LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1043, 4 November 1947, Page 3

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

INTEREST IN OPOTIKI AND WHAKATANE MAYORS UNOPPOSED After an apparent lack of interest in both Opotiki and Whakatane f° r solne weeks before nominations Hf' closed in connection with local body elections, interest has quickened and the issues are now being discussed very lively. In both towns the sitting Mayors have been elected unopposed. In Whakatane Mr. ■* B. S. Barry after announcing his intention of not contesting the position was prevailed upon to again offer his services as a result of a Very splid deputation waiting on him. Fifteen candidates went before the electors in Opotiki in 1944 but this year the number of -aspirants has dropped to eleven. One nomination was found to be invalid otherwise the number would have been the round dozen. Two likely candidates failed to put in their nom- * illations. Two Opotiki borough councillors are not seeking re-elec-tion. Mr. It. Burnett has left the t, district and Mr. F. J. Short.has decided to retire from, local polities after a wonderful period of service to the town and district. The eleven nominations for the borough council are as follows: W. J. Andrews, S. N. Chatfield, R. H. Davidson, G. L. Day, E. C. East, W. J. Inskip, F. H. Roe, A. A. H, Short, A. J. B. Stitt, T. J. Webb,. J. R, Whitfield. In Wlhakatane no less than 21 candidates are offering their services. There are 9 vacancies to fill in Whakatane as against seven in Opotiki. The majority of the old council had decided to retire but were prevailed upon to again come forward, with the exception of Mr. S. S. Shapley, an old Opotiki resident. With such a big field some of the older councillors might possibly be forced to retire. For the Opotiki County Council only the required number of nominations were received in the fol-' lowing ridings and have been duly declared elected as follows: — Coast Riding: A. El Blake, T.

Koopu. Otara Riding: C. Black, F. B. Starky. Upper Waioeka: J. Redpath. Waiocka: W. A. Butler, W. A. Gault, R. A. Hedley, G, J. Neil eon.

In the Oliiwa Riding the issue is a straight-out contest between the sitting memberT V. E. Wilson and R. Proffit, An interesting position has arisen in* the Waiotahi Riding where there are four candidates to fill only two vacancies. A newcomer to local body politics is Boris Black. H. D. Bennett who formerly represented the Waioeka. Riding .is* now edn testing this seat. The sitting members are J. T. Clark and A. EMartin. AH are- well-known residents and voters will have a problem before them. A poll will be necessary for only three ridings in the Whakatane

County. There are again three candidates for the two positions of borough representatives on the Opotiki Hospital Board, namely the two sitting members, J. D. Clark and T. G. Johnson. The othor candidate is F. H. Roe a membes of the borough council. The third candidate at the last election was Mrs. R. Burnett. In the Opotiki County there are ten candidates for the six vacancies, namely H. D. Bennett, Boris to Para Black, I>. K. Forbes, A. J. IV' Kemp, S. Maxwell, IViremu Maxwell, R. Proffit, J. Rcdpath, F. B. Stalky, Belle Wilson. Two retirements, those of E. J. Baigent and A. E. Blake make the position here very open and chief interest in Opotiki undoubtedly centres in the Hospital Board election. An interesting feature this year is the advent of two Maori candidates for the first time. Both are expected to poll well. In Whakatane Borough there arc four candidates to fill two vacancies. . , - For the six vacancies on the Bay of Plenty Hospital Board in the Whakatane County there are eight candidates, two of them being women, as against only one woman standing for the Opotiki Hospital Board, There will be no election to fall the positions on the Bay of Plenty Electric Power Board in cither Opotiki or Whakatane, the new board being as follows :-Opo .ki Borough, W. T. Burrett. Opotiki County, W. A. Gault, S. Maxwc . Whakatane County, J- A. Mitchell, D S Radeliffc, S. O. Spence, C. R. Yeoman. Mr. W. T. Burrett is the present chairman.