1909 Aberdeen Corporation election

1909 Aberdeen Corporation election

← 1908 November 2, 1909 (1909-11-02) 1910 →

11 out of 34 seats of City of Aberdeen Council
17 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Party Independent Labour
Seats won 10 1
Seats after 32 1
Seat change 1 Decrease 1 Increase
Popular vote 3,263 806
Percentage 80.2% 19.8%

An election to the Aberdeen Corporation was held on 2 November 1909, alongside municipal elections across Scotland. 11 of the corporation's 34 seats were up for election, although only 3 were contested.

This election continued the 'Water Question,' debating whether the town's drinking water supply should be pulled from the River Dee or the River Avon. On 15 September 1909, the corporation had voted 19 to 13 to approve pursuing a local act in order to fund the Avon water scheme.[1] Despite this, many considered the matter still open, and John G. Scott of Woodside stood specifically for this matter, winning against a councillor that supported the Avon in September. In Greyfriars, Councillor Alexander Duncan voted for the Dee previously and won by a large margin. In St. Andrew's both candidates effectively supported the Dee, Chalmers stating he was no longer convinced of the Avon scheme, a change from last election. Although James George of Torry was labeled as a socialist in local papers, he was not backed by the local Labour Party, but was rather just a member of a trade union.[2]

Ward results

Greyfriars
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Alexander R. Duncan (incumbent) 887 87.3
Independent John T. Low 129 12.7
Majority 758
Turnout 1,025 38.3
Independent hold
St. Andrews
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour William K. Chalmers 806 57.6
Independent William L. Dunn (incumbent) 593 42.4
Majority 213
Turnout 1,414 42.0
Labour gain from Independent
Torry
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent James George[a] Unopposed
Majority
Turnout
Independent gain from Independent
Woodside
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent John G. Scott 562 54.8
Independent John Adan (incumbent) 463 45.2
Majority 463
Turnout 1027 57.1
Independent gain from Independent

[2][3]

Notes

  1. ^ Noted as a socialist but was not supported by the Labour Party.

References

  1. ^ "Aberdeen Water Supply". The Press and Journal. 16 September 1909. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "The Municipal Elections: Results of the Polls". The Press and Journal. 3 November 1909. p. 6. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Municipal Elections in Scotland". The Herald (Glasgow). 3 November 1909. p. 13. Retrieved 13 December 2023.