MAYORAL ELECTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1008, 24 November 1883, Page 2

MAYORAL ELECTION.

A meeting of the burgesses took place last evening for the purpose of hearing the two candidates for the mayoralty explain their views on municipal matters. There was a large attendance, the chair being occupied by Mr Hugo Priedlander. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, bespoke a favorable hearing for tho two candidates, which he felt quite sure would be accoided. He would call on the present Mayor to speak first, as he thought he had that right. Mr Williamson said that ho thought that this election would have passed off without a meeting, but his opponent hi d asked for it, and he (the speaker) had of

course acceded to it. After apeakiig of the rapid strides made by Ashburton during the past seven-years, he went on to say that the reason why he was present that night was easily explained. ' At first he did not intend to stand, but a requisition had been got upquite unknown to him, and he had agreed to come forward again, because he understood that it was the wish of the majority of the burgesses that he should do so. He had thought over the matter for some time, and he had agreed to come forward, and at that time he thought there would be no opposition. Ho had not canvassed for votes, as he did not think such a course proper. If it was thought he had done his duty in the past they would elect him ag an, and he hoped they would do so, alth ugh ho had plenty to occupy his time with should they reject him. The Council had been spending a great deal of money in making streets and other necessary works, and although he was opposed to a large overdraft he was of opinion that they should not put a stop to works. When the next rate was struck the overdraft would no doubt, be reduced without interfering with the works. The present Chairman had been instrumental | in carrying out the drainage scheme, and there were many people present who could testify to the advantage accruing from this. Then there was the water supply, which was the admiration of everyone who visited .Ashburton. The lighting had been attended to by the Council, and although everybody could not bo satisfied, the main thoroughfares had been provided with necessary lamps. If the Council did as I good work in the future as they had done in the past all {the heavy portion of the work would be done, and he thought it was premature to think of going into the ward system. That system was a’l very well in an old community, but in a new place it would do harm by fostering jealousy. Referring to East street, he would remind them that the property of that street brought in more revenue than any other p art of the Borrough, and should therefore have more attention paid to it than the outlying districts. If people would consider it they would admit that the centre of the town should be attended to, and other places of less importance should await their time. It should also be remembered that East street had paid half the rates of the town As to what had been said about the Alford Forest road, concerning which there had been a good dealoftalk,although he did not know why. This road was made in 1874, and nothing had been done to it sines, as anybody could see who remembered that time. As the road had stood for nine years, it proved that it had been well made, and it should not be touched till it was utterly worn out, considering it was now quite out of the level. Other streets had been re-formed and nothing would have been said about the Alford Forest road except for the sake of getting up a cry. The cost of th ; work on that road was Lllß 10s, and against that there was L 37 10s, which showed j that the money expended was LBl—a very fair proportion. The Chairman had stated the other day that the money f"r i the Ashburton traffic bridge was still available, and he was glad to hear that. The conditions were slightly changed, as application had to bo made under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, which meant that the Government gave L2 £>r LI. ■lt now rented with the local bodies to take action in the matter, and if the Borough Council contributed LSOO or L6OO it would be money well spent, as it would be a great benefit to the town and he hoped that if the question were brought up again the burgesses would support the Council in getting the bridge. Before sitting down he would refer to what had been said about one gentle nan occupying the Mayoral chair for three times in succession. Locking through the p ipers he saw it was by no means unusual for a Mayor to be returned for the third time, and he wished it to be understood that he had only come forward at the request of the burgesses. If it was a paid office there might be something in the objection, but as it was at present he did not think there was much tin it The Mayor was simply a chairman of a board of work?, and he could say truly that no man in the Council had more experience in these matters than he had. Mere sentiment should not govern the decision of the burgesses, who should be guided by common sense. He would not occupy more tirtie in speech-making, but would be ready to answer any questions that might be put to him. (Applause).

I'Tr A. Harrison said that he fell great pride in holding the position he did that evening. Up to a certain point he believed in what Mr Williamson had said, but although he considered him an estimable man, he could not agree with whit had been said about the Alford Forest road. He did not agree that the cost of the road was LSI, as the road was not yet finished and the work had been done with borrowed money, and no estimate could be made. As to the requisition sent to Mr Williamson, he (the speaker) knew of his own knowledge that many had signed it under a misapprehension. He could tell them that that requisition was hawked about in the polling booth at the election of a councillor, but he was thoroughly satisfied that Mr Williamson knew nothing whatever about the matter. He was sorry to hear the previous speaker say that somebody was making capital out of the Alford Forest road. That could only refer to him (Mr Harrison), and he could assure them that he only sought to do his duty, and he was certain that he did not want to make capital out of that or anything else. As to what had been said about the quality of the Alford Forest road he had been told that there was no better road in the district, although it did perhaps go in a roundabout direction. Had the road been made to the hospital it would have been most useful, but as things were now the approach to that institution was disgraceful. As to East s‘reec, he was of opinion that the only way to make good roads was to form them of broken metal and it would also bo better if the cost of watering the roads was borne half by the residents of East street and half out of the rates. He had always taken a great interest in the Fire Brigade and he thought that that body had not been well treated. Or St Hill had stated in the Council that the Brigade had cost 12| per cent of the revenue, but if they took the L 643 which was expended on the Brigade they would find it only amounted bo 5 per cent of the total revenue from 1879. Then, certain sums were put down to the Western Brigade, and if those figures were taken off the amount was reduced t) 4| per cent. He had written to the paper on this subject, but his assertion had never been refuted. Mr Williamson had referred to a Mayor being a Chairman of a Board of Works, and he seemed to hint that he (thespeaker) was unfitted for the post. He would, however, tell them that he was in the best sense of the word a working man, and he could not see that he was unfitted to occupy the position for which he was a candidate. He was also of opinion that the mayoralchairshould not beoccupiedby the same gentleman three years in succession, unless it was under exceptional circumstances. Not only did he hope to be returned, but he felt sure that he would be elected, and if he found favor in their eyes he would serve them well. (Applause.)

In reply to Mr Harrison’s remarks, Mr Williamson said he was glad when Mr Harrison said that he had no capital to make out of the Alford Forest road. If you take the gist ot his speech it was all about the Alford Forest road and nothing else. The Council desired to make this road. He (Mr Harrison) voted for it, but tabled a motion afterwards against it.

This road led direct to the Hospital. (Laughter.) In time all the roads would be made, and that road leading to Cr. Harrison’s would also be made. (Cheeks ) He had no intention of speaking about the Fire Brigade, but as Mr Harrison had spoken about the matter he must refer to certain statements made by him. He was in favor of the Brigade, and thought that it was a most useful body. He was sorry that Cr. St. Hill was not present. Now, he know of his own knowledge that Cr. St. Hill referred to the cost of the Brigade being 12 per cent, of the rates and not of the revenue. Perhaps it was a mistake made by the reporters. Ha would refer to the report which had been laid before the Council by the Fire Brigade Committee. The fact was that the Brigade and the Fire Committee and the Council were working at cross purposes. It was a question whether the Council were not taking in hand a rather expen sivo matter with regard to the Brigade. He considered that the Insurance Associations should contribute a much larger sum of money than they do now towards Brigades, say an equal proportion with the local bodies. Now, he thought that if the various municipal bodies deci led to giveless than they now did they wouldcompol the Fire Associations to be more liberal. This was all he had to say on the matter. He would now propose a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

Mr A. Orr seconded, and in doing so he explained how the requisition to Mr Williamson was got up, which was referred to by Mr Harrison. The latter had said that it had been asserted that no other candidate was coming forward, and he could assure the meeting that he had not said anything of the kind. The only possible candidate he had heard mention at that time was Mr St. Hill, and the latter signed the requisition to Mr Williamson. Had a similarly got up requisition been presented to Mr Harrison he felt certain that that gentleman would not have objected. Mr Harrison, in speaking in support of the motion, said that he agreed with Mr Williamson when he said that he ('he speaker) had worked for the Alford Forest road for the benefit of those outside. But when Mr Williamson said that that road was a direct one to the Hospital he stamped himself as unfit for the office of chairman of a board of works. As to Cr. St. Hill basing his calculations upon the rates and not on the revenue, he (Mr Harrison) was certain that the reporters were correct in what they reported. The paper he held in his hand was what Or. St. Hill argued upon, and in that it was the revenue which was given and not the ra es. Something was said about a suppressed letter, but ho cauld assure them that the Brigade had admitted that they had used the wrong term. If he had not read that letter he had given the Committee the gist of it, and had also published the whole of the correspondence in the newspaper. Mr Orr had said that he (the speaker) would not h ive objected to a requisition being got up in the same manner as was done in Mr Williamson’s cass, but he would emphatically deny this. The motion was carried by acclamation, and the meeting separated.