to await the results of the election of Councillors. At about 9.15 the Returning Officer posted the figures, which was the signal for a rush to scrutinise the re-

>nlts, followed by calls for speeches from successful candidates. The Mayor came forward and said lie congratulated the electors on returning the first nine candidates, and remarked: “You have a very good Council.” He also returned thanks on behalf of Councillor Ross, who, he said, was absent from town. Cr. Coley returned thanks to his supporters for putting him “at the top of the poll.” He had been accused of opposing every movement for the welfare of the town during his twenty years of office, but lie could assure bis hearers that he had always supported progressive measures, us the betterment of the town was to his own interests. He felt proud of his position, and he thanked them heartily. Crs. Bryant, Parkin, Adams, and Thorpe also hrielly returned I hanks. Cr. Smith said, with a broad smile, that he was not at all sure he should return thanks for being reelected, as lie was so near being defeated that he did not feel quite confident. He had had “ a close shave.” However, he had during the past two years worked hard for Ihe betterment of the town, which he would continue to do, as lie not only had its welfare at heart, hut also had a big stake in the community.

Councillor Walker was the last speaker, and in. returning thanks said he had been a member of the Finance Committee for the past six \ears, during which time he had given very careful attention to matters coming under the duties of that Committee. The past two years had been especially strenuous. Also during that period their duties had included the consideration of applications for financial assistance to ratepayers in installing the water and drainage scheme, and he eould say that up to the present every application that had been made had received careful and impartial consideration and not one had been refused, the total amount involved being in the vicinity of £4OO. During the next two years be would continue to consider the ratepayers’ interests carefully as he had done in the past. None of the unsuccessful candidates spoke. The following are the polling results with the percentages of valid votes recorded by each candidate in parenthesis: — MAYORALTY. Chrystall, John .. 291 (61 p.c.) Rollings, P. L 184 (39 p.c.)

COUNCIL. Itoss A 344 (74 p.c.) Coley, Geo 289 (G2 p.c.) Walker, M. H. . . 281 (60 p.c) Me Murray, It. .. 263 (57 p.c.) Bryant, R 261 (56 p.c.) Parkin, E 258 (56 p.c.) Adams, W 251 (54 p.c.) Thorpe, G. W, . . 245 (53 p.c.) Smith, A. X 299 (49 p.c.) All elected. *Kand, C. C 218 (47 p.c.) Hynes, J. R 211 (45 p.c.) •Thompson, K. -J. 192 (41 p.c.) Ad more, A. E. . . 175 (38 p.c.) Hamer, II 122 (31 p.c.) •Marlin. E. G. . . 120 (26 p.c.) Simmons. C. ... 77 (16-p.c.) •Sitting Councillors at time of

election. Out of a roll number of 790 only 479 votes were recorded, representing (it).6 per cent. In 1921 326 votes were recorded out of a roll number of 821. representing 39.7 per cent. The following are the number of votes polled by candidates at Thursday’s election who have stood for .election as Councillors since 1913: G. 0. Coley (1913) 537, (1915) 807, (1917) 293. (1919) 284, (1921) 203. R. Bryant: (1915) 344, (1917) 198,(1919) 245. (1921) 161. C. Simmons: (1915) 285, (1917) 189. R. .1. Thompson: (1915) 361, (1917) 251. (1919) 353. (1921) 203. A. E. Admore: (1919) 149. M. 11. Walker: ( 1917) 277, (1919) 240, (1921) 207. R. MeMuri ay: (1917 ) 209. (1919) 23(!. K. Parkin: (1919) 354. (1921) 157. C. Band: (1919) 283, (1921) 174. A. X. Smith : (1921) 107. !’. G. Martin: (1921) 160. IT. Hamer: (1921) 10(1. A. Ross: (1921) 224. At the 1915 ’Mayoral election the last coldest up to the present, the i..filing was: Alt'. Eraser 297. John ( hry-lall 238. IX OTHER CENTRES. Wellington.—ln an exciting contest for the Mayoralty, Mr Wright. At. P.. the present occupant of the office, defeated Mr Peter Fraser, M.P., standing in the Labour interest, by 254 votes. Wright 10.830; Fraser 10,570: Ben McKenzie 4323.

Xapier.—.J. B. Andrew (retiring Mayor) 2,644; A. E. Renouf (exeouncillur). 742. Wanganui.—T. B. Williams (sitting Mayor). 2,51fi: A. G. Bignell, 2.017. Levin. —Hobson. 377: Glodsmith 208. There was no election for Council. Blenheim. —Edward Stone Parker ve-elected. Hawera.—Bone, 859: Sprat! 778. Elthain. —G. W. Taylor heat G. H. P. Fitzgerald by a two to one majority. Dargaville.—R. E. Hornblow (retiring Mayor), 378; A. -J. Stallworth.v, 330; informal 3. Invercargill.- Andrew Barn 4,004; T. D. Bennie 1,509. Dunedin. —11. L. Taplev. 4,378: C. H. Hayward, 3,260; D. Larnach, 1

3.128. All three sat on the last Council. Mr Tapley was the Citizens’ League nominee.

Timaru. —The Municipal elections at Timaru were characterised by unusual interest, partly through the standing of the Rev. Wilson Potts, Baptist minister, who opposed Councillor Wallace, while the closing stages of the contest were marked by a bitter newspaper campaign. The result was: Wallace 2,760 5 Potts 1,730. Eastbourne. —F H. Mather was re-elected unopposed. Petone. —J. W. Me Ewan, 1,280; Albert Pere 753. Lower Hutt.—W. T. Strand returned unopposed. Westport. —John Menzies, 858; E. R. Fox, 476. Gisborne. —Wildish 1,404; F. R. Ball 1,329. Christchurch. —J. A. Flesher, 10,312; D. G. Sullivan, M.P. 8,395. Lyttelton. —W. T. Lester 784; W. T. Foster 543. Oamaru. —James McDairmid, 1,219; Donald Miller, 902. Palmerston North. —Nathan 2973 Lancaster 1,900. Feilding. —Tingey returned unopposed. Otaki. —Brandon 319; Byron Brown 233. Shannon.—Murdoch 283; Farglier 103. For the Dunedin City Council, the Citizens’ League ticket of twelve was elected with one exception, where J. E. McManus (Labour) secured a seat. For Christchurch City Council I lie voting being on the proportional representation system, it will he some days before the personnel of the new council is known. Indications to-night are the the Citizens’ Association will have increased | strength in the new council.

The Mayor (Mr John Chrystall) lias received the following telegram from Mr J. Linklater, M.P.—“Hearty congratulations on your success yesterday. I was very pleased to know that the people of Foxton recognised by their vote that they appreciate your past work and had confidence in you as their leader in municipal affairs.”