MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 470, 2 May 1919, Page 2

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE

Un till noon on Wednesday it did not seem as though the electors were taking much interest, 1 pm. only 136 people had cast' their votes. However, things livened up after lunch, and for about three hours thero'was a continuous stream of voters, and the oliicials were kept very busy The arrangements made by tho" clerk of the Borough Council (Mr J. F. Deane'), were very satisfactory, the voting on each of the issues, namely, the mayoralty, the councillors, and the war meinorid, being Ukeu in separate rooms. Credit is due to the staff engaged for the able manner in which the three-fold poll was conducted. The officials were as follows: Messrs J. F. Dean (Clerk of the Council and Returning Officer), J Hindman and A.Grant and J. McKiuney (poll clerks for the elections) and Mr and Mrs F. E. Simpson, poll clerks for the War Memorial issue.

THE RESULTSAs will be seen by our advertising columns, Mr C. K. Lawrie "flew" in for the Mayoralty, with a majority of 101 votes, which must be considered very substantial. The retiring Mayor, Mr H. G. R. Mason, received his defeat in a thoroughly sportsmanlike manner, stating that if such was the will of the people, he had no complaint to make. He was glad, indeed, that the majority was a substantial one, so that the position was not such that the two candidates wore almost equal. A decisive majority was always desirable. The voting "for the Councillors places Mr D. R Hamilton at the head of the poll, with Mr J. Dent (new blood) second. Altogether, there are three new members—the others being Messrs R. R. McGough and J. H. Keith. The former had been in the Council previous to the last term, and yesterday was the latter's second try—the first being unsuccessful; perseverance won this time.

UTINQ I'OR UISCI.T

After the closing of the booth, up to the timo of the announcement of the Council results (about 10 p.m.) little knots of men and women were standing about, talking on the election, hut there was no enthusiasm shown. Approximately one hundred persons heard the results called out from the doorstep of the Council chambers. Three cheers were given for the new May r; and Mr Ibnt gave a short speech of thanks. Otherwise tehro was " nothing doing." Mr Lawrio had previously hold the position of Mayor, being elected by the Council. On th-i! < i-i-asion he had an ..pponont Mr J. Patterson W |i„, howev-r, withdrew his nomination, so that this i- really the first time Mr Ltwrie ha.- h'"'" el-'Cted by the poodle, and li lots evory reason to ho please \ with the result. Mr Uwriowus Mayor from l' 1!to I'Mo. being then hv Mr Ma,or,'