BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 9, 8 May 1912, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

MR W. DUNN RETURNED AS MAYOR VERY HEAVY POLLING.

The first Borough contest has been fought and the first Mayor and Borough Council for Pukekohe duly elected. After one of the dirtiest spells of weather that the district has suffered for some time, Wednesday morning broke warm and sunny and a number of the candidates were to be seen about the streets promptly at poll-opening. The clay roads leading into the town were in a frightful condition, and the state of the highway in front of the polling booth itself strongly suggested the heavy work that the new-born Borough Council has hefore it. During the day the weather grew fitful, and cold gusts of wind and sleet broke upon the periods of sunshine. Throughout the past week there had been a good deal of hard fighting—mostly on behalf of candidates, not by the candidates themselves but on the day of the election the contest was carried on without any bitterness at atl being exhibited by the principals. The forces would foregather in amity, agree to differ, and set off afresh upon further quests for votes. Shortly after seven o'clock a crowd began to gather in King street and as eight o'clock approached quite a large number was outside the Library, already impatient for the result. But they had ample opportunity for the display of patience, for it was not until a quarter past ten. or three houra and a quarter after the booth closed, that the poll was declared. Meanwhile there had been a good deal of stamping of cold feet in the unpleasant mud. The work of counting was heavy. There were 646 names on the roll and 540 exercised their privilege. This is an unusually high percentage. The Mayoral Contest. When the numbers were announced the (Returning Officer read : A. B Barter 140 (applause), J. Costello 138 (further applause), and then came William Dunn 203. The names had been read in .alphabetical order and when the votes awarded to Mr Dunn were read and his election was thereby declared there was a general chorus of still louder cheering. The voting was : WILLIAM DUNN 203 ARNOLD B. BARTER 140 JAMES COSTELLO 138 R. F. WEBSTER 58 The Mayor-elect was cordially received and applauded as he appeared to briefly thank the electors for having returned him at the head of the poll. Pukekohe's First Mayor

and his knowledge of accountancy, that the books and financial affairs of the Board were straightened out. His work in this connection alone placed the ratepayers uniler a debt of gratitude to him. The new Mayor is hot in debate, and unflinching in attacking whatever he believea to be against the best interests of th*V people he represents. His opponenflV say that his impulsiveness is his fault™ But we have no doubt at all—and we believe that this confidence will be endorsed by many who did not support his candidature —that at present juncture Mr Dunn brings to the office the very qualities needed to put the affairs of the Borough in business-like order.

The New Council* The reading of the figures for the fifteen candidates for the eight seats on the Council evoked repeated applause. After die declaration had been made Beveral Councillors elect (Messrs Lawrie, Bilkey, Berriman, Hart and Johns) appropriately returned thanks. The Councillors elected were : 1). R. HAMILTON 317 C. K. LAWRIE 295 • ROBERT BILKEY 293 J. POLLOCK 280 - ' J. J. HART 245 A. BERRIMAN \ 245 J. A. COMRIE 224 ;; J. W. JOHNS 214 The other candidates were T. B. HURLEY 206 H. DELL 200 J. POTTER 190 i B. H. ANDREW 166 H. G. R. MASON 145 C. M. WRIGHT 130 F. JACKSON 101 There were 10 informal votes.

Mr D. R. Hamilton who heads the list, is a well-known farmer who firmly advocates the rights and privileges of the man on the land. He has been in the district for about eight years. First of all he actively identified himself with the Buckland Domain. Board, theft the A. & P. Association, and niter wards with the Pukekohe branch of the Furmere' Union, of which he was : Secretary. Mr Hamilton is a man of convictions to which he gives unhesitating expression, but the expression j ant and tempered with jood ment. That his views hawi&lfffeoted his public popularity is evidenced by his proud position at the'poll Mr C. K. Lawrie, who is a well-known land and estate agent, has put up something of a record. He has only been resident of Pukekohe„for about eighteen months, but during that time he has been created a Justice of the Peace, has beeu made Chairman of the* School Committee and has secured'.seats on the Executive of the Franklin A. and P. Association and the Pnkekohe ' branch of the Farmers' Union. Now he has won second place on the list for the Borough Council. Prior to coining here to live Mr Lawrie was in Buckland for two years and before then he was in Taranaki for # number of years. He has had experience on public bodies—Patea County and Patea West Road Board. He has always taken a keen interest in school affairs aud has been Chairman of several school committees (including Pukekohe and Buckland.) Mr R. Bilkey was accorded very-cordial support in his candidature, not only from "the hill," but from all parts of the borough. Politically, Mr Bilkey is right on the ' other side of the fence frqm, say, Mr Hamilton but we have no doubt' that in borough affairs the influence <>f both councillors will be bent towards the soundest development of the borough. Mr Bilkey ; s name has long been associated with the potatogrowing and onion-raising industries, and it is largely due to him and other members of his family that sAAisound and prolific strains of poußls are produced in this district. Somebody with a sound sense once said something to the effect that "whosoever causes two blades of grass to grow where only one greW before deserves more of mankind than the whole race of politicians put together." If Mr Bilkey does half as well as a borough councillor as he has done for the agricultural development of this district, his election will be abundantly justified. Mr J. Pollock is the only member of the Borough Council who is a native of Pukekohe. Incidentally, he is the youngest member on the Council. He Colonial stock, his father also having I >een born in New Zealand. During his lifetime Mr Pollock has resided here except for a period of 10 years when he was farming in the Waikato, whence he returned to Pukekohe eighteen months ago. Mr Pollock has been a prominent supporter of

Pukekohe's first Mayor is an old Thames boy. He. was there for thirty years. Since coming to the Pukekohe district, nine years ago, he has engaged in farming pursuits. His success on the land is an example of how grit, judgment and hard work may triumph over inexperience Before taking up his land here Mr Dunn had no knowledge of farming. The writer has heard him laughingly say that he didn't know how to yoke a horse, didn't know the use of a swingle-tree on a plough, aud that neither himself nor any member of his family could milk a ciw. His business had been in grocery and drapery. But that he had a natural aptitude with farm stock, and an excellent eye for a good horse, has been «iiscovered by a large number of people in the show-ring. A business training is .t fine thing for any farmer; indeed, many agricultural writers affirm that it is more essential than the art of turning a straight furrow. In Mr Dunn's case, anyway, it quickly made him see that poor-yielding cows were money-losing propositions; and the factory results soon showed that he had realised the need for grading up his herd—and had acted upon it! When the initial work of the farm was overcome, Mr Dunn began to engage in public affairs. He had for twenty years taken a keen interest in educational affairs and it was natural that he should associate himself with the Pukekohe District High School Committee, of which body he was chairman for two years. He became a member of the Pukekohe West Road Board and was for two years at its head. It was i duo to Mr Dunn's unremitting toil, j

sports and pastimes, jtarticularly of football. He has not had experience ia the work of local government but lie brings to the Council a ripened experience in the practical things that matte*and his services in connection with the public works that must be undertaken should prove of great value to the Borough. Mr J. J. Hart another well-known farmer, effected a tie with Mr Berriman, each candidate securing 245 votes. On the Town Board Mr Hart was the silent member and at three meetings attended by a representative of the "Times" he probably did not speak more than a do/en words. But his close attention to fully justified the confideflfrwhich the burgesjshive shown in-ms administrative ability. Mr A. Berriman, who also advances from the • Town Board to the Borough Council, is another painstaking worker. Like several of his colleagues, he his a gift for the practical things. "We must have metal," were the words of his text in returning thanks to the electors, and he went further and said that the metal should be got in this riiafrjflt. There were two reasons for this; the first was that the metal would be go: when it was wanted, and the second was that the money would lie kept in the district. To these sentiments Cr Bilkey gave an enthusiastic u Hear, hear." We hope to hear more of this matter. Mr J. A. Comrie, who is a native of this district, is widely known as a business man, with establishments in Pukekohe and Bunciman. He has had a long experience in local administration. Besides his interest in School Committee work, he was for thiiteen years Chairman of the Pukekohe Fast Boad Board. His knowledge of district affairs, plus his business training aT| d ability, will undoubtedly prove a v&lcable public asset on the Borough Council. Mr J. W. Johns is the sitting chairman of the Pukekohe West Boad Board, of which body Mr Johns has been a member for the past eight years: He was also for five years a member (as well as secretary and treasurer) on the Pukekohe District High School committee. Other activities, including the Fanners' Union and the Beform League, have claimed this Councillor's attention. Mr Johns is a native of Mangere and has been in Pukekohe district for 27 years. He is one of the younger members of the Council.