THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Vote held on Bangor improvement bill

From the News Letter, December 31, 1904
Bangor, Co Down. Picture: National Library of Ireland on The CommonsBangor, Co Down. Picture: National Library of Ireland on The Commons
Bangor, Co Down. Picture: National Library of Ireland on The Commons

At noon yesterday Mr John McMeekan, JP, the presiding officer in charge of the plebiscite which had taken place among Bangor ratepayers on whether or not to approve or disapprove the Bangor Improvement Bill sat in the boardroom of the municipal buildings to count and declare the result of the vote.

Mr W I Mahaffy, the council’s solicitor, Mr James Milliken, town clerk; and the other officers of the board were also in attendance during the counting of the votes.

At about two o’clock the figures were declared as following: 478 for the proposal, 158 against the bill, 135 blank ballots and 17 spoilt ballots. After some deliberation the final result was declared as 541 for the Bill and 185 against the bill which gave those in favour of the Bill a majority of 356.

Mr McMeekan at the end of the count expressed his hope that the council would accept the outcome of the plebiscite as a vote of confidence in the council and that it was a just reward from the ratepayers of Bangor.

Mr Edward Henry then proposed a vote of thanks to Mr McMeekan for allowing the Bill to be put to the town’s ratepayers.

He added that the outcome clearly showed the belief that the council was working for the best interests of the town.