MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3937, 2 May 1929, Page 3

MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Very little interest was evinced in the Municipal elections held locally yesterday. Out of 944 electors only 341 recorded their votes. The Returning Officer (Mr. Wan. Trueman) and his assistant (Miss L. Thompson) spent a very slow day at the booth which was located in the Town Hall supper-room. The votes were recorded as follows throughout the day:—>lo a.m. 7, 11 a .in. 26, noon 57, l v p.m. 78, 2 p.-m. 121, 3 p.m. 162, 4 p.m. 184, 5 p.in. 241, <6 p.m. 295, 7 p.m. 341. Only three outside votes were recorded in Foxton in connection with the Wellington' Harbour Board election. Of tba votes recorded the individual candidates secured the following numbers: — *iS. E. COWLEY 279 A. R. CROWE 267 ‘JOHN ROSS 266 *IC. C. RAND . 261 FREDERICK ROBINSON 248 * *F. LUICtENSKY 245 £D. R. BARRON 217 *ROORE R-ANGIHEUEA 214 *R, J. THOMPSON . 212 All elected. C. HUNT 202 * Sitting Councillors.

After the results had been announced the Mayor (Mr. M. E. •Perreau) thanked the electors for returning him unopposed to the Mayoral seat. He also expressed his pleasure at the Council elected and was sorry that Mr. Hunt had not ibeen successful in gaining a seat. Mr. Hunt had mentioned to the speaker that had he known that one of the other nominees was 'withdrawing frolm the contest he would also have retired in order to save the borough the expense of an election. Mr. Hunt was to be eongratu'la ted on his patriotic spirit and loyalty to the 'borough. Mr. Perreau also thanked the electors for electing him to the Harbour Board which contest had also proved to .be a bloodless victory. He would do all he could in the interests of the port and Foxton as a whole. Cr. S. E. -Cowley, thanked his supporters for placing him at the K top of the poll but expressed the opinion that the local election had been a very humdrum affair with very 'little enthusiasm on. the part of the ratepayers. Wellington on the other handj .had placed thirty candidates in the field for sixteen positions. Personally he -would like to see about fifteen candidates standing for the local council. More in ? terest -would be evinced in the election under such eireumstanles and more honour would be attached to the office. At the poll that day only 400 odd votes had been recorded locally by something like 1000 electors. (Consequently a Council - lot'did not know whether he had the majority of ratepayers behind him or whether he was very much in the minority. He felt particularly honoured, however, at being returned at the top of the poll and as in the past, he would do his best in the interests of the borough as a whole and at all times do what he considered the right and fair thing.

■Cr. A. Crowe thanked his supporters and said he would always do his best on the Council for the borough, while at all times he would keep -the interests of the ratepayers in view. He hoped that the newly elected Council would work together in harmony in the interests of the town. Cr. John R 093 also returned thanks and said that in the past he had always done his best for Foxton.as a whole and he would-en-deavour to do the same in the future.

Cr. Rand, in thanking his supporters, said that the old Council had had a good deal of criticism levelled at it and he had made up his mind not to seek re-election at the present poll but was persuaded to do so by a number of local, residents. In the past he had done what he considered the best under the circumstances and in the future he would endeavour to do the same. The financial position of the Borough prevented any extraordinary works being carried out autl the work of the Council would be limited accordingly. It had been said that lie had sought municipal honours because he had an axe to grind but lie assured the ratepayers that this was in no way true. The fact of a footpath being laid down in Union Street had ibeen thrown up but -when the Council had drawn up its sehdme for footpath construction it had had as many done as possible,, and no consideration had been given to individuals. However, despite criticism, he would endeavour to do his best for the borough in the future, as he had done -in the past. Cr. E. Lucinsky said he would watch the interests of the borough carefully during his term of office and said that in two years’ time 1m hoped he would still retain the confidence of the ratepayers. He regretted that there had not been more interest evinced in municipal affairs locally as there were quite a number of good solid level-headed businessmen in Fox-ton whose services would be au asset on the Council. He hoped that at future elections there would be more candidates coming forward. He thanked the electors for their expression of renewed confidence and pledged himself to do his best for the borough during the next two years. -Cr. D. R. Barron said he would do his best on the .Council in the interests of every part of the borough.

Mr. Clias. Hunt thanlked the electors iwho had voted for him and thanked the ratepayers as a whole for not electing him to a seat on the Council. He had been a resident in Foxton for the past 31 years and had not previously had an opportunity of seeking municipal hon-

ours. He had the satisfaction of knowing on this occasion, however, that while not elected, he was not far behind the top man. He was 72 years of age' and would not trouble to seek election again. He was too old. He was glad, however, to see young people coming forward and offering their services in the governing of the borough. He hoped that Foxton would always have “young blood” to administer its affairs. He again thanked the electors who had supported him.

RESULTS ELSEWHERE. Palmerston North Mayoralty: A. J. Graham. •Councillors: A. E. Hansford, W. L. Fitzherbert, M. A. Eliott, -J. Ilodgens, C. N. Clausen, D. Low, D. Guy, G. Tremaine, W. Milverton. Woodvillc Mayoralty. —Mr. H. P. Holme. Pahiatua. —-Mr. J. D. Wilson. Christchurch. — Rev. J. M. Archer. Dannevirke. —Mr. M. D. Smith. Levin. —Mr. Bleak-horn defeated the sitting Mayor, Mr. Hobson. Wellington.—G. A. Troup sitting Mayor defeated AY. Nash by large majority. Lower Hutt. —Sir Alexander Roberts. Petone. —D. McKenzie. Eastbourne. —H. M. Jones, Upper Hutt. —P. Robertson. Wanganui. —Mr. W. J. Rogers was re-elected. Lyttelton. —W. -T. Foster. Neiv Brighton.—J. 11. -Shaw. New 7 Plymouth. —H. Y. S. Griffiths. Hamilton. —Mr. J. R. Row. Thames. —W. Bongard. Grey-mouth.—J. W. Greenslade. Hokitika. —G. A. Perry; Kumara : A. B. Speirs. Gore. —D. L. Poppelwell. Timaru. —William Angland. Nelson.—Moffatt. Motueka. —'Clay. Kaiapoi.—,W. H. A. Vickery. Auckland. —G. Baildon. -Onebunga.—W. Morton. Takapuna. —J. AY. Williamson. New Lynn.—(C. F. Gardner. ’ Birkenhead. —J. P. MePhail. Mt. Albert. —L. E. Rhodes. Stratford—J. AV. McMillan. Inglewood.—AA T . J. AAlinfield. AYaitara. —E. A. George. Wlhangarei.—W. Jones (ex-M.P.) Gisborne. —D. AA r . Coleman.. Invercargill. —J. D. Campbell. Westport. —J. H. Hafikness. Blenheim. —Mr. M. McKenzie. Hastings.—G. F. Roach.