PUBLIC MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1045, 11 September 1883, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A meeting, convened by his Worship the Mayor on the requisition of a large number of burgesses, was held in the Town Hall last evening. There were about 400 persons present, and the utmost good humor prevailed throughout.

His Worship occupied the chair, and stated that the object of the meeting was to hear the candidates for the three vacancies in the Borough Council express their views on matters affecting the Borough. He thought that it was a good sign to see so many candidates coming forwaid, as it showed that an increasing interest was being taken in municipal matters in Ashburton. Elsewhere it had been quite' different. In Timaru there were not enough candidates to fill the vacancies. To have the candidates face to face with the burgesses was a good plan as it opened a way for criticism on the actions of a public body. The choice of candidates was on this occasion a very good one, and he trusted the meeting would give each a fair and impartial hearing. He would call upon the retiring Councillors first, as it had always been the rule to give them the first privilege of addressing the meeting. Before sitting down the Mayor read a letter from Mr ■ Hugo Friedlander, apologising for his absence through indisposition, but expressing the desire to serve the burgesses—the same as he had in the past—if they thought him worthy again of their support. Mr St Hill was the first speaker. He said that he had always found it a difficult thing to address a public meeting from the hustings. As a matter of fact the'e was very little to talk about, because the ways and means of the Council were not very large. The total expenditure of the Council for twelve months was, in point of fact, not so much as that expended by one of our merchants in three months, and therefore this question was not of so much import as some had imagined. With reference to the present meeting, he thought that the expense of holding it was a useless and unnecessary one. The cost was L2 10s, and in his opinion this money could be spent much better in making some street channelling or asphalting. The Council must study economy in every respect, and must remember that the municipal chest contained only 20s to the LI. He had always opposed increased taxation. It was a serious mistake to go to any great expense for any Borough work, because rates would only increase and thus debar progress. What would have been the case if the Borough had incurred a debt of something like L 15,000, as was proposed a year or so ago? The Council had endeavored to expend a little as possible, and that only on very important works. The ratepayers were indebted to the Council for a steady improvement of the town in every part, and the Borough Engineer bad carried out his duties in a most satisfactory manner. There were now some 400 chains of concrete channelling, a like quantity of other channelling and 90 chains of footpaths asphalted. [Mr St Hill here read a return showing the different works done with in the Borough.] If the Council in the future took the same care with their funds, in a few years he thought that the rates would be lessened to one-half the present amount. He was opposed to special rating for carrying out schemes for high-pressure water supply,'expensive street improvements, etc, etc. (Hear, hear.) There had been a groat deal said about a mistake that had been made in the re-forming of Cameron street. Now, as a fact, great fuss had been made about nothing. He (Mr St Hill) was a member of the Works Committee, and the only mistake that was in reference to this street was this : the footpath had been lowered by having the shingle removed therefrom before the road was finished. The labor gang had mistaken the proper levels in consequence, and this particular portion of the street had been lowered in consequence. To repair the error it had cost about 50s, and he would ask was this sum anything to grumble about? (Cheers.) He would refer to the neglected north end of the town. Now, it was a fact that there had been more money—about one half the rates—.•■■pent on this “ neglected ’’ north than on the west side of the town. Mr St. Hill quoted figures referring to this matter. The re-forming of the Alford >' orest road was another matter which seemed to displease some people. Now, this road was much higher than others, and the soil taken from it was used in forming other places to a proper level. He did not think there was any cause for complaint as the road required repairing in any case. The Council had endeavored to spend the money equally in improving the streets of the town without regard to particular places. He was in favor of a special rate for lighting the streets of the town as he maintained that if the inhabitants required special lights they should not object to paying a special rate. It hud already cost the Council some LBOO or L9OO up to the present for street lighting, and it was quite certain that if they wanted streets made, lamps erected, footpaths asphalted, the ordinary rates now pafd would not suffice. the question -f dividing the town into wards was one he should certainly oppose. He would advise the ratepayers to pause before allowing the scheme for wards to be carried into effect. They would find that the wards would include some places where a great deal of the ratepayers money had already been expended. As before stated, he would strongly oppose this scheme. If the ratepayers elected him he would endeavor to serve them faithfully and to the beat of his ability, and he thought it was a good man who can please everybody. ( daughter). He would now answer any question the meeting would put to him. A ratepayer : "VTho authorised the fencing in of the Western Fire Brigade station ?

Mr St Hill said that the matter was referred to the Works Committee, and it had been decided to be carried out.

In- reply to Mr Harrison, the Mayor stated that it was usual for the Works Committee to have certain works referred to them, and in some cases with power to act.

Mr Thomas Sealy, who was loudly cheered on coming forward, siil _ he would, before referring to municipal matters, state his reasons for coming forward as a candidate for municipal honors. He had not sought of himself the position, but having received a very large and influential requisition, he f It bound to accede to this request, as a citizen, and represent them in the Council. If elected, he would do hia best to keep down the expenses, and a careful supervision on the expenditure for works which were only required. The rates were not at present oppressive, but there was no telling when they might be, if the expenses were not curtailed. Ashburton had stood the test of hard times as well as most places, and a great deal better than some other parts in New Zealand. The overdraft at the Bank required to be reduced, and it behoved the Council to take means to do so without much delay. (Cheers.) he rates in some towns were as high as 4s fid in the £, and he hoped they would never be higher than they were here at the present time, viz., Is in the £. In his opinion the rates should be expended fairly and equitably in each part of the town that required improvement, and not all in one place. (Hear, hear.) The Fi re Brigade was a most efficient body of men, and required every assistance that it was in the power of the Council to give. He would endeavor to get a better support from the Fire Association than they had yet given to

the Ashburton Brigade, as it was purely to the Association’s benefit that the Brigades should be kept efficient, and this was only done by subsidising them to a better degree. (Cheers.) Mr Leggett was also cheered on coming forward. He said he felt a little diffidence in addressing the ratepayers, as he had never before done so. He, like Mr Mr Sealy, had not come forward at his own wish, but by requisition from the burgesses, and a desire to see that justice was done to all parts of the town by the Borough Council. He lived in the part of the town which Mr St Hill called the “neglected North.” (Laughter). Now he would ask anyone of those present to go and see for themselves the part of the town known as such, and they would see for themselves that it was really rightly styled the “neglected North.” One of the streets here had the large sum of Ll 6 expended upon it a short time ago, but it had realised more than the outlay by way of the sale of soil taken from it to make it level. (Cheers). Mr St Hill had given them a lot of figures, but these proved nothing at all. As a matter of fact the labor gang was now doing work that was not required at all. (Cheers). The Council suddenly thought a work was required in the direction of the Hospi'al, and they took to making the Alford Forest Road. (Laughter and cheers). As an instance, if a sick man came by train and wanted to be taken to the Hospital he would be put into a cab and taken riobt down East street up Tancred street, up the Alford Forest road, and then back to the Hospital. (Laughter and cheers) This was simple log-rolling, because no road was required at all. In the past the rates had been expended, not in the north but in the west side of the town, and this was not as it should be. One of the candidates said that fid in the LI was quite enough to pay for rates. He did not agree with him, as no one would grumble at paying a la rate. There were a number of unoccupied sections in the t wn, and the owners paid hardly any rates in comparison with those who had improved their sections. He had a section alongside his which had not one penny spent in improvements, yet the ownor only paid something like 8s for rates against his (Mr Leggett’s) 30s or 35s per annum. He would be in favor of making these speculators pay as much as those who had improved their sections, (Hear, hear.) Mr G Cates here ascended the platform amidst deafening cheers and cries of “Go it, George.” After being given to understand that he could only ask questions, Mr Cates replied, “Gentlemen, I am sat upon.” However, he put a poser to Mr Leggett, when he asked “ Whether he would himself, conscientiously, faithfu'ly and willingly serve the ratepayers of the north end of the town.” Mr Leggett having replied to Mr Oates’s rat'.sfaction, the latter retired amid some considerable laughter and cheers. Mr Robert Murray was the next speaker. He said he was before them (tonight as a candidate for one of the vacant seat' in the Borough Council. Had he known, however, that he, would have gone through the ordeal _of giving a public address, he might have hesitated in coming forward at all, notwithstanding the influe tial requisition which had been given to him. He was, perhaps, unknown to a good many, yet he felt sure that if the ratepayers gave him a trial they would find that his endeavors would be to serve them in the Council without giving favor to one man more than another, or one part of the town to the detriment of the other. He had heard some rumor of the Borough taking over tt.e railway reserves. Now, as the tenanss of these paid no rates, he believed, he thought it would bo to the interest of the Borough if these reserves could be invested in the Council. (Cheers.) He was no financier, yet he considered the revenue derivable from these reserves would form a considerable source of revenue to the Council in a few years. In any case the strictest economy would have to be exercised as they may be sure that some very important work in the near future would be requir- d, and be enjoined a very careful husbanding of the funds in the meantime. Some scheme would Le proposed which would require a lot of money, and they should be prepared to meet any contingency. He would be in favor of having the overdraft reduced as soon as possible, because if the revenue of the Council was only some L 2.000 ayear now, and the rates did not cover the overdraft, he did not see how it was possible to raise a larger sum when it was required. He would like to see the Borough a success in every way, both financially and socially. (Cheers.) And ho would, if elected, look to its interests without fear or favor.

In reply to questions Mr Murray sati he was in favor of every owner clearing the tussocks off his own section at his own expense, or else to let the Council do the work and charge them for it. (Cheers.) With regard to what is law in this case and what is not, he must refer them to the retiring Councillors for information. He thought that unoccupied sections should be rated as high as improved ones. In reply to Mr Cates, he said he would most certainly be in favor of having a swimming bath. (Laughter.) Mr David Thomas said he was not going to make a long speech, but merely intended to answer any questions that might be put to him. He was in favor of the ward system and the rates being placed on the land itself, and not only on the improvements. It was simply fostering speculators. He would set his face against bickerings and cliques of any kind, and if elected would do his best to serve the burgesses. He had always taken an active part in public matters wherever he had lived, and he trusted that his public actions here would not bo found wanting. (Applause). In reply to Mr Harrison, Mr Thomas said that the Alford Forest road re-form-ing was simply a waote of public money. (Applause). In reply to other questions he said—He would not bo in favor of carrying the outfall drain any further into the river bed at present, nor would he be in favor of allowing other drains to bo led into it in its present course. (Hear, hear). He would look after the west side as well as the north side of the town, but was not prepared to say which streets were the best at the present moment, or which had had the most money expended on them. The division of the town into wards would remedy this. In reply to Mr Quill, he thought that a lot of work had been done on the west side of the town, and a lot of money spent there. (Laughter). The gully in Peter street he was in favor of letting, so that the tenant could fill it in at his own expense. (Laughter). He was opposed to the Library being handed over to the Borough Council. An Elector : Would you be in favor of having something done to Wills street, as it cannot be found owing to the water and mud 1 (A Voice : I’ll go out and look for it, Mr Thomas.) (Laughter.)— He would be in favor of having the street improved if they could find it. In reply to Mr Bird’s question he th-mght the unoccupied sections were not rated half high enough. Mr Bird : Could you stale Mr Mayor whether the valuator did not put a sufficient value upon these sections 1 , The Mayor said that the valuator certainly did rate them fairly high, but as a consequence there were numerous appeals against the valuation, and the assessor reduced them in nearly every case. . Mr Thomas said such being the case it required agitation on the part of the public in order to get a measure passed

to increase the rates on the unearned increment.

The Mayor said that as all thercahdidates had stated their views, there were one or two matters which he would take the present opportunity of refuting, which apparently had been spoken of in ignorance of the facts by the new candidates. First, with regard to the Alford Forest road. Now as a matter of fact, nothing had been done to this road for 10 years. The Council decided to leave it until it required re-forming altogether, and it was decided not to patch it up or repair it, but to bring it to the proper level whilst they were about it, and this was the reason the work was taken in hand at the present time. He would ask them was it right to go and patch up a road if it was out of position 1 Of course it is said that where Councillors lived they had generally good roads —(laughter)-; but was it not a fact that towards the Hospital <he streets were not - even formed at the present time, and yet Councillor Harrison lived there. Ho did not consider that any expenditure had been made unfairly either on one side of the town or the other. (Hear, hear.) \s to the log-rolling which Mr Leggett had mentioned, he might state that such a thing was not dreamt of in the Council, and he (Mr Leggett) evidently did not know wh .t “ log-rolling” really meant by the definition given by him. Un the motion of Mr St Hill, seconded by Mr Thomas, a vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, and the meeting ended.