CARTERTON MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3190, 15 May 1909, Page 5

CARTERTON MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

MR ARMSTRONG RETURNED AS MAYOR. (Special Reporter). Ye.°terday the election of a Mayor and Councillors (three having been elected at the ordinary election), took place, a fair amount of interest being manifested. THE MAYORALTY. There were two candidates for the Mayoralty, and of 887 persons on the roll", 485 voted. Of the total on the roll there are a fair number of absentees, and when these are taken into consideration, about twothirds of the voters on the roll exercised their privilege. Mr James Moncrieff was returning officer, and was assisted by Mr L. H. Smart. The result of the Mayoral contest was made known at 7.30 o'clock, half an hour after the closing of the poll, the figures being as follow : Mr Adam Armstrong 287 Mr Coleman Phillips 191 Informal 7

Majority for Mr Armstrong 96, The result was received with cheers. Mr Armstrong delivered a short speech, in the course of which he thanked the electors for the honour they had bestowed upon him. He assured them that he would 'serve the ratepayers to the best of his ability. Mr Coleman Phillips thanked all who had supported him, and congratulated Mr Armstrong upon his victory. It was one of the most friendly contests he had ever been engaged in. Cheers were then given for the candidates. THE COUNCIL ELECTION.

At 9.15 o'clock the result of the Council election was made known as follows: — Mr T. J. Rathbone 356 Mr W. T. Masson 343 Mr C. J. Smith 303 MrM. Lavery 283 Mr J. A. Dudson 263 Mr W. J/.berrill 242 Mr W. W. Mansfield 238 Mr W. H. Whyte 225 Mr W. J. Lindop 159 Mr E. L. Wakelin 145 The first six were declared elected. Mr Rathbone was the first to return thanks. He expressed his gratitude for the honour conferred on him by the ratepayers in placing him at the top qi the poll. He would make no promises, but would do his best, and if at the expiry of the term he decided to ask them to again return him, he hoped they would—not necessarily at the top of the poll. A call for three cheers for Mr Rathbone was lustily responded to. Mr Masson sincersly thanked the electors for returning him. Four years ago, he said, when he had worked hard in the Council, the electors returned him near the bottom of the poll. This time, when he had done very little, they placed him second to the top. This, and the running of the gasworks, were two things which were hard for him to understand. (Laughter). Cheers were, then given for the candidate. Mr Smit'i thanked his supporters, and assured them that he would do his best in the interesta of the ratepayers. (Applause and cheers). Mr Lavery, in a happy speech, thanked thejratepayers for the||honour djne to him that day, for he was comparatively a stranger. He said he owed themj an apology for being there, (Laughter) but the ratepayers had asserted very emphatically that they wanted him in the Council, and he assured ther, he would do his best. He had no axe to grind. He was now a double councillor—viz., Counsellor of the Supreme Court, and Councillor of the Borough Council. (Laughter). He wondered what next they would make him. (A voice: Mayor). Reference had been made about a ticket—he hadn't seen the ticket, and he, further, had no policy. (Laughter and cheers). Someone in the crowd called for cheers for "Mrs Lavery" (Mr Lavery has not yet joined the ranks of the benedicts). Mr Lavery, eeaing the joke, quickly called out, "I wish she were t.ere; I hope she is here," which was greeted with renewed laughteraiidjjcheers.

Mr Dudson said he bad not come forward because he liked the work, but because, with others, he had recognised it his duty to do so, rather than let the municipal affairs go by default. He was a large ratepayer, and in looking after his interests he would be looking after those of other ratepayers. He knew where the shoe pinched, and proposed to go into the matter of reducing the gas rate, as well as the water rate. He would lookjnto the balance sheet and see if an alteration could not be effected. (Applause and cheers). Mr Berrill thanked the electors, and considered that reference to a ticket had been injudiciously made. Thera was no ticket. He would endeavour to sarve the ratepayers to best of his ability. (Applause and cheers.) Mr Alex. Lindop briefly returned thanks on behalf of his father, who was absent in Wellington. Mr Wakelin thanked his supporters, and hoped that when he again came forward he would have better luck. Mr Whyte also thanked those who had supported him. Mr Lavery then called. for three cheers for the defeated candidates, and three for the Returning Officer, all of which were heartily given.