BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 191, 1 May 1914, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTIONS

MR LAWRIE RETURNED AS MAYOR

COUNCILLORS HUBBARD AND McGOUQH

Wednesday was the Inio.lt day that

The Council Elections. Interest in the Council elections was quite overshadowed by ihe contest for the higher office. Thero were three candida'os for the two vacancies—Messrs F. Hubbard, K. McGough and 11. (J, R. Mason. Mr Hubbard has se.n public service in the Te Aroha district and the people of this borough appeared anxious to take advantage of his experience, with the result that he was place 1 at the top of the poll. "Hubbard and McGough'' w;s the principal voting, "Matoa and McGough" found a lot of favour and "Mason," plump voting, found iti way frequently into tne ballot boxes. It was thought that thrre might b3 a good dea'i of informal voting, but there were only 4 informals for the Council and only 6 for the Mayoralty. The result was:— FRANK HUBBARD 404 ROBERT H. McGOUGH 338 HENRY G. R. MASON 233 INFORMAL 4 Councillors Hubbard and McGough contested seat* for the first time. This is the third time that Mr Maion has offered his services. On each of the two previous occasions he scored 145 vot's. So far as we know Mr Mason made absolutely no effort to influence the voters in his favour. The New Council. The new Council will now be composed as follows: D. R. HAMILTON J. A. COMRIE J. FOLLOCK J. BEATTY R. BILKEY T. B. HURLEY F. HUBBARD R. H. McGOUGH. We think it will be generally agreed that a strong Council Is now in office to administer the alf airs of this borough.

I'ukekehe had as yet enjoyed for a polling day within the borough. When the first elections were held in 1912 the day was fitful, with showers of sleet and ccld rains. In 1913 the roads were in as bad a condition as it was possible to imagine, sitill last year the polling was very hsavy. In 1912, when Mr Dunn was returned, there were 646 names on the roll and 540 exercised their privilege of voting. This polling (or a very wet day) was higher in proportion to the voting en Wednesday last when the sun shone brilliantly all day. For this contest there were 815 names on the roll and, taking the Mayoral election as the standard, some 582 voted, being only 42 more than in 1912, although there were 169 mote names on the roll. Mr J. F. Deane was the returning officer, Mr F. E. Simpson was deputy, and Messrs J. J. MrKinney and J. Hindman were the poll clerks. Mr F. Lauet was scrutineer for Mr Fattersor. Mr Lawrie had no scrutineer. The Mayoral result was announced about 8 o'clock, and the result of the election for two councillors about 8.30 o'clock. Mr Deane and hia officers arc to be complimented upon the promptness with which ballot papers were served and upon the good order of the voting* arrangement.

Pukekohe's Second Mayor.

MK CHARLES KASPER LAWRIF. Mr C. K. Lawrie is Pukekohe's second Mayor. The Mayor h a wellknown land agent. He has now been in the Pukekohe district about three-and-a-half years. Within that period he has been created a Justice of the Peace, has been chairman of the School Committee, vice-president of the Franklin A. and P. Society, member of the executive of the local branch of the Farmers' Union, vicepresident of the Bowling Club, and a member of the Franklin Licensing Committee. Mr Lawrie was first elected (o the Borough Council in May 1912. Upon the resignation of the then Mayor, Mr W. Dunn, Mr Lawrie was elected by the Council to succeed him. In April, 1913, Mr Lawrie was re-elected Mayor, unopposed. This year he has again won the hief Magistracy by 51 votes.

The Mayoral Election. This is the second occasion upon which there has been a contest for the Mayoralty of Pukekohe. In 1912 the result was:— WILLIAM JUNN 203 ARNOLD B. BARTER )40 JAMES COSTELLO 139 R. F. WEBSTER 58

Last year. 1913, there was no contest, Mr C. K. Lawrie being given a WRlk-over. This year the advent of Mr J. Patterson into the field made things lively, and the public -discussions that have taken place and the printed pamphlets issued added zest to the fight The Mayor had no committee and no organisation, although it should be said that a few of his friends used their vehicles freely. Mr Patterson's party appeared to have organibed much more enthusiastically and systematically, the result being: that throughout the d»y almost everybody would privately confess that they did not know how the poll would go. As a matter of electioneering strategy, of course, must of the supporters of the different parties professed confidence in the result as favouring their own side, although the bulk of the people, whether supporting him or not, appeared to be agreed that Mr Lawrie would win

The poll closed at 7 o'clock and shortly after 8 o'clock bursts of cheering announced that the result had been made known. Ah expected the count was close:—

CHARLES KASPAR LAWRIE 314 JOHN PATTERSON 263 INFORMAL 6 Majority lor Mr Lawria 51

After the declaration had been made, Mr Liwrie expressed his thanks for the honor the people had dine him. He alto complimented Mr Patterson upon the clean way in which he had fought. Mr Patterson, who wa< warmly applauded, thanked his supporters for having voted tor hira. He congratulated Mr Lawrie upon being elected and tru3led that the Mayor would have a successful year of otric.

The present term is the last at which the successful candidate will he returned fur a one-year term. The latest amendment of the Municipal Corporations Act sets out that. from 1916, (he term ot office for the Mayor of a borough shall be two yean, wbkb will make the election of Mayor and council contemporaneous.