MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 97, 1 May 1913, Page 5

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

THE STRATFORD RESULTS. EXCEPTIONAL APATHY. To the casual observer, the fact that an election was on in Stratford yesterday was not very apparent. Throughout the day the polling was quiet, and it (was not surprising to find that less than half of the electors exercised their franchise. Towards eight o’clock twenty-odd people assembled outside the Town Bali to hear the results, and by B.To o’clock, when Mr Skoglund announced the official verdict there were hardly thirty people present. With the exception of Councillor Lawson, all the old councillors were returned, while Mr W. H. H. Young was the other candidate, among the newcomers, to fail. As on at least one former occasion, Councillor N. J. King topped the poll, though he was followed closely by Councillor Thompson and Mr J. B. Richards. The election of two members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board produced few surprises, and the victory of Messrs McAllister and Sole was not unexpected. ELECTION OF COUNCILLORS. The following is the official result ol the election of nine councillors: —

X. .1. King ... ... 129 J. H. Thompson ... 411 J. B. Richards ... 407 J. W. Boon 403 J. Masters ... ... 393 F. G. Arden ... ... 374 J. W. H. Fredric ... 370 R. McK. Mori son ... 369 R. Dingle ... ... 353 T. Lawson ... ... 341 W. H. H. Young ... 302 Informal ... ... 3

The first nine were therefore declared duly elected. HOSPITAL BOARD. The result of the Hospital Board election is as follows: J. McAllister 352 C. D. Sole 308 J. H. Thompson ... 244 R. McK. Morison ... 172 Informal ... ... 23 Messrs McAllister and Sole were therefore declared duly elected. The Returning Officer (Mr P. Skoglund) and his assistants (Messrs A. Black and G. W. Mills) are to he congratulated on the promptness with which they announced the results. —_ THE MAYOR’S PROPOSALS. SUGGESTED WORK FOR NEXT YEAR. “J am pleased to see so many old councillors returned, and also notice .nth pleasure the fact that two exmayors are included in the new Conn'd,” remarked His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. P. Kirkwood), when interviewed this morning by a reporter of the “Stratford Evening Post.” In offering ills congratulations to Cr X. I. King for topping the poll, Mi Kirkwood referred to the energetic and tactful manner in which fhat Councillor had carried out the very important duties devolving upon the Chairman of Works Committee. He also congratulated the new successful candidates in polling so heavily.

THE COMING YEAH. His Worship went on to say that, although there would be no loan monej to be spent, the coining year would be a full one, so far as the work of the Council was concerned. A good deal of important work would have to be carried out, and the Council would have to manage as far as possible with the revenue. Last year the Charitable Aid and Electric Light rates were not struck, but, this year they would have to be levied for the purpose of adding to the general revnue. The most important works that would have to be carried out during the year would probably be improved streets and footpaths, and kerbing, ais far as it was possible to carry out the latter.

STLEET IMPEOVEMENTS. His Worship continued that the road roller had proved an unqualified success, and it would be essential for tire proper carrying out of improvements to the streets, now and later, for the Council to procure a stone crusher and a tar spraying machine, flic use of tar on roads and footpaths had now gone beyond the experimental stage, and it was recognised as being a necessary adjunct for the laying down of roads, more especially in Taranaki, where the climate is somewhat moist. 'There was now on hand a large quantity of crushed stone, uul a start would be made to uso this metal before the winter came on. The stone had been crushed at a cost d about Is (id per yard, to which price had to bo added 6d royalty to the Eltham County Council, for hire if crusher. With their own crusher he Stratford Borough would he able to considerably reduce the cost of the metal. THE TOWN HALL. Another matter of great interest to the citizens of Stratford was touched uiion when Mr Kirkwood referred to the Town Hall, which building, a: is well known, is not now paying itr way. '‘l am of opinion,” he said, “that the present site is most unsuitable, and that a more suitable location could be secured on one of the municipal reserves situated elsewhere. There is little doubt that the present site is most inconvenient, and the 1 fact is evident hv the numerous com-

plaints made by tin* electors yesterday, when they had to go to Juliet Street to record their votes. With the Hall on the present site playgoers also object to having to go so far out of their way to attend theatrical performances.”

WATRR EXTENSION. “in connection with the water system,” Mr Kirkwood proceeded, “there is no doubt that there is a necessity for a duplicated pipe line, but in view of the manner in which recent loans were turned down by the ratepayers, the matter will have to be approached tactfully, and at least means would be required to be taken to get the feeling of the ratepayers before any expense is entailed in this matter. This end, however, could be served by calling a meeting of the ratepayers and placing the matter before them. In the event of the meeting giving the matter their favourable consideration, the Council could then probably take further action. Something must be done. The water pressure at the present time, when the extraordinary supplies are being used, is very low and not sufficient for fire fighting purposes.” STREET BEAUTIFICATION.

Mr Kirkwood concluded with a reference to a matter, to which he previously referred at a meeting of the Stratford Beautifying Society. “It is my intention to bring before the Council the question of beautifying our streets, by planting them with suitable trees that will stand our climate. I suggest planting from the Opunake Road to the Warwick Road, and from Pembroke Road to the Flint Road. Work of this nature has been carried out previously, but on account of the unsuitability of the trees, was not a success.” WELLINGTON. For the Mayoralty, Mr J. P. Luke polled 9994 votes, and Mr D. McLaren 9486, a majority for Mr Luke of oUS. WESTPORT. There was a record polling at rj,o elections to-day. Results:—Mayoralty : A. Leaver (elected) 1045, T, Q. O’Brien 643, T. Samuel 306. Messrs Munro and Scanlon were elected to the Harbour Board. BLENHEIM. For the Mayoralty, Cr E. S. Parker (837) defeated the sitting Mayor, Mr J. J. Corry (791). GISBORNE. Mr James Robert Kirk, solicitor, formerly of Naseby, was elected Mayor of Gisborne. The figures were; —Kirk 960, Dr. Collins 845, John Sheridan 523. FOXTON. Keen interest was evinced in the election for the Mayoralty. The results were; G. H. Stiles 529, J. L. Harvey 199. TAIHAPE. The Mayoral election resulted :—Mr I). McLennan 469, Mr H. 1). Bennett 293.

PALMERSTON NORTH

Messrs Cohen and John Coh.be have been returned as members of the Wellington Harbor Board. The Mayor, Mr J. A. Nash, was re-elected unopposed. » MASTERTON. The Borough Council elections were keenly contested between the Labor and Commercial interests. Only one straightout Labor candidate was returned, and ho was a retiring councillor. The councillors elected wore:— Messrs A. E. Wiuzenberg, 11. J. King, F. W. Temple, G. W. Sellar, W. Kemball, J. Candy, J. C. Ewington, E. Flannigan, and H. J. O’Leary. MORNING TON. In Mornington Mr S. Solomon, the retiring Mayor, was defeated by Mr A. P. McCarthy, by 896 votes to 261. NELSON. The city Mayoral election resulted ; —W. Lock 1226, W. W. Snodgrass 1131.

CHRISTCHURCH. The Mayoral election resulted:— Mr K. Holland (present Mayor) 7869, Dr. Thacker -1055, Mr T. J. Mcßride (Social Democratic candidate) 3577. For the councillors on the Central and St. Albans wards the Citizens’ Association ticket was returned. In Sydenham the Social Democratic ticket was returned (all re-elected), in Linwood one Social Democratic and two Citizens’ Association candidates were returned. 'The City returned four supporters of the Sumner canal to the Harbor Board. The vote on the statutory half-holiday resulted in Saturday being selected, the voting being: Saturday 9326, Thursday (the present half-holiday) 5154. NEW BRIGHTON. Mr C. H. Winny was elected to the Mayoralty. LYTTELTON. Mr J. R. Webb was elected Mayor. RICCARTON. At the Mayoral election Mr H. Reynolds was returned. TJMARU. Mr AY. Angland was elected Mayor out of four candidates by a majority of 28 over Mr T. Hawkey, the present Mayor. INVERCARGILL. For the Mayoralty Mr Duncan McFarlanc defeated Air Andrew Bam by 77 votes. The Council elections resulted in the return of eleven members of Hie Citizens’ ticket and one Labor candidate, who was a member of the last Council. The weather was showery, but the polling was fairly heavy. WANG ant:l. Great interest was taken in the elections to-day, seven issues being before the public. Mr T. B. Williams was elected Mayor, and Thursday was selected as the half-holiday. WESTPORT. For the Hospital Board there were

ten candidates for four seats. The succsslul ones were;—Messrs Greenwood 1228, Larsen 1076, McDonald 895, and Lange 868; and for the Borough Council, of 21 candidates the successful ones were Messrs Larsen 1186, Hagedorn 1128, Lange 997, MacKay 945, McDonald 903, Gillen 891, Hatker 863, Hutton 745. and Sproule 726.

NAPIER. In tlio Mayoral election Mr J. V. Browne polled 3129, and Mr J. P. Thompson 1121. lathe Harbor Board election for three members representing the Napier borough, Mr J. V. Browne polled 2278, Mr J. J. Niven 1924, Mr F. IV. Williams 1855, Mr W. J. McGrath 1854, Hon. J. D. Ormond 1817, Mr H. J. Holder 1789, and Mr I). McGrath, jun., 380. Messrs Browne, Ormond, and Holder advocated the completion of the breakwater and the harbor. Messrs Niven, Williams, and W. J. McGrath advocated the construction of an inner harbor to admit vessels of deep draught. The election excited a good deal of interest, owing to the rival tickets. DUNEDIN. The Mayoral election resulted: — Mr Stewart 5527, Mr Belcher 4368, ;r ' Mr Shacklock 3699. HAWERA. Voting on the, half-holiday resulted in Wednesday being retained. AUCKLAND. The City Council elections resulted in the return of thirteen members of the old Council, and five new members, including Miss*. E. Melville. The Mayors elected were:—Grey Lynn, Mr George Baildon; Onehunga, Mr John Rowe. In the Harbour Board election, Mr Alison was the only sitting member defeated. The Hospital Board elections resulted in a majority for the reform candidates, Dr. Florence Keller heading the poll. The half-holiday poll gave a majority of 1803 for Saturday. DANNEVIRKE. The Wedesday half-holiday was retained by 97 votes MARION. Mr Miles fo'r the Mayoralty had a majority of 123. The four Labor nominees for the Council were badly defeated. PAHIATUA. In the Mayor contest, Mr David Crewe (sitting Mayor) secured 280 votes, and Mr J. D. Wilson (ex-Mayor) 270. FOXTON. / • u i. 1 • ’ T Of thirteen candidates, the following were elected:—Messrs J. Chrystall, Thomas Henderson, Geo. iColeyi id G. Whibley, L. Freeman, Geo. Barber, Alexj Speirs, D. Green and S. Read. :<• ; • ;• :

For 771 e Foxton Harbor Board, tliere were Hiree nominations for two seats, and Mr S. J. Hennessy (present chairman), and Mr F. E. Jonhs were elected '

HASTINGS. Messrs Styles, “art and Donovon (Labour), and Messrs Holderness and McCormick were re-elected, and the new councillors are Messrs King, McKibbin, Blake, Wade (Labour). For the Hastings seat on the Harbor Board, Mr Lane (inner harbor candidate) was re-elected by a sweeping majority over Messrs A. L. D. Fraser, McCormick and Fowler. FEILDING. In the Mayoral election, Mr A. M. Ongley defeated Mr E. Goodbehere (the sitting Mayor) by five votes. It was the heaviest poll on record. Mr Ongley was a most prominent athletic, captain of both the cricket and football clubs, and was a champion tennis player. For the poll on the half-holiday, Wednesdays was carried.