THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Shannon News, 27 April 1923, Page 3

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

HEAVY POLLING. Polling in connection with the Shannon Mayoralty and Borough Council elections opened yesterday morning and from the commencement evidence was not lacking that the poll was going to be a heavy one lor Shannon and that a lot of interest was being taken in the election. The Council Chambers was the polling booth and alt the morning there was a steady stream of voters, which was considerably increased during the afternoon and evening and the Returning Officer and his assistants were kept very busy. When the poll closed at 7 p.m. it was round that 460 voles had been recorded, which is a record for a municipal election in Shannon. THE MAYORALTY. MR MURDOCH WINS BY A BIG MAJORITY. The result of the election was made known from the Council Chambers, where a large number commenced to gather shortly after seven o'clock, and by 7.45 a large crowd had taken up their stand. The result of the Mayoral contest was made known much earlier than expected and was available at 7.20 p.m. The result was a victory for the retiring Mayor, Mr Murdoch, witii a big mapority over Mr Fargher, details being— J. 11. Fargher . 103 W. Murdoch 281 Mr Murdoch, the newly elected Mayor, then thanked all those who had voted for him and called for three cheers for his opponent. He said the contest had been a clean fought one as far as his opponent had been concerned, hut be was sorry to ( say he could not'say that as regards some ol Mr Farghcr’s supporters. He said he would give his best in the interests of the town as be had done in the •past. (Applause). Mr Fargher, the defeated candidate, congratulated Mr Murdoch on his return and called for three cheers for Mr Murdoch. He said that he was naturally disappointed but thanked all those who had voted for him. - He said he would always have the welfare of the town at heart and hoped oil soiye future; occasion to again offer his' services'to the Borough. pluiise).

ELECTION OF COUNCIL.

FOUR NEW COUNCILLORS. The election of eight councillors brought forward no less than 1.7 candidates. The results were made known at 9 o’clock. Of the old council, Messrs Spencer, Hook "and Richardson lost their seats; while Mr Fargher, who wa° a candidate for the Mayoralty did not stand. The new Councillors are Messrs Carter, Gunning, Curran and Beard. Following arc the results:— *A. E. Ilvde 303 8. W. Carter 241 U. Gardner 219 ; E. Butt 216 *l. Murray 216 \V. tl. Gunning 209 J. Curran 206 .1. Beard ••• 193 (The above were elected). B. Downes 131 \V. Clayton 176 *G. Hook 113 G. Mercer 114 *J. Richardson 112 E. Spencer 112 G. Quarrie 82 11. llook 52 J. A. Grumwald 37 Informal 13 Those marked with an asterisk were members of the old Council. After the results had been made known several of the candidates returned thanks to those who had supported them. POXTON. MAYOR. *Clir.vstall 291 Holhngs 184 COUNCIL. *Ross 344 *Coley . 289 * Walker 281 McMurray 263 "'Bryant 261 Parkin 258 Adams, W 251 Thorpe 245 *Smith 229 ♦Rand 218 Hynes 211 *Thompson 192 Atmore 175 Hamer 122 * Martin - 120 Simmons 77 * Old Councillors. MAYORAL ELECTIONS IN OTHER CENTRES. Wellington.—ln an exciting contest for the Mayoralty, Mr. Wright, M.P., the present occupant of the office, defeated Mr. Peter Fraser, M.P.. standing in the Labour interest, by 254 votes. Wiight, 10,830; Fraser, 10;57fi; Len McKenzie, 4321. %'■ Napier.—J. B. Andrew (retiring

Mayor), 2644; A. Ft Rollout (cx-corm-cillor), 712. Wansamti. —T. B. Williams (sitting Mayor), 2516: A. G-. Bignell, 2017. Blenheim. —Edward Stone Parker re-elected. Hawera. —Bone, SSO; Spratt, 778. Eltham. —G. W. Taylor beat G. H. P. Fitzgerald by a.two to one majority Dargaville.—lt. E. Horn blow (retiring Mayor), 378; A. J. Stallworthy, 336; informal, 3. Auckland votes iu come; cannot affect th e result. Invercargill.—Andrew Barn 400? ; T. P. Lonnie ]SOD. Dunedin. —H. L. Tapley, 4375; C. Ji. Hayward; 3266; D. Larnach 3128. All three sat on the last Council. Mr. Tapley was the Citizens’ League nominee. Timaru.—The, Municipal elections at Timaru were characterised by unusual interest, partly through the standing of the Rev. Wilson Potts, Baptist minister, who opposed Councillor Wallace, whil - the closing stag: s of the contest were marked by a bitter newspaper campaign. The result was: Wallace 2760; Potts, 1730. Eastbourne.—F. H. Mather was reelected unopposed. Petone.—J. W. McEwan, 1280; Albert Peru, 753. Lower Hutt.—W. T. Strand returned unopposed. Westport.—John Menzics, SSS; E. R. Fox < 476. Gisborne.—-Wildish. 14041 F. R. Ball, 1329. Christchurch. —J. A. Fleslier, 10,312; D. G. Sullivan, M.P., 8395. Lyttelton.—W. T Lester, 784; W. T Foster, 543. Oamrtru.—James McUairmid, 1210; Donald Miller, 902. OTAKI. Brandon 319 Byron Brown .... 233 SHANNON. Murdock 283 Fargher 103 CITY COUNCILS.

For the Dunedin City Council, the Citizens’ League ticket of twelve was elected with one exception, where J. E. McManus (Labour) secured a seat. For the Christchurch City Council the voting being on the proportional representation system, it will be some days before the personnel of the new council is known. Indications to-night are that the Citizens’ Association will have increased strength in the now council. COUNCILLORS. Sutton 971 Pryde " 930 Carthew 926 McCorkindale .... 898 Smith 889 Stewart 885 Pagan 873 Andrews 844 . . Barltrop 814 Cleland . 741 HALF-HOLIDAY. .. Wednesday ...... 603 Saturday 628 5 OTHER proposals. At Christchurch, a poll was taken on a proposal put forward by the City Council to raise a loan of £35 000 to establish a concert hall on the Manchester Street site and adjoining the new Municipal Buildings now in the course of erection. The poll was carried by a small majority, the figures being: For, 5,624; against, 5,512. There were no fewer than 1.099 informal votes. At Wanganui, a waterworks loan proposal to borrow £IOO,OOO was carried by a majority of 26 votes.- Tlie tepid baths loan proposal for £l7 000 was lost by 456 votes. A poll was taken at Greymouth regarding the weekly half-holiday and resulted in the retention of Wednesday, the voting being; Wednesday, 1,067; Saturday, 909. a maju-«ty of 158 votes. Tlie half-holiday poll at Timaru, though not complete last night, is certain to be in favour of Thursday.