On This Day, 1 November 1916

Birmingham Daily Post

Wednesday 1 November 1916

NO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN BIRMINGHAM

In ordinary circumstances the election of one-third of the councillors for the city of Birmingham would have taken place to-day, but for the second time since the war began there are no municipal elections this year. In 1914, shortly after the commencement of hostilities, the political parties agreed there should be no party contests that year, with the result that in 29 of the 30 wards the burgesses were saved the trouble of a poll. Then in 1915, by the Elections and Registration Act which was passed during the summer, the election of councillors who would have retired on November 1 was postponed for a year, and the term of office of existing councillors was extended by a similar period. The same thing has occurred again. Parliament has decreed that the elections which would have taken place to-day shall be postponed for another year. As far as can be gathered, the whole of the 30 gentlemen who should have sought re-election are willing to continue their services with one exception – namely, Mr. W. J. Adams, who has represented Erdington South Ward since the extension of the city boundaries in 1911. The Council are empowered by Act of Parliament to fill the vacancy, and they will choose a councillor to take Mr. Adams’s place on the 9^th inst.