The Waikato Times THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1938 THE LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20496, 12 May 1938, Page 8

The Waikato Times THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1938 THE LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

The interest displayed in the local body elections yesterday was an encouraging sign. The voting throughout the Dominion appears been much heavier than usual. It would be pleasing to think that the interest was solely concerned with local issues, but it must be admitted that the injection of political topics was largely responsible. The voting would seem to indicate that people prefer to draw a line between local and national matters, but the challenge made should have the effect of creating a more widespread interest in the work of the local bodies in the Dominion, and that will be a good thing in every way. In Hamilton the citizens recognised Mr Caro’s years of service by electing him to the mayoralty by a substantial majority. It was an honour well-deserved, and there was really no need for the Mayorelect to assure the people last night that he would continue to give of his best. They were confident of that, and also that the control of the civic affairs would be in capable hands. Mr Croall proved him. self a capable campaigner, ar,d accepted defeat in the best spirit. The brief speeches made by the two candidates for the mayoralty last night were typical of British people. One accepted victory with a sense of the responsibility involved and the loser offered his congratulations and displaj-ed no trace of bitterness. In three metropolitan centres the Labour candidates fared badly in mayoral contests, and the results will be interpreted in different ways by the parties concerned. A record number of candidates for the Hamilton Borough Council made the work of the returning officer’s staff very onerous, and the returns were later than usual. The explanation, however, was clear to the large assemblage in front of the Times building. The counting of the votes was no easy task, and as a great deal depended upon the final booth return interest was maintained throughout. It was apparent that a fair number of the retiring members had retained the confidence of the electors, and the complete returns bore out these calculations. Mr‘Findlay enjoyed the pleasure of heading the poll for both the Borough Council and the Waikato Hospital Board, and a majority on the new council have had experience of local body work. The new members include prominent business men who should be able to make a valuable contribution to the work of the council. It is a representative body and the interests of the community should be safe in its hands. Whatever outside issues may have been introduced during the campaign there is only one duty imposed on the new council and that is to do everything possible for the progress and the welfare of this centre. The other matters can well be lost to sight, and the best contribution the Hamilton Borough Council can make towards the national development will be to make this a progressive and attractive municipality. On the returns available the feature of the elections has been the failure of Labour to capture control of local government. During the recent conference of the party the president urged the delegates to concentrate on winning a majority on the local bodies. He expressed his confidence that they could do it, and said quite frankly that it would be of assistance when the larger, the national, issues came up for decision. It will be interesting to see how the party leaders regard the results of the polling yesterday. It is certain that, had they carried the day, the victory would have been regarded as the best of auguries for the coming general election. The only course now open to them seems to be to regard the figures as having no significance, from the purely political point of view. That attitude could be taken by non-members of the party, and if it should now seem to be a little illogical on the part of the Labour supporters it must be remembered that they persisted in making the elections a test of strength. It was a false step and showed that the leaders had misinterpreted the trend of opinion in local affairs.