ELECTION MINDED

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

ELECTION MINDED

ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD VOTINQ TH« TOPIO OP MOMBNT SCENES IN THE STREET Election day is set aside for elections and little else. Absorbed by the wave of expect-* anev and excitement which prevail* on such occasions whether It be the municipal polling day or general election date, the people of Hamilton adopted municipal politics ns the leading topic throughout yesterday when customers spoke to traders and traders retorted in a vein Of election gossip. Then there were the crowds in the street heading for or returning from the polling booths. There was expectancy everywhereThe real excitement came at night when the greatest Hamilton orowd to await municipal election results assembled before the illuminated result board erected on the Waikato Times building. Hamilton has often been epitomised as a city of apathetlo citizens. Not so last night surely, when the people were eager to learn If their votes had been cast in accordance with the wishes fcf the majority or If this candidate orxthat had been accepted. The crowd was almost as large as that which assembled to await the all important results on the night of the general elections in 1935. That was indicative of the wave of enthusiasm. Almost 4000 citizens had congregated. Walt for Oounoll Results The night was cold but It was beautifully fine. With big overcoats, large scarfs and the warmth of the election contest to keep out the cold, the crowd set to their long wait In a merry humour. The wait for the Borough Council results proved a very long one. ‘Move along a little and let the people get through,” said a policeman to the crowd on the street. There was a movement but then, at 7.40 p.m. the first mayoral result came from the Claudelands booth and the people surged to their positions of vantage again. Mr Caro had an early majority.

“It looks like Caro,” said another as the mayoral results started to arrive In quicker succession. But in the meantime the Waikato Times loud speaker was announcing results from other centres. Again the interest of the crowd was keen as party politics loomed higher in municipal affairs than ever before. “Fancy that!” said a voice as one result came through and It was no lone exclamation. Programmes By Band And so the night went on with the humour which always attends such gatherings. By 8.30 p.m. the final results of the Hamilton Mayoralty were made known and the candidates spoke from the Waikato Times verandah. Then, a quarter of an hour later, came the final returns of the Waikato Hospital Board elections for the Hamilton seat. It was a longer wait for the crowd before the first returns for borough councillors came, however. Nevertheless, the time was well occupied. The Hamilton Citizens’ and the Waikato Regimental and Hamilton Municipal Bands rendered entertaining programmes and the loudspeaker announcer assisted with an anecdote or two. “Where is that announcer?” one man asked of another who was in the centre of the road. Few knew, but as a matter of fact he was stationed in the office of the Waikato Times. As the hours wore on and the theatre crowds appeared the crowd swelled and the street which had been roped off to niotor traffic was packed from footpath to footpath. Certainly it was the keenest municipal election Hamilton had known.