THE COUNCIL ELECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9078, 30 April 1908, Page 4

THE COUNCIL ELECTION.

The election of a borough Councillor to replace Councillor Temple, resigned, took place yesterday, simultaneously with the Mayoral election, and resulted in the return of Mr John Hunter, and the defeat of ex-Coun-cillor E. MeEwen. Mr Hunter is by no means unused to public life, but as he has been resident but a comparatively short time in the borough it came somewhat as a surprise that he scored a win against his opponent by nearly two to one at the polling booths. Mr MeEwen probably owes his defeat to the fact that he did not coma out in the open and woo the sufFragcs of the ratepayers. His record has been a good one, but Masterton has developed 30 much of late that the man of retiring disposition has now to give place to the man Who is willing to "face the music," and can convince the electors that he possesses the capacity to grapple with the problems of the day. Mr Hunter did what Mr MeEwen omitted to do, and naturally secured a majority vote. In the new Councillor the borough has secured a man of enlightened ideas and independent thought, and one who is nut likely to be subservient to any section, or coterie which may be established within the walls of the Council) Chamber. He is capable,, we believe, of taking a broad view of municipal matters, and of bringing a logical mind to bear upon Such a man will be a valuable- addition to the Council at the present time, when large public works are to be put forward for consideration.

When clerics and racing authorities are agreed upon the viciousness of the Gaming Act in forcing the bookmakers upon the racing clubs, it may reasonably be assumed that the doom of the bookmaker inside as well as outside the racecourse is not very far off. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson, Chairman of the Auckland Racing Club, is quite in accord with the Rev. J. J. North, of Wellington,, that the Act ought to be amended in regard to the bookmaker and the totalisator. The rev. gentleman may be said to represent every religious denomination in the views he has expressed on these matters, and Mr Mitchelson may likewise be said to represent the opinions of the majority of the racing clubs in the dominion. Mr Mitchelson is very pronounced against the admission of bookmakers, and desires that they should be utterly suppressed. H» agrees with the Rev. North's denunciation of the excessive number of race meetings, and the excessive use of the totalisator, and declares that the Racing Conference would willingly agree to reduce the number of clubs and the day 3 of racing. The trouble, however.,, is, he says, that the country clubs" representatives outvote the others on this point. It may be gathered from all this that a strong effort will be made next session to eliminate bookmakers from racecourses, suppnesa the non-totalisator clubs, and limit the number of totalisator clubs..